EPIC
Melissa Lopez
Registered Nurse
Lafayette,LA
It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.
Molère
Summary
Compassionate, motivated, dedicated, registered nurse with over thirty years nursing experience, including five years remote in Clinical Documentation Improvement and Clinical Nurse Education. Independent problem solver, critical thinker, and multi-tasker with attention to detail and a strong dedication to improving health care standards and quality of care.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
1
1
Language
Work History
Regional Medical/Surgical Clinical Educator
Ochsner Heath System
02.2023 - Current
- Assesses, designs, presents and provides evaluation of educational programs for clinical and non-clinical staff based on identified needs/competencies through an annual Regional Medical Surgical Educational Needs Assessment encompassing eight Ochsner facilities and over 600 employee's.
- Actively participates in: Med-Surg. Integration Council, System Education Council, System Nurse Professional Development Council, and Education Outreach/Community and Public Affairs Committee.
- Trains new nurses and other clinical staff in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Serves as a clinical mentor, offering guidance and support during the onboarding phase for all newly hired clinical staff during New Hire Orientation.
- Ensures that newly hired clinical staff are able to perform on-line EPIC assignments, AHA VAM instructed BLS, and Clinical Competencies.
- Participates in the Nurse Residency Program offering extra support for new RN graduates.
- Participates in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Enhances staff proficiency in clinical procedures through hands-on demonstrations and interactive workshops.
- Evaluates clinical competencies of staff members through quarterly rounding on Departmental Directors, Managers and Operational Coordinators: identifying areas needing further education and improvement, and providing targeted training solutions.
- Maintained regulatory compliance by ensuring adherence to industry standards and guidelines in all educational activities, to include: Restraints, Conscience Sedation, etc.
- Boosts employee confidence and competency through engaging professional development opportunities, focused skill enhancement, job shadowing opportunities with ancillary departments, hands-on clinical skill in-services on high-risk procedures and course offerings in preceptorship and charge nursing.
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Ochsner Health System
06.2016 - 02.2023
- Maintained strong knowledge of medical terminology, disease pathology, and procedures through continuous research and education.
- Consulted physicians regarding missing or unclear health record documentation and requested further information for clarification through query process.
- Carefully reviewed 25 to 35 patient records daily for clarity on diseases, diagnoses, treatments, and procedures to determine quality of care, severity of illness, and risk of mortality.
- Managed electronic clinical documentation and uploaded changes or updates using EPIC and Cerner software.
- Communicated to and educated physicians, nurses and other caregivers the importance of accurate and clear documentation.
- Maintained accuracy, completeness and security for medical records and health information.
- Audited and reviewed patient information via EMR management to verify accuracy and completeness and queried provider for clarification if needed.
- Developed query templates and excel spreadsheets for increased departmental productivity.
- Performed concurrent and post-discharge medical record reviews for quality metrics that impact severity of illness, risk of mortality, change in DRG, and quality metrics.
Public Health Nurse
Wellness Express
09.2015 - 06.2016
- Prevented illness by educating public on healthy practices to stop spread of disease.
- Safely administered thousands of influenza, pneumonia and other vaccinations.
- Assessed and evaluated immunization status and needs of clients through current vaccine preventable disease, immunization guidelines, vaccination schedules, State, Federal and International requirements.
- Participated in off-site vaccination and vitamin clinics in schools and private companies including regularly scheduled and seasonal clinics.
Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse
Our Lady Of Lourdes Medical Center
08.2013 - 05.2015
- Gained high level of understanding regarding renal function, kidney diseases and conditions, and dialytic treatments and adjusted dialysis treatments accordingly.
- Educated patients and families on dialysis .
- Recognized acute changes in patient's condition and adjusted dialysis treatments on daily basis.
- Provided acute renal patients with compassionate and dedicated plan of care for treatment.
- Worked on regular basis with patients suffering from conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, burns and cardiac events.
Chronic Care Dialysis Nurse
Fresenius Dialysis Clinic
09.2012 - 08.2013
- Directed Patient Care Technician's provision of safe and effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy.
- Recognized changes in each patient's condition and adjusted dialysis treatments on daily basis.
- Implemented, administered, monitored and documented patient's response to prescribed interdialytic transfusions, and therapy.
