Leanne Avery
Valley Park
Summary
Patient-oriented Nurse with 20+ years of diverse experience in direct patient care, staff supervision and department operations. Skilled at multitasking and prioritizing patient needs and daily assignments. Experienced healthcare professional skilled in patient care, critical thinking, and communication. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving optimal patient outcomes. Reliable and adaptable, ensuring efficient and compassionate care in dynamic environments. Equipped with expertise in medical procedures, patient assessments, and care coordination.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse Apheresis
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
12.2022 - Current
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Perform Plasma exchanges, Red Cell exchanges, Platelet depletions, and White cell depletions on critically ill patients using Albumin, Saline, FFP, or RBC as replacement fluid. While continuously monitoring patient and equipment.
- Works in Blood Donor Services, interviewing, collecting and labeling donated blood to send to blood bank for processing.
- Using El Dorado computer system to track donors and donations.
- Go out on local blood drives to set up, collect and breakdown as a team.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills when faced with unexpected challenges during the course of treatment.
- Safeguarded confidential patient information through meticulous adherence to HIPAA guidelines and clinic policies.
- Remained flexible to work highly variable schedule.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Barnes Jewish West County Hospital
04.2019 - 08.2022
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed.
- Improved patient outcomes by consistently providing high-quality emergency care and implementing evidence-based nursing practices.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients presenting with diverse medical conditions in the Emergency Department.
- Reduced patient wait times by efficiently triaging patients based on acuity levels and prioritizing urgent cases.
- Teamed on trauma and emergency interventions involving serious head injuries, gunshot wounds, and thoracic trauma.
- Delivered important IV and venous medications to control symptoms and provide effective treatments.
- Acted as a resource for colleagues by sharing clinical expertise, participating in educational opportunities, and serving as a preceptor for new nurses joining the Emergency Department team.
- Answered codes quickly and orchestrated efficient, skilled medical care.
- Upheld professional nursing standards and ethical principles when advocating for patients'' rights, respecting their autonomy, and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Charge Nurse duties on shifts worked.
- Maintained BLS, ACLS, and PALS while employed
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Gateway Regional Medical Center
08.2010 - 03.2019
- Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Improved patient outcomes by consistently providing high-quality emergency care and implementing evidence-based nursing practices.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients presenting with diverse medical conditions in the Emergency Department.
- Reduced patient wait times by efficiently triaging patients based on acuity levels and prioritizing urgent cases.
- Teamed on trauma and emergency interventions involving serious head injuries, gunshot wounds, and thoracic trauma.
- Optimized patient flow within the Emergency Department by collaborating with charge nurses in coordinating bed assignments and discharges according to capacity constraints.
- Delivered important IV and venous medications to control symptoms and provide effective treatments.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive care tailored to individual needs and preferences.
- Acted as a resource for colleagues by sharing clinical expertise, participating in educational opportunities, and serving as a preceptor for new nurses joining the Emergency Department team.
- Answered codes quickly and orchestrated efficient, skilled medical care.
- Upheld professional nursing standards and ethical principles when advocating for patients'' rights, respecting their autonomy, and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Promoted a safe and supportive environment for both patients and staff members by adhering to infection control protocols, maintaining equipment, and following safety guidelines.
- Provided valuable support to families during critical situations by offering emotional support, answering questions, and assisting with decision-making processes related to their loved one''s care.
- Educated patients and answered questions about health condition, prognosis, and treatment.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall effectiveness and efficiency of emergency nursing care delivery within the department.
- Assisted in training and mentoring of new nursing staff, ensuring high standards of care.
- Contributed to improvement of patient care procedures through feedback and participation in departmental meetings.
- Assumed Charge Nurse responsibilities while on shift.
- Maintained BLS, ACLS, PALS, and TNCC while actively working in the ER
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
Clinical Supervisor of Infectious Disease Clinic
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
05.2006 - 05.2010
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care for clients with complex needs, ensuring comprehensive support was provided across all domains of life functioning.
- Assessed patients, determined needs, and managed care.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular staff meetings, case conferences, and training sessions.
- Responded to crisis situations with calm and professional approach to optimize support.
- Monitored, analyzed, and corrected staff performance and worked with nurse manager to raise standards of practice.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based treatment plans and clinical interventions.
- Served as a liaison between clinical staff and administration to address concerns and optimize workflows.
