Karen Sullens
Bingham,IL
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude, and excellent customer service.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Full-Time RN
Compunnel
Illinois Department Of Corrections
08.2026 - Current
- Caring for individuals in custody. Job duties include passing medication both in the infirmary and in the external housing environments, triaging individuals in custody, calling the on-call physician for orders, transferring individuals to the local ER if needed, admitting to the infirmary, paper charting and MARs and changing dressings. Also, checking blood sugar, EKGs ,and IV pumps. In addition, working closely with the correctional officers.
- Graham Correctional Center
Full-Time RN – Emergency Department
Pana Community Hospital
Pana, IL
02.2023 - 04.2026
- Caring for the diverse population of patients seeking emergency medical care. Job duties include triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting (Cerner), medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging transport for patients being transferred to another facility, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- House Supervisor duties.
- Reason for leaving: Involuntary resignation due to absenteeism during Workman’s Compensation Case.
Full-Time RN – Emergency Department
Salem Township Hospital
Salem, IL
11.2021 - 01.2022
- Caring for the diverse population of patients seeking emergency medical care. Job duties include triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging transport for patients being transferred to another facility, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Reason for leaving: Family emergencies, needing to have a job closer to home.
PRN RN – Emergency Department
Crossroads Community Hospital
Mt. Vernon, IL
11.2021 - 12.2021
- Caring for the diverse population of patients seeking emergency medical care. Job duties include triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging transport for patients being transferred to another facility, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Reason for leaving: Family emergencies, needing to have a job closer to home.
Full Time RN – Emergency Department
HSHS St. Francis Hospital
Litchfield, IL
10.2020 - 08.2021
- Caring for the diverse population of patients seeking emergency medical care. Job duties include triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting (Epic), medication administration, using IV pumps (Alaris). Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging transport for patients being transferred to another facility, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Reason for leaving: Job posted on last day of FMLA and was not released per MD to go back to work until one week later.
PRN to Full Time RN
Wexford Health Services
Illinois Department Of Corrections
02.2020 - 10.2020
- Caring for the diverse population of incarcerated offenders. Job duties included medical care in emergency setting, full body assessments, paper charting, including documenting on MAR, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, and teaching and providing education.
- Reason for leaving: To go back to the ED
Full Time RN – Emergency Department
HSHS St. Francis Hospital
Litchfield, IL
08.2018 - 07.2020
- Caring for the diverse population of patients seeking emergency medical care. Job duties included triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting on Meditech and Epic, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging for transport of patients being transferred to another facility, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Reason for leaving: Wanted to try a new area of nursing
Travel RN – 13-week assignment
Medical Solutions
Manchester, New Hampshire
04.2018 - 07.2018
- Caring for patients seeking emergency care. Job duties included: triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting on Epic, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
- Elliot Hospital – Manchester, New Hampshire – Emergency Dept.
Travel RN – 13-week assignment
AMN Healthcare
Westerly, RI
01.2018 - 04.2018
- Caring for patients seeking emergency care. Job duties included: Triaging patients, full body assessments, computer charting on Epic, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
- Westerly Hospital – Westerly, RI – Emergency Dept.
Travel RN - 13 Week Assignment
AMN Healthcare
Jeffersonville, IN
10.2017 - 12.2017
- Caring for patients seeking emergency care. Job duties included: full body assessments, computer charting on Allscripts, medication administration, using IV pumps, Accu-check, EKG, starting IV’s, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, working in the locked psych unit in ED, working in the hold unit for those waiting for admission into the hospital, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
- Clark Memorial Hospital – Jeffersonville, IN – Emergency Dept. – RN
Emergency Dept. – RN
Pana Community Hospital
Pana, IL
10.2012 - 08.2017
- Caring for patients seeking emergency care. Job duties included: full body assessments, paper and computer charting (McKesson for triage) , medication administration through IV or as injection, using IV pumps, Accu-check machine, doing EKGs, starting IVs, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, applying splints, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, arranging transport for transferring patients, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Reason for leaving: Wanted to try travel nursing
Emergency Dept. – RN
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
Taylorville, IL
07.2011 - 07.2016
- Charge Nurse Responsibilities: triage, assigning patients to the nurses based on acuity of patient and nurse to patient ratio, making calls for transfers for the MD, making calls for transport, resources for the other nursing staff, and working closely with the lab, radiology, nurses, physicians, and house supervisor.
