MARY M GALLAGHER BSN RN
Bickford Assisted Living and Memory Care
Yorkville,Illinois
Work Preference
Desired Job Title
Director of Nursing
Work Type
Full Time
Location Preference
On-Site
Location:
Yorkville, IllinoisYorkville, IL
Open to relocation:
No
Important To Me
Work-life balanceCompany CultureHealthcare benefitsPaid time off401k match
Dedicated Hospice Professional experienced in providing compassionate patient care and support to families. Delivered exceptional outcomes through effective collaboration, guidance, and education of healthcare teams while ensuring compliance with CMS documentation standards. Focused on enhancing care quality and fostering a positive environment for both patients and colleagues.
1
Certification
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Part-time Wellness Nurse in Memory Care
11 Months
Bickford Assisted Living and Memory Care | 10.2025 - Current
- Served 22 patients, providing medications and treatments ordered by MD.
- Administer medications and treatments to residents according to established care plans.
- Conduct health assessments and monitor vital signs to ensure resident well-being.
- Educate residents and families on health management and wellness practices.
Patient care supervisor
6 Months
Vitas Hospice and Palliative Care | 03.2025 - 09.2025
- Directed nurses, social workers, chaplains, and the bereavement team. Hired and fired all personnel. Established education plans. Supervise IDG team meetings and record all necessary information in patient chart. Managed COPs, CHAPS, CAHPS, MDS, and contracts to maintain compliance and operational efficiency in hospice office. Review all incoming bills for appropriateness. Established and facilitated goals for employee development and organizational growth. Communicated with outside facilities, medical personnel, families, and patients.
- Supervised patient care teams, ensuring high-quality services and compliance with hospice regulations.
- Developed and implemented care plans tailored to individual patient needs and family preferences.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices in palliative care and emotional support techniques.
Patient care supervisor
8 Months
Three Oaks Hospice and Palliative Care | 01.2024 - 09.2024
- Directed nurses, social workers, chaplains, and bereavement team. Hired and fired all personnel. Established education plans. Supervise IDG team meetings and record all necessary information in patient chart. Managed compliance with COPs, CHAPS, CAHPS, MDS, and contracts in fast-paced hospice office. Review all incoming bills for appropriateness. Established and facilitated goals for the improvement and growth of employees and the company. Communicated with outside facilities, medical personnel, families, and patients.
- Supervised patient care teams to ensure compliance with hospice regulations and standards.
- Developed training programs for new hires, enhancing staff competency and patient care quality.
- Implemented process improvements that streamlined patient intake procedures and increased efficiency.
Director of Nursing
2 Years 6 Months
Heritage Hospice and Palliative Care | 07.2021 - 01.2024
- Directed nurses, social workers, chaplains, and the bereavement team. Hired and fired all personnel. Established education plans for staff. Supervise IDG team meetings and record all necessary information in patient chart. Manage COPs, CHAPS, CAHPS, MDS, contracts, etc. for busy hospice office. Review all incoming bills for appropriateness. Facilitated goal-setting for employee development and organizational growth. Communicated with outside facilities, medical personnel, families, and patients.
- Led nursing operations to ensure high-quality patient care and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Developed and implemented policies that enhanced patient satisfaction and improved service delivery.
- Mentored nursing staff, fostering professional development and enhancing team performance.
Director of Nursing, Bereavement Counselor
3 Months
5 Star Hospice & Palliative Care | 03.2021 - 06.2021
- Directed nursing staff. Managed all paperwork and patient visits. Ordered supplies and medications. Managed all office assignments, scheduling, and hiring.
- Directed nursing operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and quality care protocols.
- Developed and implemented patient care plans enhancing hospice services and patient satisfaction.
- Led multidisciplinary teams to optimize end-of-life care and improve overall service delivery.
Night Shift Supervisor
2 Years 2 Months
Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care - Dublin, CA | 01.2019 - 03.2021
- Off-shift RN for hospice patients. Delivered routine care for hospice patients in home, SNF, Board & Care, or other facilities throughout Chicagoland Area. Provide symptom relief for transitioning and actively dying patients. Educated patients and families on hospice care, medications, end of life journey, and available resources. Reported to triage team and case managers to ensure continuity of exceptional patient care. Worked on-call independently to provide exceptional care to hospice patients.
- Supervised night shift operations, ensuring adherence to care protocols and standards.
- Managed staffing schedules, optimizing team coverage for patient needs during night hours.
- Trained and mentored staff on hospice care practices and compliance regulations.
