Leah Miksicek
Kalamazoo,MI
Summary
Compassionate Charge Nurse offers 12 years of patient care and advocacy within [multiple acute care settings. Highly skilled in assessments, care coordination, patient advocacy, and safety practices. Well-versed in promoting policies and protocols to achieve core measures. Demonstrated success in cultivating strong patient rapport to drive outcome goals.
Overview
1
1
Language
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Charge Nurse, Operating Rooms
Beacon Hospital
12.2022 - Current
- Led daily nursing operations, assigning staff and balancing patient care priorities.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary communication to support timely treatment plans and patient flow.
- Monitored clinical documentation for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance.
- Mentored nursing staff on protocols, bedside practices, and escalation procedures.
- Collaborated with providers and families to resolve care concerns and strengthen satisfaction.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Championed a positive work culture by recognizing exemplary performance from team members and addressing conflicts promptly when they arose.
- Streamlined nursing workflows for increased efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
Operating Room RN
Beacon Hospital (Formerly Borgess)
08.2021 - Current
- Facilitated collaboration between surgical teams to enhance workflow and patient outcomes.
- Circulates the OR and assists OR staff at a level two trauma center following HIPAA and facility standards.
- Documented all intraoperative information meticulously in Cerner to ensure accurate patient records.
- Monitored and maintained the sterile field to ensure compliance with standards.
- Facilitated proper patient positioning during surgeries to improve surgical efficiency and safety.
- Supported the anesthesiologist and CRNA during preoperative and postoperative induction processes to ensure patient safety.
- Supported surgical team by delivering hands-on assistance during various surgical interventions.
- Managed nursing staff needs and surgery schedules as charge nurse, ensuring effective communication among surgical teams.
- Assessed surgical patients, confirmed preoperative readiness, and reinforced safety protocols.
Neuro/Ortho/Trauma RN
Borgess Hospital
01.2018 - 08.2021
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatments and manage rapidly changing conditions.
- Enhanced nursing knowledge, skills, and practice to improve quality of care and ensure compliance with licensure requirements.
- Implemented interventions, including medications, IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
- Performed admission, ongoing, and discharge assessments to evaluate health and education needs.
- Instructed family members and caregivers on patient care protocols to promote better understanding and adherence to treatment plans.
- Used firsthand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care.
- Maintained and evolved nursing knowledge, skills, and practice affecting quality of nursing care and licensure.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Acted as the unit charge nurse, managing staff assignments, patient placement, unit coordination, and staff advocacy.
Behavioral Health Registered Nurse
Borgess Hospital
02.2015 - 05.2019
- Administered psychotropic medications while monitoring therapeutic response, side effects, and patient safety.
- Assessed behavioral health patients, identified suicide risk, and initiated individualized nursing interventions.
- De-escalated agitated patients using trauma-informed communication and crisis intervention techniques.
- Collaborated with psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers to coordinate comprehensive care plans.
- Implemented seclusion and restraint protocols according to safety standards and regulatory requirements.
- Advocated for patient rights within the healthcare system by maintaining confidentiality standards, addressing ethical concerns when necessary.
- Promoted self-care among patients through the teaching of effective coping strategies and stress management techniques.
Outreach RN and Clinical Projects Manager
Intercare Community Health Network
05.2014 - 02.2015
- Led a health care team that focused on improving health outcomes for an underserved migrant population.
- Provided high quality, culturally sensitive nursing care in a nontraditional setting with limited supplies and support.
- Facilitated communication between facilities and care managers to ensure effective patient care.
- Reviewed and organized clinical data from outreach season to optimize allocation of federal funding.
- Collaborated with health network managers and program coordinators to enhance and streamline outreach services.
- Engaged in nursing research and evidence-based clinical audits to enhance clinical methodologies.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions, meeting treatment goals, and providing care within insurance coverage limitations.
- Participated in nursing research and evidence based clinical audits to improve researched based methodologies within clinical areas.
Education
Bachelors - Nursing Science, Holistic Health Care
Western Michigan University, Bronson School of Nursing
Kalamazoo, MI01.2013
Skills
- Clinical leadership
- Staff management
- Basic Life Support
- Surgical patient assessment
- CPI intervention
- ACT trained
- CGM trained
Accomplishments
- 5 time Daisy award winner.
- Excellence in Service winner.
- Precepted 3 Graduate nurse externs to completion.
- President and Vice President of the Department Based Coordinating Council (DBCC), aimed at unit improvement.
Certification
Basic Life Support for Professionals, Combative Persons Intervention (CPI), Activated Clotting Time (ACT) trained, Capillary Glucose Monitor (CGM) machine trained
LANGUAGES
Fluent German and elementary level French.
Timeline
Charge Nurse, Operating Rooms
Beacon Hospital
12.2022 - Current
Operating Room RN
Beacon Hospital (Formerly Borgess)
08.2021 - Current
Neuro/Ortho/Trauma RN
Borgess Hospital
01.2018 - 08.2021
Behavioral Health Registered Nurse
Borgess Hospital
02.2015 - 05.2019
Outreach RN and Clinical Projects Manager
Intercare Community Health Network
05.2014 - 02.2015
Bachelors - Nursing Science, Holistic Health Care
Western Michigan University, Bronson School of Nursing
Personal Information
Title: Bachelors in Nursing Science, Registered Nurse
AWARDS
5 time Daisy award winner., Excellence in Service winner., Precepted 3 Graduate nurse externs to completion., President and Vice President of the Department Based Coordinating Council (DBCC), aimed at unit improvement.