Melanie Russell, RN, BSN
Conyers,GA
Summary
Highly qualified and results-driven professional, demonstrating solid interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills. Adept at providing outstanding customer service, coaching staff, and achieving organizational goals. Energetic and goal-oriented with an impressive performance record and background. Currently seeking a position which will utilize critical thinking and leadership skills.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Anchor Hospital
06.2023 - Current
- Oversaw care of suicidal patients and acted swiftly to reduce risk of harm to themselves or others.
- Responded to numerous volatile situations and violent outbreaks to restore safety and security of patients and staff.
- Explained useful coping methods to relieve depression and anxiety.
- Administered medication and treatments to patients to observe and record responses.
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Wellstar Douglas Hospital
03.2023 - 06.2023
- Critical Care Nurse for a 16 bed intensive care unit.
- Oversaw various aspects of telemetry by administering vasoactive drugs, titration, thrombolytic therapy, and dysrhythmia interpretation.
- Assessed and managed various patient treatments for numerous patient diagnoses from sepsis to acute respiratory distress.
- Conducted patient assessments, recorded vitals and analyzed records and charts to define care requirements.
- Worked with intubated and ventilated patients, monitoring and reporting on conditions to maintain stats within optimal levels.
- Collaborated with team to achieve overall well-being of all patients.
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
American Mobile Healthcare
10.2022 - 12.2022
- Provided direct quality care to patients by monitoring, recording and evaluating multiple psychiatric conditions.
- Responded to numerous volatile situations and violent outbreaks to restore safety and security of patients and staff.
- Administered medication and treatments to patients to observe and record responses.
- Performed patient assessments to monitor expected response to medications and altering treatment plans.
- Provided care to over 5-6 clients per shift
- Supervised 5 mental health technicians per shift
Case Manager
Fastaff
06.2022 - 09.2022
- Provided safety planning, crisis intervention, and case management to more than 15 clients per shift.
- Collaborated with supervisor regarding issues related to case management, resourcing, service collaboration and development of new resources.
- Served as case coordinator, assuming responsibility for complex, high-volume assignments and guiding endeavors to successful completion.
- Made appropriate referrals, monitored client services in appropriate time frames, sought supervisory guidance as required, documented services provided and completed departmental billing procedures.
- Reduced readmissions by 50%
Case Manager/Utilization Review Specialist
U.S. Nursing
03.2021 - 11.2021
- Performed timely prior authorization review of services requiring notification.
- Submitted cases for criteria failures and helped facilitate resolutions and approvals.
- Obtained authorizations from multiple insurance carriers for various levels of care.
- Evaluated medical guidelines and benefit coverage to determine appropriateness of services for more than fifty cases per shift.
- Worked with various lines of businesses including Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial.
- Gathered clinical information and applied appropriate clinical criteria/guideline, policy, procedure and clinical judgment to complete determination/recommendation for most appropriate level of care status and clinical review to payers.
- Served as subject matter resource, providing information related to critical care and managed care situations
- Reduced readmissions by 50%
Intensive Care Unit Nurse (COVID-19)
Emergency Response Staffing
02.2020 - 02.2021
- Monitored patients' respiratory status and ventilator operation and made adjustments to promote stabilization.
- Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Delivered age-appropriate medical care for adult, adolescent and geriatric ICU patients.
- Developed and implemented patient care plans based on physicians' instructions and generally accepted nursing practices.
- Observed patients' vital signs and administered physician-prescribed medications and treatments.
Case Manager/Utilization Review Specialist
Fastaff/ACES
07.2019 - 02.2020
- Reviewed more than 50 cases to determine medical necessity of inpatient admissions and to minimize cost
- Communicated with members of teams to resolve readmission issues, improve operations, and reduce hospitalizations
- Supervised and maintained all utilization review documentation through Epic.
- Performed prior authorization review of services requiring notification.
- Submitted cases for criteria failures and helped facilitate resolutions and approvals.
- Maintained highest levels of patient satisfaction, generating referrals to maintain productivity levels for various units.
