Melissa Bernard
STNA/CNA/MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Southaven,MS
Summary
Reliable CNA/Medical Assistant with extensive experience in daily living assistance, condition monitoring, and infection control. Strong in vital signs collection, accurate documentation, and patient relationship building. Committed to dignified care, privacy, and positive patient outcomes.
Dedicated healthcare professional with 20+ years of experience supporting patients in assisted living, inpatient, and rehabilitative settings. Skilled in direct patient care, electronic charting, and clear communication with nurses, families, and care teams. Known for supporting individualized care plans, maintaining safety, and delivering respectful, reliable service.
Overview
1
1
Certification
25
25
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work History
CNA/Medical Assistant
Diversicare of Southaven
Southaven, MS
06.2001 - Current
- Assisted residents with bathing, grooming, dressing, and daily living activities.
- Monitored vital signs and reported significant changes to nursing staff promptly.
- Documented care provided and resident observations accurately in required records.
- Repositioned and transferred residents safely using proper lifting techniques and equipment.
- Communicated resident needs and condition updates to licensed nurses and care teams.
- Maintained clean, sanitary rooms while following infection control and safety procedures.
- Responded quickly to call lights, providing respectful support and comfort.
- Supported individualized care plans to promote resident dignity, mobility, and well-being.
- Provided high-quality personal care services such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and feeding to ensure patient dignity.
- Assisted patients with daily living activities for enhanced comfort and wellbeing.
- Checked patient vitals such as temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
- Maintained a clean, safe environment by sanitizing surfaces, changing linens, and disposing of waste properly.
- Answered call lights and supported patient comfort and safety by adjusting bed rails and equipment.
- Improved patient care quality by monitoring and recording vital signs, fluid intake, and output.
- Promoted good oral and personal hygiene by aiding patients with shaving, bathing, and teeth brushing.
- Reduced fall incidents by implementing safety measures like bed alarms and proper positioning techniques.
- Prevented pressure ulcers development through frequent turning, repositioning of patients, and diligent skin assessments.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Enhanced team efficiency by promptly responding to call lights and reporting changes in patient condition to nurses.
- Conducted regular rounds to monitor patients'' physical and mental status throughout shifts.
- Utilized therapeutic communication, empathy and active listening skills to encourage and develop positive relationships with patients.
- Performed accurate documentation of patient information according to established protocols for record-keeping purposes.
- Promoted independence in patients through walking exercises or assisting them with mobility devices like walkers or wheelchairs.
- Delivered individualized patient care by recording vital signs, documenting observations, administering treatments, and evaluating patient needs.
- Built rapport with patients and families, providing emotional support during difficult times.
- Assisted nurses with wound care procedures ensuring proper healing processes took place.
- Cared for residents in assisted living facility and delivered high-quality support to meet needs.
- Collaborated with nursing staff to create individualized care plans tailored to each patient''s needs.
- Streamlined communication between nursing staff, patients, and families to ensure comprehensive understanding of care plans.
- Served as an advocate for each patient's needs during shift handoffs or interdisciplinary conferences with other healthcare professionals.
- Offered immediate assistance in emergency and routine paging situations to evaluate needs and deliver care.
- Participated in fun group activities with patients to boost mood, improve overall memory, and provide light entertainment.
- Contributed positively towards patient satisfaction scores by consistently providing exceptional care and addressing their concerns.
- Cared for clients with diagnoses such as respiratory failure, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and muscular dystrophy.
- Supported ambulation and physical therapy needs by conducting planned exercise routines.
- Maintained clean and safe environment, reducing risk of infections and promoting health.
- Assisted in rehabilitation of patients, facilitating quicker recovery with exercise and mobility support.
- Increased patient engagement by organizing recreational and therapeutic activities.
- Documented patient conditions and care provided, ensuring accurate health records for informed medical decisions.
- Provided emotional and psychological support to patients and their families, fostering positive healthcare experience.
- Implemented infection control protocols, minimizing spread of illnesses among patients and staff.
Education
High School Diploma -
Penn Foster Career School
Scranton, PA12.2024
Career Diploma - Administrative Medical Billing And Coding
Penn Foster College
Scottsdale, AZ 06.2024 - 12.2025
Associate of Applied Science - Healthcare Management
Penn Foster College
Scottsdale, AZ 04.2026 - Current
Skills
- Direct patient care
- Patient care
- Effective collaborator
- Direct patient care
- Electronic charting
- Empathetic caregiver
- Patient management
- Documenting behaviors
- Electronic charting
- EMR / EHR
- Records management
- Electronic charting
- Mobility assistance
- Patient lifting
- Dressing assistance
- Feeding assistance expert
- Urinary catheter care
- Colostomy care
- Tracheostomy care
- End-of-life care
- Alzheimer's and dementia care
- Inpatient care
- Outpatient care
- Geriatric care
- Personal support
- Responding to emergencies
- Condition monitoring
- Care implementation
- Healthcare ethics
- Patient advocate
- Patient care coordination
- Nutritional support
- Reliable team player
- Trustworthy companion
- Compassionate caregiver
- Transportation logistics
- Geriatric care
- Reliable team player
- Patient relations
- Care plan implementation
- Observing responses
- Patient assessments
- EMR / EHR
- Records management
- Outpatient care
- Tracheostomy care
Certification
- CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant
- School for DA
- Medical billing and coding
- First Aid/CPR Certified
Timeline
Associate of Applied Science - Healthcare Management
Penn Foster College
04.2026 - Current
Career Diploma - Administrative Medical Billing And Coding
Penn Foster College
06.2024 - 12.2025
CNA/Medical Assistant
Diversicare of Southaven
06.2001 - Current
High School Diploma -
Penn Foster Career School