Melissa Huffman
Jones,AL
Summary
Seasoned RN, 32 years experience, with a robust background in clinical expertise and mental health support, notably at Julia Tutwiler Correctional Facility. Excelled in enhancing patient care standards and staff development, achieving significant quality improvements. Skilled in team leadership and compassionate patient advocacy, adept at fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving staff education initiatives.
Professional nurse with in-depth experience in managing and coordinating patient care. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving optimal outcomes, ensuring reliability and adaptability to changing needs. Skilled in patient assessment, crisis management, and mentoring junior staff, with commitment to maintaining high standards in healthcare delivery. Recognized for leadership abilities and effective communication skills.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Charge RN
Julia Tutwiler Correctional Facility
08.2024 - Current
- Maintained an organized clinical environment conducive to efficient workflow by regularly evaluating unit needs and implementing necessary adjustments.
- Conducted ongoing assessments to monitor and adjust treatment plans, improving overall patient health outcomes.
- Improved continuity of care across shifts through concise shift reports detailing pertinent updates on patients'' conditions and treatment plans.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement by participating in quality assurance initiatives and identifying opportunities for process enhancement.
- Educated patients and families on disease management strategies, promoting adherence to treatment plans and self-care routines.
- Managed crisis situations effectively, ensuring the safety of patients and staff members at all times.
- Optimized resource allocation during high-volume periods by efficiently delegating tasks based on staff skill sets.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory standards and hospital policies by diligently monitoring documentation accuracy within the unit.
- Enhanced patient care by implementing evidence-based nursing practices and developing individualized care plans.
- Mentored and supervised junior nurses, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
- Led successful unit initiatives aimed at improving patient care delivery, such as the implementation of new nursing protocols or equipment.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
Staff Development Coordinator
Prattville Health and Rehabilitation
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Facilitated open communication channels among employees, fostering a collaborative work environment conducive to growth and learning.
- Worked with managers to identify internal talent and plan development pathways.
- Collaborated with department supervisors to identify talented employees and plan out paths for development and promotion.
- Assisted with development of effective recruitment and hiring strategies.
- Championed a positive work environment by fostering open dialogue, recognizing achievements, and celebrating milestones in employee growth.
- I'm not sure my employment dates are correct.
- Coordinated and prioritized required training courses for all employees.
Director of Nursing Services
Montgomery Health and Rehab
03.2023 - 09.2023
- Managed budgetary constraints effectively, ensuring optimal resource allocation for high-quality care delivery.
- Championed the use of technology in daily operations, leading to improved documentation accuracy and streamlined workflows.
- Enhanced staff retention and job satisfaction through comprehensive training programs and supportive leadership.
- Mentored nursing staff in clinical skills development, fostering professional growth and excellence in practice.
- Promoted a culture of safety by enforcing strict infection control measures and addressing potential hazards proactively.
- Led quality improvement initiatives resulting in higher patient satisfaction scores and reduced readmission rates.
- I'm not exactly sure of my employment dates. I was transferred from a sister facility to an emergency interim Director of Nursing Services position. There was a lot of disciplinary action required. I developed and implemented a policy to help prevent drug diversion. Anytime the Administrator was not present, I oversaw the whole facility and all departments.
- I was offered and accepted the full-time position of Director of Nursing Services. We were in a serious nursing shortage, including department heads. Along with my duties, I performed patient care, completed the schedule for the Nursing Department, Wound Nurse responsibilities, Infection Prevention, Unit Manager duties. I also performed all State Plan of Correction duties, Staff Development, and close to end of my time there, the Administrator and I ran the HR Department.
- We were purchased by another company. The Administrator and I were replaced by the new company.
Infection Prevention Coordinator/Staff Development Coordinator
Selma Health and Rehab
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Conducted thorough investigations of infection outbreaks, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions.
- Ensured compliance with state and federal regulations by staying abreast of current legislation affecting infection prevention practices within the organization.
- Enhanced patient safety by implementing infection control policies and procedures.
- Optimized resource utilization for infection prevention efforts by analyzing surveillance data and prioritizing interventions accordingly.
- Facilitated open communication channels among employees, fostering a collaborative work environment conducive to growth and learning.
- Worked with managers to identify internal talent and plan development pathways.
- Collaborated with department supervisors to identify talented employees and plan out paths for development and promotion.
- Performed reviews of employee work performance to check for areas in need of additional training.
- Developed and delivered new hire training programs and continuous professional development.
- Assisted with development of effective recruitment and hiring strategies.
- Created and managed continuous improvement classes and training programs targeted to new employees.
- Monitored employee performance to look for areas in need of improvement.
- Helped develop successful recruitment and hiring plans.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback and suggestions from all team members.
- Streamlined onboarding processes, providing new hires with the necessary tools for success in their roles.
- Organized regular staff meetings to discuss progress, address concerns, and celebrate achievements.
- Created engaging workshops that catered to diverse learning styles, increasing participant engagement and comprehension levels.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of existing staff development programs using various metrics such as productivity measures or satisfaction surveys, refining approaches when necessary.
