MELISSA T. SONGER
Battle Ground
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse with 13+ years of clinical experience in correctional and acute-care settings. After several years in leadership roles, transitioning back to bedside nursing to focus on direct patient care, clinical assessment, and trauma-informed, evidence-based practice. Skilled in emergency response, chronic disease management, detox monitoring, wound care, suicide prevention, and interdisciplinary collaboration in high-risk, fast-paced environments. Committed to providing safe, ethical, patient-centered care to justice-involved individuals.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Health Services Administrator – RN
Wellpath
03.2023 - Current
- Provide direct patient care for a population of 500+ incarcerated adults.
- Conduct triage, sick call assessments, detox monitoring, diabetic care, wound care, lab draws, and chronic disease management.
- Provided direct nursing care to a diverse population of incarcerated adults, ensuring compliance with safety and health regulations.
- Respond to medical emergencies including overdoses, cardiac events, suicide attempts, and traumatic injuries.
- Provided mentorship and support to new nursing staff, fostering a collaborative team environment and shared knowledge.
- Serve as clinical liaison between custody staff, providers, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Support additional Wellpath sites in both H.S.A and RN roles
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized treatment plans for complex patient cases.
Registered Nurse – BSN
Multnomah County Health Department
10.2019 - 03.2023
- Performed comprehensive intake screenings, detox assessments, suicide risk evaluations, and chronic disease management.
- Conducted sick call assessments, medication administration for 300+ patients, and routine diabetic care.
- Responded to emergent situations facility-wide, collaborating with custody staff to ensure safety.
- Assisted providers with procedures such as wound care, abscess management, and specimen collection.
- Prioritized, triaged, and completed high-volume medical requests and drop-in assessments.
Registered Nurse – BSN (PRN/On-Call)
NaphCare
10.2021 - 02.2023
- Performed medication pass, intake screenings, detox assessments, diabetic checks, wound care and sick call evaluations
- Assisted providers with procedures including laceration repair and incision & drainage.
- Responded effectively to medical emergencies, utilizing advanced assessment skills to address urgent health issues.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
Health Services Administrator / RN
NaphCare
02.2020 - 04.2020
- Oversaw medical services for a 600+ patient population while continuing hands-on clinical care.
- Provided direct patient care in sick call, emergency response, detox monitoring, and chronic disease follow-up.
- Managed health services for a diverse population, ensuring effective patient care delivery and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Coordinated patient care among multidisciplinary teams to enhance treatment outcomes and streamline health services.
Health Services Administrator / RN
Wellpath / Correct Care Solutions
06.2017 - 02.2020
- Delivered patient care while overseeing clinical operations, CQI programs, morbidity/mortality reviews, and interdisciplinary coordination.
- Conducted emergency response, wound care, detox checks, and chronic disease management.
- Facilitated staff training sessions on best practices for patient care and health service delivery.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives that enhanced patient care and operational efficiency within the facility.
- Participated in morbidity and mortality reviews to identify opportunities for clinical improvement and patient safety.
- Led efforts to recruit and retain nursing staff, fostering a positive work environment and promoting professional development.
Director of Nursing / RN
Correct Care Solutions
01.2015 - 06.2017
- Supervised nursing operations while maintaining a strong clinical presence through direct assessment, emergency care, and patient treatment.
- Developed and implemented nursing protocols to enhance patient safety and compliance with treatment plans.
- Conducted regular training sessions for nursing staff on clinical best practices and emergency response procedures.
- Streamlined nursing operations by optimizing staffing schedules, resource allocation, and workflow processes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients with complex needs.
- Provided direct supervision to nursing staff, ensuring quality care delivery and adherence to established protocols.
Education
Associate of Arts - Liberal Studies
Chabot College
Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BSN)
Western Governors University
03.2017
Associate of Science - Nursing (RN)
Lower Columbia College
08.2012
High School Diploma - undefined
Mount Eden High School
06.2003
Skills
- Organizational leadership
- Patient safety
- Strategic business planning
- Healthcare management
- Training and education
- Team supervision
- Workflow management
- Proficient in EPIC, Techcare, ERMA, CorEMR, Sapphire, JMS
Certification
- Washington RN (Compact) RN60309976
- Active
- Expires 2026-03-04
- Oregon RN 201907837RN
- Expires 2027-03-04
- California RN 95364099
- Expires 2027-04-30
- BLS for Healthcare Providers (AHA) Expires 2027-08-18
Timeline
Health Services Administrator – RN
Wellpath
03.2023 - Current
Registered Nurse – BSN (PRN/On-Call)
NaphCare
10.2021 - 02.2023
Health Services Administrator / RN
NaphCare
02.2020 - 04.2020
Registered Nurse – BSN
Multnomah County Health Department
10.2019 - 03.2023
Health Services Administrator / RN
Wellpath / Correct Care Solutions
06.2017 - 02.2020
Director of Nursing / RN
Correct Care Solutions
01.2015 - 06.2017
Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BSN)
Western Governors University
Associate of Science - Nursing (RN)
Lower Columbia College
High School Diploma - undefined
Mount Eden High School
Associate of Arts - Liberal Studies
Chabot College