- RN responsibilities when not in charge position: Caring for patients seeking emergency care. Doing full body assessments, paper and computer charting, medication administration through IV or as injection, using IV pumps, Accu-check machine, doing EKGs, starting IVs, drawing blood, cleaning and dressing wounds, applying splints, assisting the doctor in any procedures needed, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge. In addition, working closely with our physicians, radiology, lab, EMTs and paramedics, and local, county and state police officers.
- Full time from 7/2011-10/2015, then PRN until 7/2016.
- Reason for leaving: Needed to be closer to home at that time.
Med/Surg Floor – RN PRN
Hillsboro Area Hospital
Hillsboro, IL
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Caring for the diverse population of patients upon the unit. Job duties included: admissions, full body assessments, medication administration through IV or injection, using IV pumps, Accu-check machine, starting IVs, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
Cardiovascular Unit – RN
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, IL
01.2007 - 12.2011
- Caring for the diverse population of cardiac patients upon the unit. Job duties included: doing admissions, full body assessments, medication administration through IV, injection, cordis and swan, using IV pumps, cardiac monitors, arterial line maintenance, prepping patients for open heart surgery, recovery of open heart surgical patients, pacemaker insertions, and cardiac caths, maintaining chest tubes and monitoring chest tube output, Accu-check machine, starting IVs, dressing changes, and teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
Medical Floor – RN
Fayette County Hospital
Vandalia, IL
01.2008 - 12.2008
- Caring for the diverse population of patients upon the unit. Job duties included: admissions, full body assessments, medication administration through IV or injection, using IV pumps, Accu-check machine, starting IVs, teaching and providing education for patients at discharge.
Clerk
Rube’s Package Liquor/CTs Package Liquor
Vandalia, IL
01.2005 - 12.2007
- Job duties included: customer service, ordering, stocking, pricing, opening and closing the business.
CNA
Brookstone Estates
Vandalia, IL
01.2004 - 12.2006
- Assisted residents with ADLs as needed, provided medication reminders and homemaking assistance.
CNA
Fayette County Hospital and Long-Term Care
Vandalia, IL
01.2002 - 12.2005
- Assisted residents with ADLs, made beds, turned and repositioned residents, recorded I & O, emptied catheters, changed colostomy bags, provided basic care and comfort, and assisted the nurses as needed.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL05.2007
Skills
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Patient monitoring
- Documentation and charting
- Medication administration
- Patient education
- Clinical judgment
- Patient and family advocacy
- Professional bedside manner
- EMR / EHR
- BLS, ACLS, PALS
Timeline
Full-Time RN
Compunnel
08.2026 - Current
Full-Time RN – Emergency Department
Pana Community Hospital
02.2023 - 04.2026
Full-Time RN – Emergency Department
Salem Township Hospital
11.2021 - 01.2022
PRN RN – Emergency Department
Crossroads Community Hospital
11.2021 - 12.2021
Full Time RN – Emergency Department
HSHS St. Francis Hospital
10.2020 - 08.2021
PRN to Full Time RN
Wexford Health Services
02.2020 - 10.2020
Full Time RN – Emergency Department
HSHS St. Francis Hospital
08.2018 - 07.2020
Travel RN – 13-week assignment
Medical Solutions
04.2018 - 07.2018
Travel RN – 13-week assignment
AMN Healthcare
01.2018 - 04.2018
Travel RN - 13 Week Assignment
AMN Healthcare
10.2017 - 12.2017
Emergency Dept. – RN
Pana Community Hospital
10.2012 - 08.2017
Emergency Dept. – RN
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
07.2011 - 07.2016
Med/Surg Floor – RN PRN
Hillsboro Area Hospital
01.2011 - 12.2012
Medical Floor – RN
Fayette County Hospital
01.2008 - 12.2008
Cardiovascular Unit – RN
Decatur Memorial Hospital
01.2007 - 12.2011
Clerk
Rube’s Package Liquor/CTs Package Liquor
01.2005 - 12.2007
CNA
Brookstone Estates
01.2004 - 12.2006
CNA
Fayette County Hospital and Long-Term Care
01.2002 - 12.2005
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Lake Land College