- Obtained authorizations from multiple insurance carriers for various levels of care
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Crescent Pines Hospital
08.2017 - 01.2020
- Provided compassionate, quality care and developed care plans including goals and interventions for up to 20 children, adolescents, and/or adults per shift.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities to prevent further disability
- Collect, analyze, and document patients physical, psychosocial, and environmental status, along with anticipated discharge needs
- Administered medications as recommended by physicians in accurate and timely manner
- Performed triage on incoming patients and determined severity of injuries and illnesses.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
Registered Nurse Consultant
Anthem
12.2017 - 06.2019
- Assisted with the implementation of 8 new projects, systems, and processes
- Provided consultations to more than 80 members and caregivers per shift for making cost effective healthcare decisions
- Communicated with Management along with other business leaders to guide members through healthcare systems
- Applied analytical and critical thinking skills to provide members with support and education necessary for effective healthcare decision making
- Provide direction and guidance regarding prescription refill requests, obtaining prior authorization for medication requests, and pre-certification for procedures
House Supervisor
Glenwood Healthcare & Rehab
11.2016 - 04.2017
- Enhanced training programs to strengthen employee knowledge and promote new managers from within
- Trained and coached 43 staff members including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and residential care assistants to ensure smooth adoption of new processes and procedures
- Initiated and established 3 projects for monitoring quality of patient care and safety
- Monitored team members for compliance to hospital policies and regulations
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows
- Worked with management team to implement proper division of responsibilities
- Set overall vision and provided team leadership
Manager Of Case Management
United Healthcare
12.2006 - 09.2016
- Managed six registered nurse case managers, four patient care coordinators, and two social workers
- Trained and coached forty-five staff members to improve business processes
- Collaborated with registered nurses, clinical directors, medical directors, and sales agents to improve business operations
- Analyzed various reports to reduce readmission and to increase overall organizational profits
- Strengthened departmental business operations by streamlining processes and improving overall efficiency
- Reduced hospitalizations by fifty percent
Telephone Triage Registered Nurse
Health Management Corporation
08.2005 - 11.2006
- Obtained case history and gathered triage information to determine appropriate avenue for care.
- Performed additional clinic and non-triage nurse duties such as instructing patients in general and specific medical care and health issues and administering or dispensing medication and injections.
- Assisted in management of patient utilization of health care system and provided patient education relative to health care needs, use of community resources and responsibilities of membership in managed care.
- Counseled patients via telephone according to established guidelines and protocols, advising on provider-established plans of care.
Registered Nurse
Fastaff/US Travel Nursing (Various Agencies/Roles)
06.2002 - 07.2005
- 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.
Critical Care Registered Nurse (Neurological ICU)
Grady Memorial Hospital
04.2000 - 06.2002
- Oversaw various aspects of telemetry by administering PA catheters and arterials, vasoactive drugs, titration, thrombolytic therapy, dysrhythmia interpretation and chest tubes.
- Assessed and managed various patient treatments for numerous patient diagnoses from sepsis to acute respiratory distress.
- Trained and coached new employees on protocols and best practices to promote ideal patient outcomes.
- Conducted patient assessments, recorded vitals and analyzed records and charts to define care requirements.
- Charge nurse-delegated duties and assignments, monitored and coordinated schedules.
Education
Master of Science - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN12.2024
MBA - Business Administration/Finance/Project Management
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN2017
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA2002
Skills
- Financial Management
- Quality Management
- Coaching
- Critical Thinking
- Conflict Management Skills
- Process/Performance Improvement
- Team Building
- Clear Verbal and Written Communication
- Employee Supervision
- Staff Coordination
- Operations Management
- Decision Making
- Multitasking and Prioritization
- Medication Administration
- Acute care expertise
Certification
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
Commission for Case Management Certification (CCMC)
Electronic Medical Record Systems
Epic
Meditech
Midas
Cerner
NaviHealth
Curispan
Affiliations
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Timeline
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Anchor Hospital
06.2023 - Current
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Wellstar Douglas Hospital
03.2023 - 06.2023
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
American Mobile Healthcare
10.2022 - 12.2022
Case Manager
Fastaff
06.2022 - 09.2022
Case Manager/Utilization Review Specialist
U.S. Nursing
03.2021 - 11.2021
Intensive Care Unit Nurse (COVID-19)
Emergency Response Staffing
02.2020 - 02.2021
Case Manager/Utilization Review Specialist
Fastaff/ACES
07.2019 - 02.2020
Registered Nurse Consultant
Anthem
12.2017 - 06.2019
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Crescent Pines Hospital
08.2017 - 01.2020
House Supervisor
Glenwood Healthcare & Rehab
11.2016 - 04.2017
Manager Of Case Management
United Healthcare
12.2006 - 09.2016
Telephone Triage Registered Nurse
Health Management Corporation
08.2005 - 11.2006
Registered Nurse
Fastaff/US Travel Nursing (Various Agencies/Roles)
06.2002 - 07.2005
Critical Care Registered Nurse (Neurological ICU)
Grady Memorial Hospital
04.2000 - 06.2002
Master of Science - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Walden University
MBA - Business Administration/Finance/Project Management
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Georgia State University
Similar Profiles
Bernard BellBernard Bell
Mental Health Aide at Anchor HospitalMental Health Aide at Anchor Hospital
Gericka MooreGericka Moore
Human Resources Assistant at Anchor HospitalHuman Resources Assistant at Anchor Hospital
Melanie HugginsMelanie Huggins
MHA at Anchor Hospital - Mental HealthMHA at Anchor Hospital - Mental Health
Lauren JacksonLauren Jackson
Employment Verification Specialist at First AdvantageEmployment Verification Specialist at First Advantage
Kiairra WrenchKiairra Wrench
Security Officer at Apex SentrySecurity Officer at Apex Sentry