Melissa Blach, RN
New Smyrna Beach,FL
Summary
Patient-oriented nursing professional with over 30 years of experience in direct and indirect patient care across long-term care and hospital environments. Demonstrated expertise in supervising nursing teams and ensuring high-quality care delivery. Strong collaboration with regional nurse managers, support staff, and families to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Daytona Regional Nurse Manager
Amivie
Daytona Beach, Florida
01.2025 - Current
- Monitored compliance with healthcare regulations and standards across regional operations.
- Facilitated communication between administrative staff and clinical teams for efficient operations.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to ensure quality patient care.
- Oversaw community medication management program to promote safety and adherence to treatment plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams of physicians, therapists, pharmacists and social workers to manage patient care.
- Tracked clinical quality data to identify risk and implement quality assurance improvement initiatives.
- Established protocols for handling emergency situations involving patients within the region.
- Conducted regular inspections of facilities in the region to ensure adherence to standards.
- Communicated with patients with compassion while keeping medical information private.
- Overseeing and educating non-licensed support staff in the safe and proper procedures for administration of medications, as regulated by ACAH.
- Coordinating monthly PCP rounds for our individuals.
- Ensuring all PCP orders are initiated.
- Coordinating monthly consulting pharmacist visits.
- Ensuring all documentation requirements are in each individual's record in a timely manner. For example, it is required that all individuals have an annual physical therapy assessment, annual vision test, and annual dental visit.
- Ensure all specialist appointments are completed, and follow-up appointments are made as required by the specialists.
- Facilitate biweekly clinical team meetings.
- Coordinating outpatient procedures, laboratory needs, and radiology needs.
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Palm Point Behavioral Health
Titusville, Florida
05.2024 - 01.2025
- Assessed patient mental health needs during initial evaluations and ongoing care.
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to treatment plans.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care strategies.
- Educated patients and families on mental health conditions and coping mechanisms.
- Provided crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques during critical situations.
- Documented patient progress and updated treatment records accurately and promptly.
- Assisted with crisis intervention when needed.
- Administered medications according to physician orders.
- Assessed client responses to medication regimes and reported any adverse reactions.
- Instructed individuals on how to cope with their mental health conditions through lifestyle changes, such as diet or exercise regimens.
- Coached clients on healthy coping skills such as relaxation techniques or stress management strategies.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Conducted specified laboratory tests to help detect conditions and determine diagnosis.
Chemotherapy RN
Halifax Health
Daytona Beach, FL
06.2023 - 05.2024
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.
- 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.
- Observed strict safety measures, including checking medication dosages before administration to patients.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Utilized computerized Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
- Interpreted and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition.
RN, Critical Care
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach, FL
09.2021 - 06.2023
- Multi-System Progressive Care Unit
- Assessed and prepared patients for procedures, performing initial and ongoing patient assessments.
- Formulated knowledgeable diagnoses based on direct patient assessments, laboratory results and evaluations of medical histories.
- Monitored and managed various treatment and care interventions.
- Assessed patient conditions, implemented care plans and reassessed conditions continuously.
- Collected lab specimens, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and lab results.
- Recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
- Alerted physician of diagnostic study results and changes in patient condition.
- Communicated and collaborated with healthcare team and patient to identify and meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
- Administered medications, tracked dosages and documented patient conditions.
- Maintained thorough, accurate and confidential documentation in electronic medical records.
- Advocated for patients by supporting and respecting basic rights, values and beliefs.
- Spoke with patients to better understand experienced side effects, noting details in charts for physician follow-up.
- Trained and mentored new RNs on best practices, hospital policies and standards of care.
- Distributed medications in accordance with patients' medical charts.
- Oversaw patient admission and discharge processes to coordinate related paperwork.
- Identified significant health and medical risk factors with potential negative impacts on treatment plans.
- Evaluated patients, recognized and addressed complications and coordinated treatment with other members of critical care team.
- Adhered to infection control procedures to facilitate safe, clean patient environment.
- Updated charts throughout shifts with current, accurate information to maintain strict recordkeeping standards.
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
- Acted as patient advocate and implemented total patient care through team nursing process.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.
- Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Utilized computerized Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
RN ICF Charge Nurse
Life Bridges
Cleveland, Tennessee
01.2020 - 07.2021
- Coordinated care with physicians and other clinical staff to prepare for treatment, carry out interventions and enhance continuum of care to deliver comprehensive services.
- Consistently assessed and evaluated patients' health needs by coordinating across medical disciplines to create, implement and modify personalized care plans.
- Improved patient outcomes and quality of care by determining and suggesting changes to processes.
- Oversaw efficient nursing operations for 20 intellectually and disabled individuals in 4 group home settings.
- Scheduling for 3 shifts of nursing care at all 4 group homes. I fill in for vacant positions and for staff nurses using their Paid Time Off. When filling in for these open shifts, this nurse administered by mouth, subcutaneous injections, and intramuscular injections.
- Monthly "Treatment Meetings" to review all Individuals' Served medications ensuring they are receiving the right medications and also attempt to decrease mental health medications as deemed appropriate.
- Completing yearly updates of Individuals Served nursing assessments and updating their service plans. Attending yearly service plan meetings with family members/conservators to ensure quality of care and promote individual independence of our Individuals Served.
- Taking calls from nurses 24/7 for supervisory decisions needed on an Emergency basis and/or needing advice in taking care of our Individuals' Served needs.
- Attending monthly nurses' meeting to address staffing concerns and care concerns.
- Maintaining doctor's orders books in all 4 homes with all orders for current medication and PRN medication for each individual for reference during TN DIDD surveys.
- Ensuring that ICF nurses are using correct medication administration procedures required by TN DIDD. Educating and instructing nurses if any procedures are not being followed.
- Being a caring and compassionate supervisor. Understanding each nurse as an individual and not just "staff".
- End of the Month responsibilities: Check all Electronic Medication Administration Records to ensure all medications are signed off for each Individual Served for the month. Update each individual served's Individual Service Plan (ISP) nursing goals for that care plan year. Monitoring if these goals are trending to be met or not to be met. Delivering monthly medications to all 4 homes. Picking up all end of the month paperwork such as Narcotic Sign Out Sheets, providing monthly educational trainings for the nurses to teach unlicensed staff for important health issues needing to be addressed; Ensuring our Individual's served receive proper care from our unlicensed Direct Support care assistants (DSPs).
- Supporting my Director of Nurses in staffing, responsibilities, and anything she requires assistance with.
LPN Staff Nurse 2014-2019
Life Bridges INC
Cleveland , TN
09.2014 - 12.2019
- Administered patient care to Developmentally challenged patients by assisting with activities of daily living (ADL), positioning, mobilization and personal hygiene support. Administration of medications and providing wound care.
LPN/ Physician's Clinical Assistant
Volunteer Behavioral Healthcare
Cleveland, TN
10.2007 - 07.2017
- Triaged patients by phone and provided general assistance for basic and advanced needs.
- Documented patient intake information, including medical histories, current symptoms and vitals such as height and weight.
- Counseled clients, patients and families and provided emotional and psychosocial support.
- Coordinated patient care and appointments in relation to urgent patient needs.
- Engaged with patient family and friends to provide courteous, efficient visit experience.
- Documented information in patient charts and communicated status updates to interdisciplinary care team.
- Fostered relationships with patients, caregivers and healthcare teams to achieve individual care plan targets.
- Administered Intramuscular antipsychotic medications and educated patients and families on importance of keeping monthly scheduled appointments; Preventing detrimental lapses in their mental health.
- Emergency care as requested as this nurse deemed necessary or also by request of their provider. Calling 911 for immediate medical needs; Hypertensive episodes, tachycardia. chest pain. seizures, hyper and hypoglycemia, and emergency treatment of EPS symptoms.
- Obtained Prior Authorizations for prescribed medications through Medicare & Medicaid.
- Encouraged patients to take their psychiatric medications correctly and consistently to prevent crisis situations.
- Assisting Case Managers and Therapists in getting emergency psychiatric care in a psychiatric hospital, outpatient facility, or VBH's own Crisis Stabilization Unit.
- Assisted all providers with mental health care pediatric and adult psychiatric issues.
- Coordinated care with local schools and their administration to assist pediatric patients with special needs to receive decreased school schedules, temporary home schooling, or classroom modifications in order to continue their education.
