Lisa Vargas
West Farmington,ME
Summary
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
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
RN Disease Investigator (REMOTE POSITION)
Maine Center for Disease Control
Augusta, ME
12.2020 - 04.2025
- Educated patients and families on available community resources, facilitating access to necessary support services.
- Improved patient satisfaction scores by providing timely follow-ups and addressing concerns promptly.
- Ensured compliance with healthcare regulations and standards, conducting regular reviews of patient care activities.
- Provided emotional support to patients coping with chronic illness or end-of-life decisions, fostering resilience during difficult times.
- Educated patients and families on health management, treatment options, and preventive measures.
- Advocated for community health resources, strengthening partnerships between healthcare providers and local organizations.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
Travel Nurse Skilled Nursing Facility
CORE Medical Services
Skowhegan, ME
01.2016 - 11.2020
- Demonstrated adaptability in rapidly adjusting to changing unit assignments, consistently maintaining high-quality care delivery across various clinical settings.
- Maintained excellent time management skills during periods of high patient turnover while consistently delivering compassionate and patient-centered care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop and implement individualized care plans tailored to meet patients'' specific needs.
- Increased patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and timely nursing care to diverse populations.
- Developed rapport with patients from diverse backgrounds while promoting trust and open communication throughout their treatment journey.
- Managed a high patient caseload with efficiency and attention to detail, ensuring that each individual received personalized care tailored to their unique needs.
- Served as a resource for colleagues seeking guidance on clinical best practices and procedures, fostering an atmosphere of continuous learning and professional development.
- Delivered high-quality patient care during emergency situations, remaining calm under pressure and effectively prioritizing tasks according to urgency.
- Utilized strong assessment skills in identifying early warning signs of complications or deterioration in patients'' conditions, allowing for prompt interventions when necessary.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Assisted in training new nursing staff on best practices and organizational policies.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes.
Home Health RN- Adult/Pediatric (SKILLED HOMECARE)
Home Hope and Healing Inc
Smithfield, ME
01.2010 - 01.2019
- Developed strong relationships with patients'' families, providing emotional support while addressing concerns or questions about care plans.
- Mentored new nursing staff, contributing to a supportive work environment and improved retention rates.
- Provided physical assessments, medication, and chronic disease management to home health patients.
- Participated in professional development opportunities regularly to stay current on best practices in the field of nursing.
- Managed complex cases of critically ill patients, ensuring optimal treatment plans were executed effectively.
- Utilized advanced clinical skills such as wound care management or IV therapy administration, leading to faster recovery times for patients treated under my supervision.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Coordinated with physicians, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless continuity of care for patients.
- Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
- Trained, guided, supported and supervised home health aide care providers.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient progress, treatments administered, and other pertinent information for thorough recordkeeping.
- Improved patient quality of life by delivering compassionate and empathetic support during home visits.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by closely monitoring patients'' conditions and addressing potential complications early on.
- Ensured regulatory compliance in all aspects of home health nursing practice, maintaining current licensure and staying abreast of the latest industry standards.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
Manager of Clinical Practice
Gentiva Home Health Services
Farmington ME
07.2009 - 11.2012
- Led operational oversight of clinical staff, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations and organizational standards.
- Implemented process improvements that enhanced patient care quality and streamlined service delivery.
- Developed training programs for new hires, fostering knowledge retention and skill proficiency among staff.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary team meetings to facilitate communication and collaboration across departments.
- Developed strong working relationships with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to foster a collaborative environment.
- Improved employee morale through consistent recognition of individual accomplishments, fostering a positive work culture within the clinic.
- Spearheaded and implemented new projects to expand scope of engagement.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing
Capella University RN- MSN Bridge Program
Minneapolis, MN06-2027
Certificate RN Case Management - Nursing
National RN Practice Development Center
Blue Mounds, WI03-2026
Associate of Science - Nursing
University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME06-1995
Diploma in Nursing - Nursing
St Francis Hospital School of Nursing
Jersey City, NJ06-1985
Skills
- Skilled in Excel for organizing data
- Clinical decision-making
- Elderly care expertise
- Public health engagement
- Cultural heritage knowledge
- Proficient in clinical evaluations
- Physical assessments
- Client case coordination
- Analytical problem-solving
- Electronic medical records management
- In-home care
- Comprehensive discharge planning expertise
- Documentation and charting
Timeline
RN Disease Investigator (REMOTE POSITION)
Maine Center for Disease Control
12.2020 - 04.2025
Travel Nurse Skilled Nursing Facility
CORE Medical Services
01.2016 - 11.2020
Home Health RN- Adult/Pediatric (SKILLED HOMECARE)
Home Hope and Healing Inc
01.2010 - 01.2019
Manager of Clinical Practice
Gentiva Home Health Services
07.2009 - 11.2012
Associate of Science - Nursing
University of Southern Maine
Master of Science - Nursing
Capella University RN- MSN Bridge Program
Certificate RN Case Management - Nursing
National RN Practice Development Center
Diploma in Nursing - Nursing
St Francis Hospital School of Nursing
Lisa is currently attending a certificate program
Lisa is currently attending a certificate program in case management. Completion 3/12/26
Lisa in enrolled in a Masters Degree in Nursing Program Specializing in Case Management. Graduation anticipated in 2027