Melissa Pruitt
Austin
Summary
Registered Nurse with extensive experience at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, specializing in critical care and patient advocacy. Expertise in medication administration and EMR software, with a proven track record in patient and family education. Strong leadership skills demonstrated through staff development initiatives. Focused on improving patient outcomes through collaborative care and critical thinking.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Shiftkey
Kerrville
08.2023 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders, ensuring compliance with protocols.
- Monitored vital signs and reported changes to healthcare providers for timely interventions.
- Educated patients and families on health management and discharge instructions effectively.
- Assisted in emergencies by providing critical interventions as necessary.
- Documented patient information accurately in electronic health records to maintain data integrity.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal patient care outcomes.
- Performed bedside procedures, including wound care and IV insertions, enhancing patient comfort.
- Facilitated timely discharge planning for assigned patients, improving throughput efficiency.
IMCU Registered Nurse
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital
San Antonio
08.2024 - 11.2025
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses in critical care settings.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized patient care plans.
- Educated patients and families on health management and treatment options.
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments to identify care needs and priorities.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to assess clinical situations quickly and accurately.
- Assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated nursing care for assigned patients.
- Trained and mentored new RNs on best practices, hospital policies and standards of care.
- Administered medications and treatments, monitoring patients for reactions and side effects.
- Advocated for patients by supporting and respecting basic rights, values, and beliefs.
IMC Registered Nurse
Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital
San Antonio
02.2024 - 09.2024
- Delivered direct patient care in critical environments to ensure safety and comfort.
- Administered medications and monitored vital signs for effective health management.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create individualized patient care plans.
- Managed medical equipment and upheld cleanliness according to hospital protocols.
- Educated patients and families on treatment options and recovery processes.
- Documented patient progress in electronic health records for continuity of care.
- Advocated for patient needs during interdisciplinary meetings to enhance care quality.
- Trained new nursing staff on procedures and hospital policies regularly.
Substance Abuse Clinician
The Fullbrook Center
Fredericksburg
04.2023 - 08.2023
- Conducted comprehensive assessments for clients with substance use disorders.
- Developed and implemented individualized treatment plans aligned with client goals.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions to foster recovery and support.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to enhance coordination of client care.
- Provided crisis intervention during critical situations to ensure client safety.
- Monitored client behavior throughout treatment, intervening when relapse signs emerged.
- Educated clients on coping strategies and techniques for relapse prevention.
- Maintained accurate case records to document client progress and compliance with HIPAA regulations.
med surg/tele acute care nurse
Medina Regional hospital
Hondo
10.2022 - 03.2023
- Documented care data to track progress and outcomes for established goals.
- Enhanced COVID-19 protocols through training and development for paraprofessional staff.
- Initiated emergency resuscitation measures per advanced life support protocols.
- Adhered to PPE specifications and safely disposed of contaminated materials.
- Restocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with essential supplies.
- Treated diverse patient diagnoses, including sepsis, renal failure, and myocardial infarction.
Forensic Nurse
Kerrville State Hospital
Kerrville
11.2021 - 08.2022
- Advocated for patient needs within interdisciplinary team and implemented effective treatment plans.
- Administered oral, IV, and intramuscular medications while monitoring patient reactions.
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing vital emotional and psychological support.
- Managed patient-oriented duties, including vital sign monitoring and behavior assessments.
- Developed tailored care plans to address individual patient requirements.
- Cultivated relationships with patients to enhance health outcomes and reduce self-harm risks.
- Introduced non-medical techniques, such as yoga and meditation, to alleviate symptoms of anxiety.
- Documented all medications administered to mental health patients as per physician instructions.
COVID-19 Unit RN
Tucson Va Medical Center
Tucson
09.2020 - 11.2021
- Tracked nursing data for care provided to document progress and outcomes for established goals.
- Developed training and ongoing development for paraprofessional staff to enhance COVID-19 protocols.
- Initiated emergency resuscitative measures according to advanced life support protocols and directives.
- Followed PPE specifications and disposed of contaminated materials, following strict safety guidelines.
- Initiated action to reduce or correct risk in response to emergent data visualized on assessment tools and clinical observation.
- Treated patients with broad range of diagnoses ranging from sepsis, renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to create, implement and adapt individualized care plans.
- Prioritized patient care assignments based on patient conditions to achieve optimal outcomes.
- Collaborated with doctors to plan post-treatment home care and prevent return hospitalization due to complications.
COVID-19 Unit RN
Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen
Harlingen
07.2020 - 09.2020
- Developed training and ongoing development for paraprofessional staff to enhance COVID-19 protocols.
- Initiated emergency resuscitative measures according to advanced life support protocols and directives.
- Followed PPE specifications and disposed of contaminated materials, following strict safety guidelines.
- Initiated action to reduce or correct risk in response to emergent data visualized on assessment tools and clinical observation.
- Facilitated medication management, monitoring for side effects.
- Instructed patients, families and caregivers on diagnoses, chronic disease management and medication self-management.
- Managed all facets of telemetry, including PA catheters and arterials, vasoactive drug administration and titration, thrombolytic therapy, dysrhythmia interpretation and chest tube management.