LPN Office Nurse
Family Medicine Center
Cleveland, Tennessee
10.2007 - 10.2015
- Educated clients, patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Managed wound care, gave respiratory treatments, and helped with non-invasive and invasive procedures.
- Triaged patients by phone, advised that an ASAP appointment with their provider was needed and provided general assistance for basic and advanced needs.
- Administered intramuscular and subcutaneous medications as ordered by their provider.
- Scheduled diagnostic tests with local hospital or independent X-ray facility as requested by their provider.
- Collected and documented vital signs to track current patient conditions.
LPN
Life Care of Cleveland/Collegedale & Garden Plaza
Cleveland, TN
05.2003 - 10.2007
- Guaranteed exceptional care quality by correctly administering medication, inserting and caring for catheters, dressing and changing wounds and assisting with personal hygiene.
- Delivered high-quality direct and indirect nursing care to up to 15 to 30 patients per day.
- Documented patient intake and dietary requirements, also assisting with feeding and monitoring.
- Promoted patient satisfaction by assisting with daily living needs such as bathing, dressing, toileting and exercising.
- Responded to patient alarms and needs-assessment requests to identify course of treatment.
- Educated clients, patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Worked with healthcare team, including social workers, physical therapists and speech therapists, to assess patient needs, plan and adjust plans of care and actualize nursing interventions to promote and restore patient health.
- Examined and addressed lacerations, contusions and physical symptoms to assess and prioritize need for further attention.
- Counseled clients, patients and families and provided emotional and psychosocial support.
- Used sterile techniques for wound treatment, PICC line care, and insertion of Foley Catheters.
- Managed wound care, gave respiratory treatments and helped with non-invasive procedures.
- Documented patient intake information, including medical histories, current symptoms and vitals such as height and weight.
- Communicated concerns regarding clients' status, care and environment to nursing supervisors, clinical care supervisors and case managers.
LPN
Community Health Systems/Dr. Alex Romaniuk
Cleveland , TN
05.2000 - 05.2003
- Collected biological specimens and packaged for laboratory transport to complete important diagnostic tests.
- Prevented drug interactions and contributed to correct diagnosis by recording patient health information, monitoring vitals and updating patient files with current labs and test results.
- Documented patient intake information, including medical histories, current symptoms and vitals such as height and weight.
- Triaged patients by phone and provided general assistance for basic and advanced needs.
- Assisted physicians with conducting examinations.
- Answered patient and family questions to educate on optimal treatment procedures.
- Assisted Dr. Romaniuk with dictation and rounds with skilled care nursing home residents at 3 local rehabilitation facilities.
- Administered IM medication.
- Obtained Prior Authorization on medications.
- 12 lead EKG
- Provided emergency care as necessary.
- Educated clients, patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Counseled clients, patients and families and provided emotional and psychosocial support.
- Scheduled diagnostic tests with local hospital or independent X-ray facility as requested by their provider.
LPN Oncology
Bradley Memorial Hospital
Cleveland, TN
12.1996 - 05.2000
- Emotionally supported patients receiving treatment by carefully listening and offering comfort.
- Wrote detailed notes regarding patient discussions, including information in patient charts.
- Provided patients with information on range of subjects, not limited to side effects from chemotherapy and benefits of proper nutrition during treatment.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Provided skilled direct nursing care to patients that were admitted and to outpatient Chemo Therapy and Blood transfusion patients in the Oncology department.
- Administered scheduled medications and therapies intravenously, rectally, orally, subcutaneously and via intramuscular injections while overseeing pain management plans.
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
- Monitored and recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
- Cared for patients recovering from tumor removal surgeries, Port-A-Cath insertions, and Chemo/Radiation procedures and provided personalized daily assistance.
- Monitored post-op vitals, set up PCA, fluids, reviewed post-op orders and assimilated patients to unit.
- Communicated with primary care physicians or emergency care providers to relay patient needs.
- Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
- Maintained strict patient data procedures to comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Assisted Oncology patients with Activities of Daily Living; Bathing, dressing, changing linens, toileting, and increase activity as tolerated.
LPN
Cleveland Community Hospital
Cleveland, TN
11.1994 - 12.1996
- Major experience in Medical-Surgical Nursing, assisted in the intensive care unit, ambulatory care unit, and psychiatric unit(Pine Ridge Treatment Center).