Triage RN, RN Case Manager, After Hours, Community Outreach Liaison, Admission Nurse, and After Hours Supervisor
1 Year 8 Months
Hope Hospice – Home Health | 05.2017 - 01.2019
- Engaged patients in hospital to discuss hospice care options and address needs. Arranged hospice admission in hospital and/or home. Provided initial history and physical examination for admission, and provided education to family and caregivers. Presented Hope Hospice to hospitals in the Bay Area at health fairs and hospital meetings. Met with doctors in the community to explain resources provided by Hope Hospice-St. Clair Home Health Care. Provided health care education to nursing home and assisted living personnel. Presented cases to review board of Hope Hospice-Home Health for approval. Provided case management for multiple patients on hospice. Responded to after-hours calls and conducted visits to ensure continuity of care for hospice patients. Delivered compassionate care and support to patients and families, enhancing their hospice experience. Presented cases interdisciplinary team meetings (IDT), provided recertifications of patients, updated and maintained care plans. Cultivated relationships with multidisciplinary team members.
8 Months
MGA Healthcare | 09.2016 - 05.2017
- UCSF Pediatric Brain Center (09/2016-10/2016) Phone triage with families of pediatric patients, prescription refills, medication adjustments per MD instructions, communication liaison between MD, family and other healthcare providers. Strong customer service and attention to detail while providing comfort and support to families.
- UCSF Cardiology (10/2016-01/2017) Assisted in establishing a multidisciplinary phone hotline to disseminate information regarding equipment utilized during surgery. Managed phone calls and documentation for the hotline while providing accurate information to patients and their families, and providing reassurance and comfort.
4 Years 7 Months
Travel Nursing MSN | 09.2011 - 04.2016
- Medical-Surgical Nursing and inpatient rehabilitation nursing for TBI, orthopedic surgical, and post-CVA patients. Provided medical-surgical nursing care including medication administration, charting, wound care, medical treatments, assisting with the multidisciplinary team to cover all needs of the patients. Provided assistance in the team approach to rehabilitation of patients on the Acute Rehabilitation Unit including teaching, supporting the Rehabilitation team, and providing encouragement and comfort to patients.
2 Months
Maxim Home Health Care | 07.2015 - 09.2015
- RN home care for pediatric patients. Responsible for care of intubated and ventilator-dependent children. Responsible for the care of all equipment, medication administration, suctioning, personal care and ADL of pediatric patients.
Staff Nurse (RN) for Specialty Clinics (Urology, Dermatology, Rheumatology/Arthritis, GI, Vascular, Endocrinology, Neurology/Neurologic Surgery, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Eye/ENT) and Emergency Department
4 Years 4 Months
San Francisco Veterans: Administration Medical Center | 03.2011 - 07.2015
- Initiated contact with patients, administered treatments, provided medication, and managed dressings and wound care. Educated patients and scheduled follow-up appointments, procedures, and surgeries. Assisted with MOHS/DSC, UDP, cystography, and retinal injections. Collaborated with Rapid Response and Code Blue teams, and communicated effectively with physicians, staff, patients, and their family members.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
LVN/LPN in Medical Practice Outpatient Clinic
1 Year 7 Months
03.2010 - 10.2011
- Responsible for initial contact with patients during clinic visits, medication administration treatments and patient support. Communication with the nursing team. Community Living Center (LTC/SNF) Responsible for direct patient care and medication administration, as well as patient support, communication with staff and physicians, and patients’ family members. Assisted with Hospice patients providing break relief for RN on duty.
- LVN/LPN for psychiatric home health care. Responsible for the safety of psychiatric patients in their homes. Medication administration, patient support and safety, participation in care management with psychiatrists and other home care personnel.
- LVN/LPN on psychiatric unit including adolescent, adult and emergency services. Responsible for one-on-one counseling, group sessions, patient support, medication administration and medical treatments as necessary. Communication with staff and physicians.
- Assist with history-taking, medication administration, patient support, scheduling of appointments and procedures with outside facilities, etc. in a busy Oncology practice. Also floated to other departments including allergy, cardiology and internal medicine as a LVN/LPN. Communication with staff and physicians.
- LVN/LPN on Medical-Surgical floor. Responsible for ADLs, medication administration, IV set-up, transport of patients, charting, procedures and dressings as deemed necessary by MD. Communication with staff and physicians.
- Triage and care of patients in urgent care setting; medication administration, assist with minor procedures, history-taking, scheduling of appointments and procedures with outside facilities in an urgent care and clinical office setting.
