Leslie Bolton
Eclectic,AL
Summary
Results-driven Operating Room Registered Nurse skilled in teamwork and collaboration. Successfully implemented process improvements that elevated patient care standards and trained new staff on best practices, contributing to a safer surgical environment.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Operating Room Registered Nurse
Montgomery Surgical Center
07.2023 - Current
- Administered pre-operative assessments to ensure patient readiness and safety.
- Monitored vital signs and maintained sterile environments during surgical procedures.
- Collaborated with surgeons and anesthetists to optimize surgical outcomes.
- Assisted in the development of process improvements for patient care protocols.
- Trained new nursing staff on operating room best practices and equipment usage.
- Implemented infection control measures resulting in enhanced patient safety standards.
- Maintained a sterile environment within the operating room, reducing the risk of infection.
- Implemented time-out protocols before starting surgeries, verifying correct patient identification and procedural details.
- Mentored new nurses entering the profession, guiding them through their initial experiences within the operating room setting.
- Prepared equipment and supplies necessary for each surgical procedure, ensuring availability when needed by surgeons.
- Adapted quickly to changing situations in the operating room, utilizing problem-solving skills under pressure.
- Collected, labeled, and transported specimens and delivered to lab for testing.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety, and rights of patient.
- Continually updated knowledge on best practices in nursing care through ongoing professional development opportunities.
Operating Room Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center East
03.2019 - 07.2023
- Promoted a culture of teamwork within the surgical suite by fostering open communication and collaboration among colleagues.
- Assisted in complex surgeries with precise execution of tasks, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients.
- Provided direct support to surgical team during procedures.
- Provided high-quality care for diverse patient populations, addressing individual needs and concerns.
- Conducted thorough preoperative assessments to identify potential risks and address concerns prior to surgery.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes and enhance OR practices.
- Provided instruction to patients and family members before and after surgical procedures.
- Served as a liaison between the surgical team and family members, providing timely updates on patient progress.
- Utilized sterile techniques and infection-control guidelines to maintain clean and safe environment.
- Performed pre-operative assessments to prepare patients for surgery.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
Operating Room and PACU Registered Nurse
L V Stabler Hospital
10.2009 - 01.2019
- Collaborated with surgical teams to ensure seamless patient transitions.
- Implemented best practices for infection control and safety standards.
- Coordinated with surgeons and staff to deliver safe patient care during operations.
- Assisted physicians in operating room by providing necessary supplies and equipment.
- Reduced postoperative complications through vigilant monitoring of patients during surgery.
- Prepped operating rooms to comply with environmental asepsis standards.
- Enhanced patient safety by implementing strict adherence to surgical protocols and guidelines.
- Provided effective bedside care to patients before and after procedures to deliver comfort.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for pre-and post-operative patients.
- Provided compassionate support to patients during recovery, monitoring vital signs and administering medications as needed.
- Contributed to interdisciplinary meetings by sharing expertise on operating room processes and patient care requirements.
- Monitored patients' vital signs and administered medications per physician orders or good practices.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
Director of Hospice
Evergreen Medical Center Hospice
05.2005 - 09.2009
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance patient care and improve service delivery within hospice program.
- Developed and implemented policies ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations and best practices in hospice care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes and foster a supportive environment for families.
- Oversaw budget management, resource allocation, and financial forecasting for hospice services, driving operational efficiency.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices in palliative care, enhancing team performance and service quality.
- Established community partnerships to expand outreach efforts and promote awareness of hospice services available to patients.
- Conducted regular evaluations of service delivery processes, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
- Advocated for patient needs and preferences, ensuring individualized care plans align with family goals and values.
- Worked in cooperation with family and caregiver to meet emotional and physical needs.
- Used agency resources and nationally recognized standards of practice to achieve excellent pain and symptom management.
- Ensured timely access to palliative care consultations by establishing strong relationships with referring providers.
- Managed budgets and resources to maximize value for patients and their families.
- Recruited, hired, supervised and evaluated aides and nurses.
- Assessed and reassessed physical, environmental and emotional factors and determined hospice needs for patients in home setting.
- Fostered a supportive work environment by prioritizing employee engagement initiatives.
- Coordinated total plans of care and maintained continuity of patient care by liaising with appropriate staff and physician.
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Evergreen Medical Center
07.2000 - 05.2005
- Administered medications and treatments in accordance with established protocols and patient care plans.
- Educated patients and families on health management, medication usage, and post-discharge instructions.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for diverse patient populations.
- Mentored junior nurses, enhancing their clinical skills and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Assessed patient conditions, identifying changes and implementing timely interventions to ensure optimal outcomes.
- Streamlined documentation processes using electronic health record systems to improve accuracy and efficiency.
- 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.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
L V Stabler Hospital
06.1999 - 01.2001
- Administered critical care interventions to stabilize patients in life-threatening conditions.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for complex cases.
- Monitored patients' vital signs and responses, ensuring timely adjustments to treatment protocols.
- Educated families on patient care processes, enhancing understanding of critical health issues.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify patient needs and coordinate appropriate interventions effectively.
- Handled ventilator support, feeding tubes and central lines.
- Assisted physicians with bedside procedures, ensuring accurate treatment administration and timely patient recovery.
- Demonstrated advanced critical thinking skills while managing complex clinical situations involving multiple organ systems failures in critically ill patients.
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
- Reduced patient complications by promptly identifying changes in condition and initiating appropriate interventions.
- Increased family involvement in patient care by providing timely updates on their loved one''s progress and addressing any concerns or questions they may have had.
- Facilitated smooth patient transitions from the ICU to other units by providing detailed reports and recommendations for ongoing care.
- Participated in continuing education opportunities to remain current on best practices and advancements within the field of critical care nursing.
- Cared for wounds such as surgical sites and pressure sores to prevent infection and promote healing.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of implemented nursing interventions, adjusting care plans as needed to ensure continuous improvement in patient outcomes.
- Documented and carried out directives of primary intensivists.
- Managed patient flow effectively through timely placements upon admission as well as coordinating smooth transfers and discharges.
- Delivered age-appropriate medical care for adult, adolescent, and geriatric ICU patients.
- Conducted patient assessments, recorded vitals, and analyzed records and charts to define care requirements.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Troy University
Troy, AL05.1999
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Troy University
Troy, AL12.1992
Skills
- Operating room safety
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Patient positioning
- Patient safety
- Critical thinking
- Circulating nurse skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Pre-surgery assessments
- Procedure room preparation
- Training staff
- Preoperative care
Certification
Basic Life Support - BLS
Advanced Cardiac Life Support - ACLS
Timeline
Operating Room Registered Nurse
Montgomery Surgical Center
07.2023 - Current
Operating Room Registered Nurse
Baptist Medical Center East
03.2019 - 07.2023
Operating Room and PACU Registered Nurse
L V Stabler Hospital
10.2009 - 01.2019
Director of Hospice
Evergreen Medical Center Hospice
05.2005 - 09.2009
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Evergreen Medical Center
07.2000 - 05.2005
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
L V Stabler Hospital
06.1999 - 01.2001
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Troy University
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Troy University