Director of Infection Control/Education Specialist
Mercy Regional Medical Center
09.2003 - 09.2010
- Trained newly employed nurses on policy, procedures, and ensured competency.
- Collaborated with organizational leaders to develop educational objectives, learning expectations and competency standards.
- Created education/immunization assessment needs tool: computer-based program that tracks employee education and immunization schedules.
- Evaluated hospital-onset and healthcare-acquired infections by conducting root cause analysis.
- Developed hospital wide policies and procedures to improve success of infection control measures in departments.
- Surveilled ongoing infections to verify adequate data collection, control procedures and current staff interventions.
- Participated in and presented data to Quality and Leadership committees to discuss policies, propose revisions and implement changes.
- Increased participation and concentration while reinforcing classroom discipline by modeling acceptable behavior and respect for others.
ICU Staff Nurse
Lafayette General Medical Center
02.1992 - 09.2003
- Cared for patients requiring mechanical ventilation, titration of vasoactive and inotropic infusions, hemodynamic monitoring using pulmonary artery, cardiac output and CVP monitoring, intra-aortic ballon pumps, and left ventricular assistive devices.
- Supervised and precepted new employees and student nurses to promote adherence to established patient care standards and practices.
- Assigned charge nurse and resource personnel for both surgical and medical ICU's
- Responsible for instant decisions when patients were in life threatening situations
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
12.1992
Skills
- Licensed BSN, RN
- Remote Work Experience
- EPIC/Cerner Systems
- Critical Care Experience
- Dialysis
- Infection Control/Epidemiology
- Basic Life Support Instructor
- Quality Improvement
- Medical record review/Auditing
- ICD-10-CM Coding Proficiency
- Clinical Documentation Expertise
- Data Abstraction
Certification
- Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse- 1994 - 2012
- Certification by the Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology 2009-2016
- BLS Current
- Basic Life Support Instructor 2023-Current
- ACLS 2023-Current
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Accomplishments
- Inspired students to pursue careers in healthcare like Certified Nursing Assistant and Nursing.
- Received and maintained over 95% positive rating from students.
- Instructed over 600 students during 2023.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Instrumental in instructing curriculum for new Alaris Inter-op courses and active on the floor with staff during go-live week.
- Sent queries for missing documentation in the medical record which led to the Inspired students to pursue careers in healthcare like Certified Nursing Assistant and Nursing.
- Received and maintained over 95% positive rating from students.
- Instructed over 600 students during 2023.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Instrumental in instructing curriculum for new Alaris Inter-op courses and active on the floor with staff during go-live week.
- Sent queries for missing documentation in the medical record which led to the recouporation of millions of dollars of revenue for the hospital.
- Achieved 50% increase in productivity for the department by creating a excel spreadsheet to assign next day assignments to other CDI staff.
- Collaborated with team of six in the development of BIPSY Project.of millions of dollars of revenue for the hospital.
- Achicieved 50% increase in productivity for the department by creating a excel spreadsheet to assisgn next day assignments to other CDI staff.
- Collaborated with team of six in the development of BIPSY Project.
Affiliations
- Ochsner Health System
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteImportant To Me
Work-life balanceHealthcare benefitsPaid sick leaveCompany Culture401k matchPaid time offFlexible work hoursWork from home optionSoftware
Cerner
Microsoft Office
LearnSoft
WorkDay
HealthStream
Interests
Crafts
Furniture Rejuvenation
Event Planning and decorating
Entertaining
Timeline
Regional Medical/Surgical Clinical Educator - Ochsner Heath System
02.2023 - Current
Clinical Documentation Specialist - Ochsner Health System
06.2016 - 02.2023
Public Health Nurse - Wellness Express
09.2015 - 06.2016
Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse - Our Lady Of Lourdes Medical Center
08.2013 - 05.2015
Chronic Care Dialysis Nurse - Fresenius Dialysis Clinic
09.2012 - 08.2013
Director of Infection Control/Education Specialist - Mercy Regional Medical Center
09.2003 - 09.2010
ICU Staff Nurse - Lafayette General Medical Center
02.1992 - 09.2003
University of Southwest Louisiana - Bachelor of Science, Nursing
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