- Championed a positive work environment by fostering open dialogue, recognizing achievements, and celebrating milestones in employee growth.
- Improved team performance with focused training sessions tailored to individual roles and responsibilities.
- Collaborated closely with department managers to identify unique training requirements specific to each role within the organization.
- Provided ongoing support to employees during their professional development journey, addressing any challenges or concerns that arose throughout the process.
- Optimized time management strategies by scheduling training sessions during low-volume work hours, minimizing disruptions to daily operations.
- Developed strong relationships with external partners to secure relevant resources for staff development initiatives.
- Bolstered overall staff competency by regularly evaluating training needs and adjusting programs accordingly.
- Implemented effective tracking systems to monitor employee progress within training programs, ensuring timely completion and desired results.
- Established clear guidelines for performance evaluations, providing constructive feedback for ongoing personnel growth.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends related to staff development strategies, incorporating best practices into organizational processes as appropriate.
- Spearheaded the creation of a mentorship program that paired experienced employees with newer hires, facilitating mutual growth opportunities.
- Coordinated cross-departmental collaboration efforts to ensure cohesive strategies were developed for company-wide initiatives requiring specialized skills or knowledge sharing between teams.
- Enhanced employee skillsets by developing and implementing comprehensive staff development programs.
- Increased employee retention rates through targeted professional development opportunities and support.
- Managed new employee orientation training process.
- Communicated all learning and performance objectives, schedules, and training assessments to upper management.
- Trained staff during demonstrations, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
- Streamlined HR efficiencies, coordinated new hire orientations and provided onboarding and training for new employees.
- Conducted orientation sessions and organized on-the-job training for new hires.
- Trained new hires to perform cross-training exercises with experienced workers.
- Analyzed effectiveness of training programs at all levels and recommended updates.
- Reviewed and edited all training materials for accuracy and company policy compliance.
- Organized and edited training manuals, multimedia visual aids, and other educational materials.
- Implemented new learning strategies depending upon employees' skill levels.
- Managed all exempt employee coaching, training, and performance improvement actions.
- Developed departmental systems and procedures to better align workflow processes.
- Directed training programs and development paths for managers and supervisors.
- Researched and obtained relevant course materials to achieve training objectives.
- Conducted training courses and prepared videos for long-term use.
- Directed field training to enhance participants' skills.
- Created in-depth training manual for all employees.
- Drove departmental performance and achievement of service levels through focused team operational reviews, structured coaching, and managing to enterprise targets.
- Tested all training software and hardware prior to commencing training programs.
- Selected and assigned instructors to conduct specific training programs.
- Coordinated and prioritized required training courses for one hundred plus employees.
- I was asked to transfer to a sister facility as an Interim Director of Nursing Services. Essentially, one day I was in my role as an IP/SDC and the next day I was an Interim DON.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nurse
Wallace Community College,
Selma06-1991
Diploma - LPN
Hobson State Community College
Thomasville, AL08-1989
Skills
- Clinical expertise
- Mental health support
- Care coordination
- Ethical practice
- Compassionate and patient
- Friendly and outgoing
- Personal integrity
- Patient care
- Direct patient care
- Team leadership
- HIPAA compliance
- Verbal and written communication
- Duty delegation
- Patient assessments
- Patient care planning
- Employee performance
- Safety and security procedures
- Licensed RN
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Nursing care coordination
- Medication administration
- EMR systems
- Training and development
- Quality improvement
- Patient care standards
- Patient management
- Staff management
- Medication distribution
- Data collection
- Staff training
- Patient advocacy
- Documenting observations
- Plan of action implementation
- Staff supervision
- Issue resolution
- Critical care
- Care plan management
- Staff scheduling
- Clinical instruction
- Mentoring and coaching
- Patient assessment
- Health education
- Performance management
- Discharge planning
- Case management
- Recruitment
- Process evaluation
- Patient care assignment
- Performance evaluations
- Rapport building
- Clinical training
- Staff education and training
- Ward management
- Policy development
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Quality assurance controls
- Indirect patient care
- Procedure development
Accomplishments
- I developed and implemented a plan to decrease employee tardiness and absenteeism with great results.
Certification
- Infection Preventionist
- Placement of PICC Lines
- Registered Nurse License (RN) - State Board of Nursing.
- BLS
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteImportant To Me
Work-life balanceFlexible work hoursHealthcare benefitsPaid time off401k matchPaid sick leavePersonal development programsTimeline
Staff Development Coordinator
Prattville Health and Rehabilitation
09.2024 - 12.2024
Charge RN
Julia Tutwiler Correctional Facility
08.2024 - Current
Director of Nursing Services
Montgomery Health and Rehab
03.2023 - 09.2023
Infection Prevention Coordinator/Staff Development Coordinator
Selma Health and Rehab
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Infection Preventionist
- Placement of PICC Lines
- Registered Nurse License (RN) - State Board of Nursing.
- BLS
Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nurse
Wallace Community College,
Diploma - LPN
Hobson State Community College
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