Leigh Saunders
Registered Nurse
Mountlake Terrace,WA
Summary
Proven Heart Failure RN Case Manager at Kaiser Permanente, adept in chronic disease management and interdisciplinary collaboration, significantly reduced hospital readmission rates. Skilled in clinical assessment and compassionate patient care, and expertise in quality improvement and case management drives optimal patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. Professional with strong background in nursing and case management, specializing in patient advocacy and care coordination. Adept at developing comprehensive care plans, managing complex medical cases, and working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Known for adaptability, reliability, and results-focused approach in dynamic healthcare environments. Skilled in patient assessment, discharge planning, and resource utilization.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emergency Department Staff Registered Nurse
Stevens Hospital
09.2006 - 06.2010
- Managed 3-5 patients in a 30-bed, level 4 Trauma Center.
- Maintained accurate and comprehensive medical records, ensuring timely documentation of assessments, interventions, and evaluations.
- Assessed vital signs, collected detailed patient history and noted other signs of patient health to make rapid, informed decisions regarding next steps in patient care.
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
Quality Improvement Coordinator
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2005 - 06.2010
- Chart abstraction for all of the Core Measure components in a 350 bed hospital for Center of Clinic Excellence at the University of Washington Medical Center.
- Applied knowledge of Core Measures to make insightful observations of deviations and successes.
- Maintained current clinical knowledge by participating in hands-on patient care by working part-time as a briefly as Clinical Educator and then worked in the Emergency Department as a Nurse.
- Developed customized training programs for staff, leading to improved understanding of quality standards and best practices.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement, fostering proactive problem-solving among team members.
- Increased employee accountability by educating about quality performance measurements.
Heart Failure RN Case Manager
Kaiser Permenante
01.2021 - Current
- Managed Heart Failure Medications, under supervision of Cardiologist, and treated patients by using standing orders established by the ACC national Heart Failure Guidelines.
- Provided emotional support to patients coping with chronic illness or end-of-life decisions, fostering resilience during difficult times.
- Promoted patient self-management by providing education on chronic condition management and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Managed 40-55 complex patients with multiple comorbidities, requiring close monitoring and coordination of various healthcare services.
- Collaborated closely with physicians to develop individualized treatment plans, supporting optimal patient outcomes.
- Educated patients and families on available community resources, facilitating access to necessary support services.
- Reduced hospital readmission rates through effective case management and patient education on self-care techniques.
Emergency Department Care Manager
EvergreenHealth
07.2017 - 06.2020
- Utilization review and Emergency Department Care Management for a busy 250 bed hospital on the evening shift.
- Served as a liaison between patients, families, physicians, insurance providers, and other healthcare professionals for seamless care coordination efforts.
- Provided crisis intervention services when necessary by assessing risk levels promptly addressing safety concerns collaboratively with the treatment team.
- Communicated with healthcare providers to facilitate continuity of care.
- Arranged transportation and documented details of discharge transition plans.
- Promoted patient self-management by providing education on chronic condition management and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Educated clients and families on community resources, treatment options and health care services to better manage conditions.
- Assessed clients and developed plans to meet needs.
- Developed strong rapport with patients and families through empathetic listening and compassionate communication techniques.
- Participated in interdisciplinary case conferences fostering teamwork collaboration sharing best practice insights to optimize patient care outcomes.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Providence Health & Services
07.2014 - 06.2017
- Managed 3-4 complex patients in an 80 bed, Level II Trauma Center.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 and participating in educational opportunities for new nurses joining the Emergency Department team.
- 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.
Clinical Documentation Specialist
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2000 - 06.2014
- Managed cased for 3 service lines for a 350 bed teaching hospital
- Facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration between physicians, nurses, case managers, coders, and other relevant stakeholders regarding the appropriate representation of patient severity levels within EHRs.
- Analyzed data from audits to identify areas for improvement in clinical documentation processes, implementing targeted interventions for positive change.
