LaJuana Dunkley
Port St Lucie,FL
Summary
Hardworking registered nurse with 8+ years of experience workng with mental and behavioral health populations across the lifespan from pediatric to older adult. Specific expertise in dealing with acute crisis and addictions. Special training in de-escalation techniques, providing a therapeutic environment, medication management, and physical restraints. Treats patients of all ages and diagnoses with dignity and respect to deliver effective quality nursing care. Performs in stressful and crisis situations and interprets and applies policies and procedures with good judgment. Hardworking psychiatric registered nurse well-versed in primary care. Experienced in treating patients of all ages. Specializes in delivering quality patient-driven nursing care adapted from the trauma-informed care model. Performs in stressful and crisis situations. Interprets and applies policies and procedures with good judgment.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Veteran Affairs Medical Center
West Palm Beach, FL
07.2022 - Current
- Managing veteran patient and staff assignments as Unit Facilitator (UF)/ Charge Nurse on a 25-bed psychiatric unit
- Precepting nurses in charting and functional training
- Creating and updating interdisciplinary reports
- Collaborating with the healthcare team to include physicians, pharmacists, and management to ensure seamless patient care
- Performing ECGs, phlebotomy, and specimen collection
- Conducting patient assessments to determine mental status and potential safety risk
- Evaluating environmental safety risk
- Implemented CIWA-Ar and COWS protocols to evaluate withdrawal symptoms
- Ensuring proper administration of medications while analyzing their effectiveness
- Responding promptly to medical and behavioral emergencies
- Providing comprehensive education to patients and their families regarding medication, treatment options, and post-treatment plans
PSYCHIATRIC RN STAFF NURSE
HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
West Palm Beach, FL
12.2017 - Current
- Demonstrated continuous dedication as step-up Charge Nurse between 2018 and 2019
- Supervised nursing team, allocating shift assignments and monitoring task execution
- Addressed learning, psychosocial, and mental health factors in relation to population age.
- Implemented effective treatment strategies in response to patient requirements.
- Communicated patient status changes to relevant care team members
- Educated patients and families on medication usage and care plans.
- Evaluated and monitored patients on unique CIWA-Ar and COWS protocols to prevent withdrawal symptoms
- Conducted nurse safety rounds every 2 hours and as needed to ensure patient safety.
PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL NURSE COORDINATOR (CNC)
HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
West Palm Beach, FL
10.2020 - 06.2022
- Oversaw clinical care on a 16-bed Crisis Unit for an adult patient population
- Conveyed relevant information regarding unit status and issues to supervisors and management
- Examined customer service and patient care needs with the goal of increasing overall patient satisfaction.
- Delivered staff education through in-service training sessions
- Provided staff with guidance and feedback on job-specific tasks.
- Continuously upheld standards of care, quality, and facility protocols.
- Served as a valuable resource for fellow step-up charge nurses and regular staff members
- Maintained high standards of adherence to patient privacy laws and safeguarded patients' rights during the delivery of care.
PSYCHIATRIC RN STAFF NURSE
Peachford Hospital
Atlanta, GA
06.2015 - 01.2018
- Utilized interviewing methods, critical thinking strategies, and evaluation tools to assess patient mental and medical conditions.
- Educated patients about medication and its relation to their diagnoses.
- Provided health promotion and maintenance recommendations
- Coordinated and executed psychiatric/behavioral emergency codes with interdisciplinary care team members.
- Conducted chart audits to ensure complete documentation
- Trained new employees and experienced staff members unfamiliar with the department.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN11.2023
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA12.2013
Bachelor of Science - Multimedia & Web Design
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (AIFL)
Fort Lauderdale, FL03.2002
Skills
- Psychiatric-behavioral health nursing
- Caring for populations across the lifespan
- Acute crisis management
- Psychiatric & mood disorders
- Addiction/detox services
- Cognitive & neurodevelopment disorders
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Impulse control
- De-escalation techniques
- Medication management
- Physical restraints
- Care Planning
Certification
- Multistate compact Registered Nurse license, FL, RN9469704, 04/30/25, active
- Registered Professional Nurse, GA, Voluntary Inactive
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association, 06/2025
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), 03/2026
- Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) certification, 03/2025
- Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification, 06/2024
- National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NISS) certification, 05/2025
- Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification, 12/2023
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, 01/2024
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, 02/2024
- Preceptor/Mentorship certification, 04/12/2024
Affiliations and Awards
- Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- Florida Nurses Association (FNA)
- Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FNPAC)
- The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
- Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society
- Nursing Shared Governance Committee, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
- Baker Act Champion, Unit 3C, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
- Camera Room Champion, Unit 3C, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
- Mother Theresa Award, HCA Florida JFK North Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL, 2022
- Excellence Annual Performance, HCA Florida JFK North Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL, 2018-2021
Clinical Software
- VATAS
- BCMA
- CPRS
- Meditech
- EPIC Healthcare Charting
- Smart Squares Scheduling System
- AccuStaf
- Microsoft Office Suite
- TIER
- HealthStream
- Pyxis
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Veteran Affairs Medical Center
07.2022 - Current
PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL NURSE COORDINATOR (CNC)
HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
10.2020 - 06.2022
PSYCHIATRIC RN STAFF NURSE
HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
12.2017 - Current
PSYCHIATRIC RN STAFF NURSE
Peachford Hospital
06.2015 - 01.2018
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Walden University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing
Kennesaw State University
Bachelor of Science - Multimedia & Web Design
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (AIFL)