Mary Kathleen Merrick

• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
• Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
• Conducted daily shift briefs to inform staff of changes in patient care assignments.
• Mentored and supervised new hires, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.
• Maintained accurate documentation of patient information, enabling informed decision-making among the healthcare team members.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
• Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
• Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.

Functioned as the charge nurse on the child and adolescent unit from 1998 until it closed in 2022. I left the company for 2 years during this time. The first year was in 2007 when I was employed by the Memphis city schools as a teacher in the Career and Technology department at Kingsbury high school focusing on health care professions. I left the second time in 2017 to work for Oakridge Behavioral Health in West Memphis Arkansas as the ADON of both the acuter and residential child and adolescent units. The facility is no longer open. After the child and adolescent units closed at St Francis in 2022, I transferred to the adult and gerontology medical/psychiatric unit, also functioning as a charge nurse, until I left the position in 2024.

• Oversaw administration of medication, ensuring adherence to strict safety protocols, thereby maintaining patient safety.
• Managed supply of medical equipment and consumables, ensuring availability and reducing instances of stock-outs.
• Maintained high standards of patient care during high-volume shifts, managing patient assignments to optimize nurse workload.
• Advocated for patient needs, resulting in improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.
• Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
• Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.

• Managed staffing needs effectively, ensuring appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios during all shifts.
• Mentored new nursing staff, fostering professional growth and development while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Assisted in developing policies and procedures that were in compliance with state regulations, maintaining accreditation standards for the facility.
• Assisted in the recruitment, hiring, and retention of top nursing talent by participating in job fairs, conducting interviews, and providing mentorship to new hires.
• Collaborated with staff, management, and external groups to coordinate patient care.
• Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
• Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
• Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
• Conducted routine facility inspections, identifying areas needing improvement and eliminating hazards posed to staff and residents for continued compliance with associated regulations.
• Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
• Took a patient assignment if needed, to ensure that the children and adolescents continued to receive safe and effective care.
• Utilized strong and effective verbal de-escalation techniques in order to help the children and adolescents regain control as well as maintain calmness and safety on the units.
• Participated in morning administration meetings to ensure effective communication and continuity of care withing the departments.
• Evaluated work performance of 20 nursing personnel to determine wage increases and implement discipline.

• Optimized patient satisfaction through timely response to concerns and effective communication among staff members.
• Promoted a safe working environment by adhering to infection control policies and regularly reviewing safety protocols.
• Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
• Served as a liaison between nursing staff, physicians, and management, fostering open communication channels among all parties involved in patient care.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
• Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.