Maria De La Calle
Nurse
Barrington,IL
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate nurse with proven ability to provide patient care in fast-paced environment. Calm and level-headed when handling high-stress situations. Uses strong communication skills and humor to develop professional relationships with patients and families. Coordinate admission and discharge of patients. Plan and implement strategies for developing improved health care management. Proven problem solver with strong organizational skills, superb understanding of data collection and performance metrics.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
3
3
Certification
Work History
Assistant Clinical Nurse Manager
Advocate Aurora Children’s Hospital
Child Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit
09.2019 - 01.2023
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team to evaluate patient data and determine patient care plans.
- Monitored patients, evaluated results, and recommended further courses of treatment to optimize patient outcomes.
- Convened with Psychiatrist, Mental Health Counselors and Social Workers to develop family-centered programming.
- Developed and updated policies and procedures, maintaining compliance with statutory, regulatory and local, state and federal guidelines relating to HIPAA, benefits administration and general liability.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to 30 direct reports.
- Lead team through implementation of EPIC computer charting system.
- Developed weekly newsletter improving communication, sharing opportunities for growth, education and safety.
- Ensured that DNV Healthcare Accreditation standards were maintained and inspection produced favorable outcomes.
- Used MIDAS, EXCEL, EPIC, and CIPHER to track patient status, treatments and outcomes while maintaining complete data confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Spearheaded revitalization of groups in collaboration with our mental health counselors and created standardized charting templates to increase scope of education and engagement.
- Assessed monthly assault, restraint, and fall metrics and adjusted operational plans to uphold quality standards.
- Achieved credentialing to teach WELLE de-escalation techniques to Advocate Hospital team members.
- Partnered with Medical Director during COVID to transform in-person day hospital program to remote program using telemedicine.
- Piloted Intense Remote Behavioral Health program (IRBH) for patients needing acute inpatient psychiatric treatment who were COVID positive and on other inpatient units.
- Coached team through successful MAGNET accreditation.
- Maintained safety and unit operations during year-long construction project to improve safety and increase patient beds.
Nurse/Behavioral Health Charge Nurse
Advocate Aurora Children's Hospital
Child Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit
05.2018 - 09.2019
- Provided support, ran groups, and provided therapeutic communication during 1:1 sessions with inpatient and day hospital clients.
- Completed pre-admission screenings and physical and mental health assessments for psychiatric patients.
- Educated patients and families about symptoms, medications, and coping skills in order to increase participation and compliance.
- Administered medications and assessed side effects, successes and failures of new medications.
- Partnered with social workers, counselors and doctors to develop plans of care.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patient.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
Clinical Lead Charge Nurse
Northwest Community Hospital, Linden Oaks
Adult Residential Addiction
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Teamed with Program manager, Medical Director, and Social Workers to develop Adult Residential Addictions Unit at NWCH.
- Instrumental in interviewing, hiring, and training clinical team.
- Implemented effective strategies and care plans to improve patient outcomes and meet recovery objectives.
- Maintained nursing standards, QI measures and JCAHO requirements.
- Provided nursing care, medication administration, motivational interviewing, therapeutic communication, and support to residents with 16:1 ratio.
- Worked closely with case managers to provide care and managed direction of aftercare for clients.
- Ran DBT, CBT, and nursing education groups.
- Provided medication education for nursing, clients, and family members on medication-assisted treatments for drug and alcohol use disorders.
- Educated team members, patients, and family members on Vivitrol and Suboxone therapy.
- Recruited by MD to help start Vivitrol/ Suboxone clinic May 2017.
- Stayed current with health system initiatives and incorporated evidence-based practice and research into care routine.
- Encouraged employee participation in redesigning systems and processes to minimize risk of harmful errors.
Nurse/Behavioral Health Charge Nurse
Northwest Community Hospital
Adolescent Acute Behavioral Health
06.2014 - 01.2016
- Met with adolescent inpatients 1:1 providing support, therapeutic communication, and educational CBT and DBT groups.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety and rights of patients, maintaining nursing standards and providing care as needed.
- Partnered with Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors and Physicians to develop plans of care.
- Completed pre-admission screenings and physical and mental health assessments for psychiatric patients.
Public Health Nurse
Evanston Township High School, School Health Center
Evanston , IL
08.2012 - 06.2014
- Worked in conjunction with Physicians and APNs, triaging and treating students.
- Case management, referral, and follow up of patient appointments and return appointments for Health Center.
- Provided STI, birth control, and options counseling.
- Partnered with Vaccine for Kids to provide vaccinations free of cost, and maintained quality measures according to Illinois regulations.
- Closely collaborated with Evanston Health Department providing services to teens in need.
- Lead teens to Springfield, IL to lobby State Representatives for better healthcare laws.
- Partnered with Social Worker to provide structured therapeutic crisis intervention.
Registered Nurse, Critical Care Charge Nurse
Seattle Children’s Hospital
PICU/CVICU
09.2006 - 06.2012
- Charge nurse 48 bed critical care unit/bedside nurse
- Preceptor
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- ECMO, ECPR, and CRRT team member.
- Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.
- Chair of Shared Governance - Operations Committee, Safety & QI Committee, Multicultural Awareness Committee.
- Member of shared Governance - Policy Committee, Recruitment & Retention Committee, Research Committee.
Travel Registered Nurse, ICU
Cross Country TravCorps
Boca Raton, FL
03.2004 - 09.2006
- Travel RN in PICU/CICU Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian ~ New York, NY
- Travel RN in PICU/CICU Lucille Salter Packard Children’s Hospital ~ Palo Alto, CA
- Travel RN/ Charge RN CICU/PICU Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center ~ Seattle, WA
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Children’s Memorial Hospital
PICU/CVICU Chicago, IL
03.2000 - 02.2005
- Worked with critically ill patients, monitoring and reporting on conditions to maintain stats within optimal levels.
- Responded rapidly to critical codes to coordinate stabilization treatments and restore vital functions.
- Staff Nurse/Charge Nurse of 42 bed intensive care unit
- Leader in Shared Clinical Governance- Research Committee, Products Committee, Recruitment Retention Committee, and QI Committee.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Loyola University Chicago
Lake Shore Campus01.2000
Skills
- Operational Standards
- Care Coordination
- Project Implementation
- Daily/Monthly Audits for Quality Assurance
- Privacy Compliance
- Patient Record Analysis
- De-escalation Certifications WELLE & CPI
- Microsoft and Google Suite proficient
- Motivational interviewing
- Time management
- Autonomous and Adaptable
- Creative problem-solver
Certification
BLS
WELLE
CPI
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Assistant Clinical Nurse Manager
Advocate Aurora Children’s Hospital
09.2019 - 01.2023
Nurse/Behavioral Health Charge Nurse
Advocate Aurora Children's Hospital
05.2018 - 09.2019
Clinical Lead Charge Nurse
Northwest Community Hospital, Linden Oaks
01.2016 - 06.2018
Nurse/Behavioral Health Charge Nurse
Northwest Community Hospital
06.2014 - 01.2016
Public Health Nurse
Evanston Township High School, School Health Center
08.2012 - 06.2014
Registered Nurse, Critical Care Charge Nurse
Seattle Children’s Hospital
09.2006 - 06.2012
Travel Registered Nurse, ICU
Cross Country TravCorps
03.2004 - 09.2006
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Children’s Memorial Hospital
03.2000 - 02.2005
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Loyola University Chicago