Linda Whittaker
Melbourne,Florida
Summary
Insightful, reliable, and educated registered nurse with 17+ years of clinical experience. Committed to delivering best-in-class patient care through effective education and counseling. Proven leadership focused on increasing and enhancing patient care and satisfaction. Team-orientated and reliable with expert healthcare knowledge, clear verbal and written communication skills, and sound clinical judgment. Highly proficient in developing strong education programs, robust curricula and engaging lesson plans. Focused on helping students achieve personal and professional goals while improving patient care. Accomplished in developing robust nursing programs by working with colleagues to create up-to-date curriculum, lesson plans and course materials. Prepared to bring talent, leadership and expertise to growing nursing program.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Nursing Faculty
Jersey College School Of Nursing
07.2023 - Current
- Enhanced student learning experiences by incorporating clinical simulations and real-world scenarios into lesson plans.
- Contributed to development of comprehensive nursing curriculum, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and industry best practice
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to provide students with diverse clinical experiences, fostering well-rounded skill sets.
- Improved simulation accuracy by refining model parameters and incorporating real-world data.
- Mentored and guided students through challenging clinical rotations, offering support and constructive feedback for continuous improvement.
- Evaluated student performance through assessments, providing timely feedback and individualized coaching to promote academic success.
- Facilitated engaging classroom discussions on evidence-based nursing practices, encouraging critical thinking and application of knowledge.
- Served as liaison between nursing program and clinical sites, establishing partnerships for enhanced student experiences.
- Implemented innovative teaching methods such as flipped classrooms, maximizing student engagement and comprehension of complex concepts.
- Developed strong rapport with students by maintaining open communication channels and demonstrating empathy towards their unique challenges.
- Promoted culture of safety within clinical setting by emphasizing adherence to established protocols and ethical guidelines.
- Participated in regular faculty meetings to discuss best practices, share resources, and develop strategies for continuous program improvement.
Registered Nurse
Rockledge Regional Medical Center
12.2021 - 07.2023
- Direct development and deployment of education programs for nurses and patient care techs
- Facilitated staff education via hands-on safety and development drills
- Provided didactic and clinical instructions to orient new and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes
- Collaborated with physicians to assess patients quickly and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions
- Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment, and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care
- Educated patients, families, and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management, and lifestyle options.
- Evaluated effectiveness of existing patient education materials, making recommendations for improvements where necessary.
- Facilitated group workshops on various health topics, enhancing peer support and shared learning experiences among participants.
- Stayed current on emerging trends in patient education best practices through regular professional development activities.
- Utilized multimedia tools such as videos, pamphlets, and interactive presentations to effectively engage patients in the learning process.
- Mentored junior staff members on effective teaching techniques, contributing to culture of continuous improvement within organization.
- Coordinated community outreach events and seminars focused on raising public awareness about various health issues and preventive measures.
Lead Maternity Instructor
Keiser University
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Improved student comprehension by incorporating diverse teaching methods and materials.
- Boosted student performance by providing individualized support and targeted feedback.
- Improved simulation training effectiveness by developing and implementing comprehensive curriculum plans.
- Enhanced student experience through creation of realistic and immersive simulation scenarios.
- Enhanced classroom collaboration through implementation of group projects and team-building activities.
- Promoted positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistent classroom management techniques.
- Assisted in curriculum development, ensuring alignment with state standards and best practices for effective instruction.
- Mentored new teachers, sharing valuable insights and strategies for classroom success.
- Evaluated student assessments to identify areas of growth and improvement, adjusting instructional strategies accordingly.
- Tracked student progress, frequently checking in with struggling students and identifying root causes of problems.
- Developed and presented classroom rules, guidelines, and objectives.
- Facilitated learning with creation of engaging written and oral assignments.