- Various positions beginning as a home health aide, schedule coordinator and Office Manager
Education
RN, BSN - Nursing
Western Governors University - Salt Lake City
01-2020
RN, ASN - Nursing
Evergreen Valley College - San Jose
05-2011
Certificate - VN
Los Medanos College - Pittsburg
05-2003
Certification - IV
06-2003
Certification - CPR/BLS
07-2024
- EKG Interpretation certified
- Ventilator Care certified
- Certified Bereavement Counselor
- Diffusing Assaultive Behavior certified
Skills
IV certified
CPR/BLS certified
ACLS certified
Assault behavior de-escalation. Effective communication. Electronic charting proficiency. Case management experience. Behavioral de-escalation training. CMS hospice guidelines knowledge. Staff education. Palliative care support.
Skin integrity management
Emotional support techniques
Geriatric support
Able to use electronic charting including EPIC
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 22 staff members.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Achieved 53% cost cuts by completing inventory survey, cost comparison, and inventory tracking with accuracy and efficiency.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Past member of ENSA (Student Nurses’ Association) at Evergreen Valley College
- Past president and vice president of SNA (Student Nurses’ Association) at Los Medanos College
- Past member of Veterans’ Committee with Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s office
- CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) of Foster City CA member and volunteer
- Member of Illinois Nursing Federation
Certification
Illinois RN License 041.475256, California RN License 800489
Timeline
Part-time Wellness Nurse in Memory Care
Bickford Assisted Living and Memory Care
10.2025 - CurrentRead more
Patient care supervisor
Vitas Hospice and Palliative Care
03.2025 - 09.2025Read more
Patient care supervisor
Three Oaks Hospice and Palliative Care
01.2024 - 09.2024Read more
Director of Nursing
Heritage Hospice and Palliative Care
07.2021 - 01.2024Read more
Director of Nursing, Bereavement Counselor
5 Star Hospice & Palliative Care
03.2021 - 06.2021Read more
Night Shift Supervisor
Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care
01.2019 - 03.2021Read more
Triage RN, RN Case Manager, After Hours, Community Outreach Liaison, Admission Nurse, and After Hours Supervisor
Hope Hospice – Home Health
05.2017 - 01.2019Read more
MGA Healthcare
09.2016 - 05.2017Read more
Maxim Home Health Care
07.2015 - 09.2015Read more
Travel Nursing MSN
09.2011 - 04.2016Read more
Staff Nurse (RN) for Specialty Clinics (Urology, Dermatology, Rheumatology/Arthritis, GI, Vascular, Endocrinology, Neurology/Neurologic Surgery, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Eye/ENT) and Emergency Department
San Francisco Veterans: Administration Medical Center
03.2011 - 07.2015Read more
LVN/LPN in Medical Practice Outpatient Clinic
03.2010 - 10.2011Read more
- ,
Read more
- Certification, CPR/BLS
Read more
- Certification, IV
Read more
Los Medanos College - Certificate, VN
Read more
Evergreen Valley College - RN, ASN, Nursing
Read more
Western Governors University - RN, BSN, Nursing
Read more
Section name
- MGA Healthcare: September 2016 – May 2017
- UCSF Pediatric Brain Center (09/2016-10/2016)
- UCSF Cardiology (10/2016-01/2017)
- Travel Nursing MSN: September 2011 – April 2016
- Maxim Home Health Care: July 2015 – September 2015
- San Francisco Veterans: Administration Medical Center March 2011 – July 2015
- LVN/LPN in Medical Practice Outpatient Clinic March 2010 – October 2011.
- Responsible for initial contact with patients during clinic visits, medication administration treatments and patient support. Communication with the nursing team.
- Community Living Center (LTC/SNF)
- Responsible for direct patient care and medication administration, as well as patient support, communication with staff and physicians, and patients’ family members.
- Assisted with Hospice patients providing break relief for RN on duty.
- Koved Care September 2007 - October 2010
- Mills-Peninsula Medical Center September 2006 - October 2007
- Menlo Medical Clinic July 2005 - May 2006
- San Mateo Medical Center January 2004 - July 2005
- Mariner Medical Center 2003 to 2010
- Carepoint Home Health Agency 1980-1990
Training
- Final Semester completed in Med-Surg and Behavioral Health at Palo Alto VA Medical Center.
- Completed a 112 hour preceptorship at Palo Alto VA Medical Center in the Emergency Department and Emergency Department Observation Unit (24 hour postoperative observation for non-critical patients).
Awards
Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor graduate
Personal Information
- ID Type: Illinois RN License
- ID Number: 041.475256