Meghan Patterson
Lawrence,NJ
Summary
Experienced nursing professional bringing demonstrated clinical expertise, leadership skills, and technical knowledge with more than 10 years of experience of comprehensive hands-on experience as a nurse in long-term care. Proficient in updating charts, monitoring medications, and working with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient care. Quality-driven and efficient with strong interpersonal abilities.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Infection Control Preventionist
Waters Edge Health Care and Rehabilitation
Trenton , New Jersey
11.2021 - Current
- Consulted with local and state health departments to report infectious cases.
- Implemented CDC and OSHA driven infection prevention and control policies to guide hospital departments.
- Recognized areas for improved performance to protect employees, patients and visitors from infectious and communicable conditions.
- Investigated clusters and outbreaks to identify source of infection, educating healthcare personnel regarding short and long term control measures.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to control specific disease entities and support quality initiatives.
- Identified trends for hospital infections, interpreting surveillance data to develop risk reduction strategies.
- Delivered care and treatment reflective of appropriate infection control techniques and universal precautions.
- Utilized graphic tools to present quality performance improvement projects.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
Unit Manager
Waters Edge Healthcare and Rehabilitation
Trenton , NJ
05.2014 - 11.2021
- Mentored nursing staff and set unit goals and standards.
- Analyzed patients records to determine efficiency and effectiveness of care.
- Initiated audit process to evaluate thoroughness of documentation and maintenance of facility standards.
- Identified and oriented new staff members before deployment to assigned stations.
- Oversaw resident care to promote quality physical, mental and psychological treatment.
- Coordinated ongoing educational objectives to enhance staff competencies in safety, quality and core measures.
- Implemented ongoing educational objectives to improve staff competencies in safety, quality and core measures.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary staff to improve overall patient care and response times.
- Led and motivated employees through supervision, training and coaching on duties and daily operational activities.
- Facilitated peer-to-peer conflict resolution.
- Initiated training and education programs for supporting healthcare staff.
- Implemented new hire training to further develop skills and initiate discussions on task prioritization.
- Participated in meetings with department heads to discuss census information, admissions and discharges for residents.
- Reviewed and assessed staff processes, reducing hazards posed for residents and staff while promoting regulatory compliance.
- Collaborated with Quality Team to develop outcomes statistics.
- Headed clinical oversight to devise and establish policies, procedures and best practices in alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Solicited medical history information from patients to provide best and most effective medical advice.
- Coordinated delivery of exceptional patient care by evaluating workflows and facilitating positive changes.
- Trained and qualified staff per board requirements as well as national, state and local regulations.
LPN
Waters Edge Health Care and Rehabilitation
Trenton , NJ
11.2010 - 05.2014
- Collected and documented vital signs to track current patient conditions.
- Monitored patient's respiration activity, blood pressure and blood glucose levels in response to medical administration.
- Communicated concerns regarding patients' status, care and environment to nursing supervisors, clinical care supervisors, and case managers.
- Documented patient intake and dietary requirements and aided with feeding and monitoring.
- Answered patient and family questions to educate on optimal treatment procedures.
- Looked for physical, emotional, and symptomatic changes in patient condition and obtained necessary care for medical concerns.
- Promoted patient satisfaction by assisting with bathing, dressing, toileting and exercising.
- Followed rehabilitation and treatment care plans to accelerate patient recovery, minimize pain and optimize patient outcomes.
- Assisted physicians with examinations and patient scans during diagnostic processes.
- Prevented drug interactions and contributed to correct diagnosis by recording patient health information, monitoring vitals and updating patient files.
- Collected biological specimens and packaged for laboratory transport to complete diagnostic tests.
- Examined and treated patient lacerations, contusions, and physical symptoms and referred patients to other medical professionals when necessary.
- Managed intravenous medication to stabilize patient heart and blood pressure.
- Used sterile techniques to prepare patients for procedures.
- Charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Addressed patient care needs, collected vitals, dressed wounds and managed catheters.
- Cared for patients' acute and chronic wounds by changing dressings and applying medicated compounds.
- Observed strict confidentiality and safeguarded all patient-related information.
- Answered patient calls, identified issues and determined how best to provide assistance within parameters established by facility and supervisor.
- Inserted, cared for and removed patients' catheters and monitored fluid output.
- Administered prescribed medications and started intravenous fluids to address patient symptoms and underlying etiologies.
- Monitored infection control procedures to verify facility-wide health and safety.
- Assisted with patients' nutritional needs by setting up self-feeding assistance or directly feeding individuals with severely limited mobility.
- Evaluated patient care procedural changes for effectiveness and made necessary adjustments.
- Collected biological samples for routine laboratory testing to assist diagnostic processes.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Chamberlain University
Downers Grove, IL12-2023
Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
11.2021
Diploma - Practical Nursing
Lincoln Technical Institute
New Jersey 07.2010
Skills
- Revising Policies
- Report Writing
- Managing Data
- Surveillance Strategies
- Conducting Investigations
- Developing Prevention Policies
- Overseeing Isolation Procedures
- Testing Management
- PPE Use
- Team Building
- First Aid/CPR
- Quality Improvement Initiatives
- Patient Care Management
- Immunization Administration
- Trend Tracking
Timeline
Infection Control Preventionist
Waters Edge Health Care and Rehabilitation
11.2021 - Current
Unit Manager
Waters Edge Healthcare and Rehabilitation
05.2014 - 11.2021
LPN
Waters Edge Health Care and Rehabilitation
11.2010 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Chamberlain University
Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training
Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
Diploma - Practical Nursing
Lincoln Technical Institute
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