Registered Nurse
Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center
10.2017 - 12.2021
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined the course of action
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions
- Monitored fetal condition by interpreting and tracking EFM readings, identifying decelerations or abnormalities, and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity
- Managed care from admission to discharge
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
Nurse Manager
Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center
11.2014 - 11.2017
- Developed strategy to target nursing and patient satisfaction issues, improve response and patient care quality, and suggest actionable improvements to promote hospital-wide quality and safety initiatives
- Managed 110 nurses and assistive staff in fifty-four-bed Ortho/ Trauma step-down unit by providing comprehensive nursing guidance and maintaining outstanding patient satisfaction and care standards
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, physicians, and patients by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise
- Developed departmental goals and objectives to improve satisfactory ratings with patients.
- Enhanced patient care by implementing evidence-based nursing practices and protocols.
- Streamlined nursing operations for increased efficiency by optimizing staff scheduling and resource allocation.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores by fostering team-oriented environment among nursing staff.
- Reduced hospital readmission rates with proactive discharge planning and thorough patient education.
- Developed comprehensive training programs for new hires, ensuring quality care and consistency in nursing practices.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to support professional growth of nursing staff members.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for patients with complex needs.
- Managed budgets and controlled costs, achieving financial targets without compromising patient care quality.
- Implemented infection control measures, resulting in reduced incidence of hospital-acquired infections.
- Monitored clinical outcomes closely, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
- Established strong relationships with patients'' families, providing support and education throughout treatment process.
- Championed continuous learning among staff members, organizing regular educational workshops and seminars.
Staff Development Coordinator
Life Care Center
02.2014 - 09.2016
- Enhanced employee skillsets by developing and implementing comprehensive staff development programs.
- Improved team performance with focused training sessions tailored to individual roles and responsibilities.
- Increased employee retention rates through targeted professional development opportunities and support.
- Streamlined onboarding processes, providing new hires with necessary tools for success in their roles.
- Bolstered overall staff competency by regularly evaluating training needs and adjusting programs accordingly.
- Facilitated open communication channels among employees, fostering collaborative work environment conducive to growth and learning.
- Organized regular staff meetings to discuss progress, address concerns, and celebrate achievements.
- Implemented effective tracking systems to monitor employee progress within training programs, ensuring timely completion and desired results.
- Created engaging workshops that catered to diverse learning styles, increasing participant engagement and comprehension levels.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends related to staff development strategies, incorporating best practices into organizational processes as appropriate.
- Managed new employee orientation training process for more than one hundred employees each year.
RN Clinical Manager /Patient Care Coordinator
Wuesthoff Medical Center
02.2004 - 11.2014
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy
- Oversaw delivery of care for patients on forty- two-bed medical-surgical unit, providing direct care, delegating nursing assignments, and supervising team comprised of nurses, LPNs, technicians, and unit clerks Interim Nurse Manager for 75 staff members on forty-two -bed Medical/ Surgical unit
- Reviewed each step of patient care and made proactive adjustments to avert issues
- Developed strategic relationships with general practitioners and coworkers to build a strong network
- Completed documentation of care, hospital actions, and patient activities
- Evaluated effectiveness of current strategies with interdisciplinary team and utilized recommendations to make permanent improvements to care standards
- Delivered excellent patient experiences and direct care.
Education
Master of Science - Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT03.2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT08.2019
Associate of Science - Nursing
Keiser University
Melbourne, FL07.2007
Skills
- Student Evaluation
- Clinical Supervision
- Teaching Strategies
- Clinical Expertise
- Ethical Considerations
- Simulation Facilitation
- Staff Development
- Team Building
- Curriculum Planning
- Excellent Communication
- Organizational Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Mentoring Proficiency
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Relationship Building
Timeline
Nursing Faculty
Jersey College School Of Nursing
07.2023 - Current
Registered Nurse
Rockledge Regional Medical Center
12.2021 - 07.2023
Lead Maternity Instructor
Keiser University
01.2020 - 01.2022
Registered Nurse
Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center
10.2017 - 12.2021
Nurse Manager
Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center
11.2014 - 11.2017
Staff Development Coordinator
Life Care Center
02.2014 - 09.2016
RN Clinical Manager /Patient Care Coordinator
Wuesthoff Medical Center
02.2004 - 11.2014
Master of Science - Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Western Governors University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Keiser University