Melissa Antunez
Canfield
Summary
Healthcare Talent Acquisition and Clinical Operations Leader with 20+ years of nursing, clinical leadership, and healthcare workforce strategy experience supporting major health systems. Proven success leading full-cycle nurse recruitment initiatives, building high-volume talent pipelines, partnering with academic institutions, and delivering workforce analytics that guide executive staffing decisions. Known for consistently meeting hiring KPIs, improving recruitment efficiency, and aligning staffing strategies with organizational growth objectives.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Talent Acquisition Nurse Recruiter
Mercy Health
Youngstown
04.2022 - Current
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for nursing positions across multiple specialties supporting system-wide staffing initiatives.
- Delivered 500+ external clinical hires as primary recruiter for multi-specialty nursing workforce staffing initiatives.
- Exceeded quarterly hiring KPIs through targeted sourcing, pipeline development, and strategic recruitment planning.
- Recruit for ICU, ED, perioperative, med-surg, and specialty nursing positions across multiple hospitals and service lines.
- Partner with hiring managers and nursing leadership to design recruitment strategies aligned with unit-specific staffing matrices.
- Cultivated relationships with nursing schools and professional organizations to enhance long-term workforce pipelines.
- Evaluated compensation equity and presented competitive offers to attract top clinical talent.
- Present monthly workforce performance analytics to leadership to guide staffing forecasts and hiring priorities.
- Represent the organization at recruitment marketing events, job fairs, and professional networking initiatives to enhance employer brand visibility.
Per Diem Registered Nurse – Pre-Admission Testing
Mercy Health
Boardman
06.2021 - 04.2022
- Conducted patient assessment interviews and coordinated pre-operative care planning, enhancing surgical readiness.
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to ensure thorough patient preparation and procedural readiness.
Clinical Manager – Anesthesiology Services
MedStar Medical Group
03.2020 - 04.2021
- Supervised multi-site perioperative operations including staffing, scheduling, payroll, and performance management for large clinical teams.
- Led hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives improving workforce readiness and operational continuity.
- Directed operational workflow improvements and coordinated interdisciplinary clinical services to support patient care delivery.
Clinical Coordinator – Perioperative Services
HCA Reston Hospital Center
Reston
12.2018 - 03.2020
- Managed staffing assignments, patient flow coordination, and daily clinical operations supporting perioperative services.
- Conducted performance evaluations, mentoring, and training initiatives to support staff development and retention.
Interim Clinical Manager / Core Leader – Perioperative Services
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Managed approximately 30 direct reports and oversaw scheduling, productivity metrics, performance evaluations, and operational workflow.
- Directed hiring initiatives, workforce planning, and clinical operations across multiple perioperative service lines.
Registered Nurse – Perioperative & Post-Anesthesia Care
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington
08.2011 - 01.2018
- Provided preoperative, Phase I, and Phase II recovery care for adult and pediatric surgical patients across multiple specialties.
- Served as charge nurse, preceptor, and clinical resource supporting nursing staff and interdisciplinary teams.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Mercy College of Ohio
01.2026
Associate Degree - Nursing
Mercy College of Northwest Ohio
Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science
Youngstown State University
Skills
- Healthcare Talent Acquisition Strategy
- Nurse Workforce Planning
- KPI & Workforce Analytics
- Candidate Pipeline Development
- Compensation Alignment & Offer Negotiation
- Academic & Workforce Partnerships
- Recruitment Marketing & Event Strategy
- ATS / CRM Systems (Phenom, LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed)
- Leadership & Staff Development
- Excel
- Microsoft Office 365
- PowerPoint
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Reporting
- Recruitment Analytics
- Social Media Recruitment Platforms
Personal Information
Title: RN
Professional Skills And Technology
- Excel
- Microsoft Office 365
- PowerPoint
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Reporting
- Recruitment Analytics
- Social Media Recruitment Platforms
Timeline
Talent Acquisition Nurse Recruiter
Mercy Health
04.2022 - Current
Per Diem Registered Nurse – Pre-Admission Testing
Mercy Health
06.2021 - 04.2022
Clinical Manager – Anesthesiology Services
MedStar Medical Group
03.2020 - 04.2021
Clinical Coordinator – Perioperative Services
HCA Reston Hospital Center
12.2018 - 03.2020
Interim Clinical Manager / Core Leader – Perioperative Services
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
01.2018 - 12.2018
Registered Nurse – Perioperative & Post-Anesthesia Care
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
08.2011 - 01.2018
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Mercy College of Ohio
Associate Degree - Nursing
Mercy College of Northwest Ohio
Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science
Youngstown State University