- Lead and directed team of 12 clinical personnel and support staff.
- Managed caseloads effectively, ensuring timely assessments, treatment planning, and progress monitoring.
- Mentored junior staff members in clinical best practices, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
Gateway Regional Medical Center
06.2002 - 04.2006
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Assisted physicians during invasive procedures such as central line insertions or intubations, ensuring safe and accurate completion of tasks.
- Streamlined emergency room operations by efficiently triaging patients according to the severity of their condition.
- Facilitated clear communication with patients, families, and colleagues, fostering a positive environment in a fast-paced setting.
- Answered codes quickly and orchestrated efficient, skilled medical care.
- Deescalated tense situations involving agitated patients or family members through active listening skills and empathetic responses.
- Teamed on trauma and emergency interventions involving serious head injuries, gunshot wounds, and thoracic trauma.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families during crisis situations, helping them cope more effectively with difficult circumstances.
- Prevented medication errors by diligently verifying drug orders against patient records before administering treatments.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams for optimal patient outcomes during high-stress situations.
- Mentored new nursing staff in emergency room procedures and techniques, promoting team cohesion and a supportive learning atmosphere.
911 Emergency Dispatcher
Simmons Ambulance
10.1998 - 06.2002
- Managed multiple communication channels simultaneously, including telephone lines, radio frequencies, and computer-aided dispatch systems for effective coordination among emergency units.
- Maintained high levels of situational awareness during emergency situations, allowing for quick adjustments and accurate updates to responding units as needed.
- Received 911 and non-emergency calls and dispatched calls to appropriate agencies and officers on duty.
- Handled challenging caller interactions professionally while remaining empathetic to individuals experiencing distress or panic during emergencies.
- Mitigated potential risks during crisis situations by calmly gathering pertinent information from callers and relaying it accurately to responding units.
- Provided critical assistance to callers experiencing medical emergencies by offering pre-arrival instructions until help arrived on scene.
- Developed strong relationships with first responder teams through regular communication and mutual respect during emergency situations.
- Improved response times by efficiently prioritizing emergency calls and dispatching appropriate resources.
- Enhanced communication between first responders and callers by providing clear, concise information during high-stress situations.
Damage Controlman
United States Navy, USN
10.1994 - 10.1998
- Optimized resource allocation during emergencies by establishing clear priorities based on potential impact to personnel and equipment.
- Aided in the development of ship-specific damage control plans, providing invaluable insight based on hands-on experience and expertise.
- Evaluated effectiveness of damage control systems using performance metrics and made recommendations for improvements as needed.
- Managed hazardous materials effectively, mitigating risks associated with spills or accidents on board the vessel.
- Championed safety initiatives by leading cross-functional teams tasked with identifying and addressing potential risks to shipboard personnel and equipment.
- Improved emergency response times through the development and execution of comprehensive drills simulating various shipboard emergencies.
- Assisted in maintaining watertight integrity of the ship by inspecting and servicing hatches, doors, scuttles, and other fittings regularly.
- Enhanced vessel safety by conducting regular inspections and maintenance of damage control equipment.
- Collaborated with other departments to develop cohesive strategies for addressing various types of shipboard emergencies.
- Performed critical maintenance tasks on life-saving equipment such as breathing devices, fire pumps, hoses, nozzles ensuring peak performance during emergencies.
- Completed inspections and any basic repair need to uphold strict performance standards.
- Completed and Certified in Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
St Louis, MO06-2012
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL05-2002
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Direct patient care
- Documentation and charting
- Strong clinical judgment
- Patient education and counseling
- Infection control measures
- Patient monitoring
- Professional bedside manner
- Critical care
- Nursing staff leadership
- Precepting
- Team coordination
- Complex Problem-solving
- Emergency response
- Relationship building
- Patient assessments
Timeline
Registered Nurse Apheresis
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
12.2022 - Current
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Barnes Jewish West County Hospital
04.2019 - 08.2022
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Gateway Regional Medical Center
08.2010 - 03.2019
Clinical Supervisor of Infectious Disease Clinic
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
05.2006 - 05.2010
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
Gateway Regional Medical Center
06.2002 - 04.2006
911 Emergency Dispatcher
Simmons Ambulance
10.1998 - 06.2002
Damage Controlman
United States Navy, USN
10.1994 - 10.1998
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Southwestern Illinois College
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