- Expedited accurate clinical documentation completion by promptly responding to queries from healthcare providers and support staff, offering timely guidance and support.
- Reduced risk exposure by promptly addressing any identified discrepancies or inconsistencies within patient records.
- Communicated with physicians, nurses and other caregivers to explain importance of accurate and clear documentation.
- Contributed to revenue optimization by identifying opportunities for appropriate clinical documentation improvement.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines through meticulous attention to detail in completing clinical documentation tasks.
- Participated in continuous education programs, staying up-to-date on industry trends and best practices in clinical documentation management.
- Educated healthcare staff on the importance of proper clinical documentation, fostering a culture of accuracy and accountability.
Cardiac Stepdown Charge Nurse
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2000 - 06.2005
- Managed 3 -4 patients on 30 bed Cardiothoracic Stepdown Unit.
- Managed patients recovering from surgical procedures such as: Coronary artery bypass, heat and lung transplants, thoracic surgeries, angiograms and interventions, LVAD insertion
- Managed LVAD, multiple drains, inotropic and other IV medications, epidural pain management titration and discontinuation, temporary pacemakers, chest tubes, Bipap and CPAP, Dressings and wound management and negative pressure wound devices.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
- Conducted daily shift briefs to inform staff of changes in patient care assignments..
- Optimized patient satisfaction through timely response to concerns and effective communication among staff members.
- Managed staffing schedules, ensuring adequate coverage while minimizing overtime expenses.
- Managed 3-4 patients on 30 bed unit at University of Washington teaching hospital. Communicated effectively with hierarchy of physicians in process of learning.
- Handled high volume of complex patients by prioritizing tasks and effectively delegating responsibilities to other team members, resulting in efficient patient care.
- Reduced complications post-surgery through diligent assessment, intervention, and timely communication with interdisciplinary team.
- Skillfully managed acute symptoms presented by patients experiencing chest pain or dysrhythmias, resulting in prompt medical intervention when necessary.
- Contributed to high standard of care through ongoing professional development and staying current on best practices in cardiac nursing.
- Enhanced patient recovery by providing specialized cardiac care and monitoring their progress.
- Promoted supportive environment for patients and families by addressing concerns and providing education on their condition.
- Educated patients about self-care at home following discharge from hospital setting; increased adherence to treatment regimens which led to lower readmission rates.
- Managed patients recovering from surgical procedures such as: Coronary artery bypass, heat and lung transplants, thoracic surgeries, angiograms and interventions, LVAD insertions.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership
Western Governor's University
Salt Lake City, UTBachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Texas At El Paso
El Paso, TX12.1993
Skills
- Chronic Disease Management
- Medication Ordering and Management
- Quality Improvement
- Critical Thinking
- Compassionate and Caring
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Strong Clinical Judgment
- Patient and family advocacy
- Attention to Detail
- Medication Management
- Treatment Recommendations
- Student Precepting
- Diagnostic Test Ordering
- Diagnostic Test Evaluations
Certification
- Certified Heart Failure Nurse, American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, 2024-2029
- Registered Nurse License - 1994 to present
Affiliations
- American College of Cardiology, NW Chapter
- American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
- Heart Failure Society of America
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Company CultureWork from home option401k match4-day work weekTimeline
Heart Failure RN Case Manager
Kaiser Permenante
01.2021 - Current
Emergency Department Care Manager
EvergreenHealth
07.2017 - 06.2020
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Providence Health & Services
07.2014 - 06.2017
Emergency Department Staff Registered Nurse
Stevens Hospital
09.2006 - 06.2010
Quality Improvement Coordinator
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2005 - 06.2010
Clinical Documentation Specialist
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2000 - 06.2014
Cardiac Stepdown Charge Nurse
University of Washington Medical Center
06.2000 - 06.2005
- Certified Heart Failure Nurse, Americal Academy of Heart Failure Nurses, 2024-2029
- Registered Nurse License - 1994 to present
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership
Western Governor's University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Texas At El Paso
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