Mary Jo Smith
Copperas Cove,TX
Summary
Astute PACU Nurse possessing skills in effective communication, patient assessment and pain management methods. An advocate for top-notch patient care. Determined to effectively comfort patients of all ages.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
3
3
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Aveanna
Temple, TX
03.2024 - Current
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
Registered Nurse
Luke And Associates
Rockledge, FL
02.2023 - 01.2024
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Reduced hospital readmissions through effective discharge planning, patient education, and follow-up care coordination.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
Registered Nurse, PACU
Advent Health Central Texas
Killeen, TX
11.2017 - 02.2023
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
- Provided didactic and clinical instructions to orient new nurses and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
Registered Nurse Procedural
Baylor Scott & White
Killeen, TX
09.2001 - 07.2016
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
- Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
- Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Evaluated healthcare needs, goals for treatment and available resources of each patient and connected to optimal providers and care.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use and disease management.
- Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence.
- Secured controlled narcotics and distributed medication on schedule to meet patient needs and minimize misuse opportunities.
- Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions.
- Reviewed post-operative orders and continuously monitored patients' post-operative vitals, set up PCA and fluids and oriented patients to unit.
- Provided exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, extensive wound care and rehabilitation.
- Managed quality care for patients with heart failure, end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease.
- Participated in nursing simulation activities, evidence-based practice project implementation and competency development to further nursing education.
- Oversaw delivery of care for patients on medical-surgical unit, providing direct care, delegating nursing assignments, and supervising team comprised of nurses, LPNs, technicians and unit clerks.
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy.
- Provided didactic and clinical instructions to orient new nurses and potential student nurses to achieve training outcomes.
- Kept optimal supply levels in treatment rooms, triage and other areas to meet typical patient loads.
- Teamed on trauma and emergency interventions involving serious head injuries, gunshot wounds and thoracic trauma.
- Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Delivered proper care to victims of domestic violence at urgent care clinic.
- Worked Pacu, Day Surgery- pre and post op and as a procedural nurse in pain management.
Education
Licensed Vocational Nurse - Nursing
Central Texas College
Killeen, TXAssociate Degree In Nursing - Nursing
Central Texas College
Killeen, TX01.1999
Skills
- Endotracheal Extubation
- Pulmonary Assessments
- IV Fluid Administration
- Perioperative Care
- Emergency Interventions
- Patient Recovery Assessments
- Medication Administration
- Blood Transfusion Administration
- Perioperative Management
- Fluid Intake and Output Monitoring
- Vital Sign Monitoring
- Patient Monitoring
- Task and Work Prioritization
- Understanding of Medical Terms
- Catheter Monitoring
Certification
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- ACLS
- BLS
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteImportant To Me
Work-life balanceCompany CultureHealthcare benefitsCareer advancementPaid time off4-day work weekTimeline
Registered Nurse
Aveanna
03.2024 - Current
Registered Nurse
Luke And Associates
02.2023 - 01.2024
Registered Nurse, PACU
Advent Health Central Texas
11.2017 - 02.2023
Registered Nurse Procedural
Baylor Scott & White
09.2001 - 07.2016
Licensed Vocational Nurse - Nursing
Central Texas College
Associate Degree In Nursing - Nursing
Central Texas College