- Communicated concerns regarding clients' status, care and environment to nursing supervisors, clinical care supervisors and case managers.
- Documented patient intake and dietary requirements and assisted with feeding.
- Documented patient intake information, including medical histories, current symptoms and vitals such as height and weight.
- Observed, charted and reported developments in patient health condition.
- Cleaned and sanitized rooms and equipment using aseptic technique to prevent infection and cross-contamination.
- Guaranteed exceptional care quality by correctly administering medication, inserting and caring for catheters, dressing and changing wounds and assisting with personal hygiene.
- Educated clients, patients and caregivers on medical diagnoses, treatment options, chronic disease self-management and wound management.
- Answered patient and family questions to educate on optimal treatment procedures.
- Worked with healthcare team, including social workers, physical therapists, and speech therapists, to assess patient needs, plan and adjust plans of care and actualize nursing interventions to promote and restore patient health.
- Provided expert administration of by mouth, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous fluids, and IV piggyback medications.
- Examined and addressed lacerations, contusions and physical symptoms to assess and prioritize need for further attention.
- Counseled clients, patients and families and provided emotional and psychosocial support.
- Managed wound care and helped with non-invasive procedures.
- Followed rehabilitation and treatment care plans to accelerate patient recovery, minimize pain and optimize patient outcomes.
- Monitored patient's respiration activity, blood pressure and blood glucose levels in response to medical administration.
- Observed, charted and reported developments in patient health condition in 5-6-bed hospital.
- Prevented drug interactions and contributed to correct diagnosis by recording patient health information, monitoring vitals and updating patient files with.
- Collected biological specimens and packages for laboratory transport to complete diagnostic tests.
- Delivered high-quality direct and indirect nursing care to up to 5-6 patients per day.
- Assisted RN with initiation of blood transfusions and continuous monitor of adverse effects during and after infusion.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, TN12-2023
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN12.2019
Practical Nursing
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, TN08.1994
Master of Science - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences
Saint Augustine, FLSkills
- Florida Licensed Registered Nurse
- 4 years management experience
- 29 years of nursing experience
- American Heart Association BLS and ACLS certifications
- 15 years critical care experience
- I learn new skills quickly and readily adapt to change
- Providing empathetic and compassionate care
- Patient triaging
- Multi-tasking and prioritization
- Samples collection
- Assisting physicians
- Tracking symptoms
- Psychotropic medication knowledge
- Documenting incidents
- Tennessee Licensed Practical Nurse for 25 years
- Educating patients and their families
- Staff direction and task delegation to unlicensed personnel
- Treatment of conditions
- Charting on EMR systems
- Obtaining blood specimens for lab processing
- Starting and maintaining intravenous lines, monitoring administration of IV fluids, and administration of IV medications as ordered
- Major experience in Geriatrics, Psychiatry, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Wound Treatment, Pre-operative and Post operative patient care, care of the disabled/intellectually challenged patient, Oncology, and Ambulatory surgery
Timeline
Daytona Regional Nurse Manager
Amivie
01.2025 - Current
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
Palm Point Behavioral Health
05.2024 - 01.2025
Chemotherapy RN
Halifax Health
06.2023 - 05.2024
RN, Critical Care
AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach
09.2021 - 06.2023
RN ICF Charge Nurse
Life Bridges
01.2020 - 07.2021
LPN Staff Nurse 2014-2019
Life Bridges INC
09.2014 - 12.2019
LPN/ Physician's Clinical Assistant
Volunteer Behavioral Healthcare
10.2007 - 07.2017
LPN Office Nurse
Family Medicine Center
10.2007 - 10.2015
LPN
Life Care of Cleveland/Collegedale & Garden Plaza
05.2003 - 10.2007
LPN
Community Health Systems/Dr. Alex Romaniuk
05.2000 - 05.2003
LPN Oncology
Bradley Memorial Hospital
12.1996 - 05.2000
LPN
Cleveland Community Hospital
11.1994 - 12.1996
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Associate of Science - Nursing
Southern Adventist University
Practical Nursing
Chattanooga State Community College
Master of Science - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences