MELANIE FLOWERS

• Lead and oversee nursing services across a 7 operating room Ambulatory Surgery Center , ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care in compliance with regulatory standards.

• Manage a team of 35 nurses, nurse managers, and support staff, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to improve clinical performance, patient safety, and operational efficiency.

• Manage departmental budget, controlling costs, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring financial viability of nursing operations.

• Collaborate with Atlas clinical services department and medical staff to align nursing practices with organizational goals and ensure cohesive interdisciplinary care.

• Lead initiatives to improve patient satisfaction scores by 20% through enhanced nurse-patient communication and care coordination.

• Successfully led the hospital through Joint Commission Accreditation and unannounced CMS survey, ensuring full compliance with Joint Commission/CMS standards.

• Monitored budgetary expenditures across multiple departments to ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Developed strategies for improving customer service standards throughout the company.
• Assessed financial performance of the organization on a regular basis and identified areas for improvement.
• Provided clinical guidance and direction to nursing staff to ensure quality care was provided in a timely manner.
• Ensured compliance with state regulations regarding nurse-to-patient ratios and other safety guidelines.

• Patient Advocacy: Serve as the advocate for the patient before, during, and after surgery, ensuring their safety, privacy, and comfort.

• Preoperative Preparation: Coordinate with the surgical team to ensure all necessary instruments, supplies, and equipment are available and functioning properly before surgery begins.

• Intraoperative Monitoring: Ensure that the sterile field is maintained during the procedure. Monitor patient vitals, communicate with the surgical team, and respond to any changes in the patient’s condition.

• Documentation: Accurately document all aspects of the surgical procedure, including patient status, medications administered, supplies used, and any complications that arise.

• Communication: Act as the liaison between the surgical team and other departments, such as anesthesia, sterile processing, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

• Supply Management: Monitor and manage the inventory of surgical supplies, restocking items as needed and communicating any shortages to the appropriate staff.

• Infection Control: Ensure strict adherence to infection control protocols, maintaining the cleanliness of the operating room and all equipment used during surgery.

• Collaboration: Work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, scrub techs, and other healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care and ensure successful surgical outcomes.

• Postoperative Care: Assist in the safe transfer of the patient from the operating room to the PACU, ensuring all vital information is communicated to the receiving team.

• Carried out physician orders regarding tests or medication administration accurately and safely.
• Performed physical examinations and assessments of patients' medical histories.
• Advised family members on the best course of action for their loved ones' healthcare needs.
• Provided direct nursing care to patients, including administering medications, wound care, and IV therapy.

• Patient Assessment: Continuously monitor, assess, and evaluate the condition of critically ill patients, identifying changes and intervening promptly to provide appropriate care.

• Care Management: Implement comprehensive care plans, administer medications, and perform complex procedures such as ventilator management, continuous IV infusions, and monitoring of invasive lines.

• Collaboration: Work closely with physicians, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals to manage patient care and ensure coordinated treatment efforts.

• Documentation: Maintain detailed and accurate records of patient status, treatments, and responses to care. Ensure all documentation complies with hospital policies and legal standards.

• Critical Decision-Making: Utilize critical thinking and clinical expertise to make informed decisions quickly in response to patients’ changing conditions.

• Family Support: Communicate clearly and compassionately with patients’ families, providing education on treatment plans and emotional support in high-stress situations.

• Patient Advocacy: Act as the advocate for critically ill patients, ensuring their needs and wishes are considered in care decisions.

• Infection Control & Safety: Adhere to infection control protocols and safety standards, ensuring the care environment is clean, safe, and equipped for high-risk interventions.

• Equipment Operation: Operate and maintain sophisticated medical equipment such as ventilators, dialysis machines, cardiac monitors, and external pacemakers, ensuring proper functioning and calibration.

• Emergency Response: Respond immediately to medical emergencies such as cardiac arrests, sepsis, or respiratory failure, performing life-saving interventions as needed.

• Rotated between the operating room and ICU
• Performing duties of both
• Patient monitoring of vital signs, hemodynamic functions, ventilator settings, and alarms, etc
• Administration of blood products, and medications
• OR duties included circulating all areas in surgery such as general surgery, neurologic, spine, orthopedic, gynecology, and ENT
• Operating Room

• Operating and safe handling of equipment to ensure safe patient outcomes
• OR duties included circulating all areas in surgery such as general surgery, neurologic, spine, orthopedic, gynecology, and ENT
• Maintaining sterility of room and ensuring all guidelines within the surgical suite are being followed and performed adequately.