- Treated patients with broad range of diagnoses ranging from sepsis, renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to create, implement and adapt individualized care plans.
COVID-19 Unit RN
Peterson Healthcare
Kerrville
01.2020 - 06.2020
- Tracked nursing data for care provided to document progress and outcomes for established goals.
- Developed training and ongoing development for paraprofessional staff to enhance COVID-19 protocols.
- Initiated emergency resuscitative measures according to advanced life support protocols and directives.
- Followed PPE specifications and disposed of contaminated materials, following strict safety guidelines.
- Stocked clinical workstations and procedure rooms with necessary supplies.
- Treated patients with broad range of diagnoses ranging from sepsis, renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Collaborated with doctors to plan post-treatment home care and prevent return hospitalization due to complications.
Nurse
HCA- Gulf Coast Region
Houston
03.2019 - 01.2020
- IMCU, Tele Heart Tower, ER hold, PCU, Working as Per diem float nurse to different HCA facilities where I am needed.
- Duties- include Admissions for direct admin- ER hold admissions prior to floor transfers.
- Step down unit IMCU for Heart patients monitoring and treating Tele patients.
- Assessed and coordinated patient's discharge planning needs with healthcare team members.
- Administered medications, tracked dosages and documented patient conditions.
- Liaised between patients and doctors, completing comprehensive assessments and recording medical information to achieve recovery goals.
- Assisted physician with examinations, tests, and procedures.
Trauma Nurse-Level 1 Trauma
Allegheny Health Network
Pittsburgh
08.2018 - 12.2018
- Trauma/General surgery , oncology Unit/Hospital size 576 patient ratio 7/1 Duties-Admission assessments, gun shot wounds, MVA, oncology patients- not limited to behavioral health.
- Administered oral, intramuscular and IV medications to patients and monitored responses.
PCU RN
Texas Presbyterian Hospital
Dallas
08.2017 - 11.2017
- PCU- progressive cardiac unite.
- Unit/Hospital size 898 patient ratio 5/1 Duties-Admission assessments, Telemetry monitoring, post CABG patients and patients returning from the cardiac cath lab.
- Status post pacemaker and ICD insertions.
- Coordinated care with physicians and other clinical staff to prepare for treatment, carry out interventions and enhance continuum of care to deliver comprehensive services.
- Monitored post-op vitals, set up PCA, fluids, reviewed post-op orders and assimilated patients to unit.
- Administered oral, intramuscular and IV medications to patients and monitored responses.
Med Surg/Tele Nurse
Kindred Healthcare
Houston
02.2017 - 07.2017
- Med surg/Tele Unit / Hospital Size - 68beds Patient Ratio -6/1 Duties - Patient care Med/Admissions, Charting/EMR - meditech Reason for Leaving - Travel contract Travel Contract.
Specialties include
Houston NW Medical Center
Houston
04.2015 - 07.2016
- Cardiac Telemetry Trauma Extensive experience in medsurg.
- Unit / Hospital Size - 20 / 306 Patient Ratio - 6 to 1 Level 2 - Trauma Hospital Teaching Hospital Duties -
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
- Motivated and encouraged team members to communicate more openly and constructively with each other.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
- Performed site evaluations, customer surveys and team audits.
Education
AAS - ADN
LONESTAR HARRIS COLLEGE
01.2011
Some College (No Degree) - Nursing
Tomball College
Tomball, TXSkills
- Bilingual - English/Spanish
- Medical EMR software proficiency
- Meditech and Epic expertise
- Cerner and Avatar familiarity
- CPRS knowledge
- Colostomy care
- Unit administration skills
- Diabetes management expertise
- Medication administration proficiency
- Body mechanics understanding
- Staff development and precepting
- IV drug therapy management
- Patient triage skills
- Ventilator care expertise
- Medication and IV administration proficiency
- Broad medical terminology knowledge
- Geriatric treatment expertise
- Acute and rehabilitative care skills
- Time management abilities
- Coordination skills
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Certification
BLS
Affiliations
Nonprofit volunteer organization
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
IMCU Registered Nurse
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital
08.2024 - 11.2025
IMC Registered Nurse
Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital
02.2024 - 09.2024
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
Shiftkey
08.2023 - Current
Substance Abuse Clinician
The Fullbrook Center
04.2023 - 08.2023
med surg/tele acute care nurse
Medina Regional hospital
10.2022 - 03.2023
Forensic Nurse
Kerrville State Hospital
11.2021 - 08.2022
COVID-19 Unit RN
Tucson Va Medical Center
09.2020 - 11.2021
COVID-19 Unit RN
Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen
07.2020 - 09.2020
COVID-19 Unit RN
Peterson Healthcare
01.2020 - 06.2020
Nurse
HCA- Gulf Coast Region
03.2019 - 01.2020
Trauma Nurse-Level 1 Trauma
Allegheny Health Network
08.2018 - 12.2018
PCU RN
Texas Presbyterian Hospital
08.2017 - 11.2017
Med Surg/Tele Nurse
Kindred Healthcare
02.2017 - 07.2017
Specialties include
Houston NW Medical Center
04.2015 - 07.2016
AAS - ADN
LONESTAR HARRIS COLLEGE
Some College (No Degree) - Nursing
Tomball College