Melody D Ramos
Westminster,CO
Summary
Dynamic RN with extensive leadership experience at VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, excelling in staff supervision and resource allocation. Proven track record in enhancing patient care quality and fostering team collaboration. Skilled in critical thinking and effective communication, driving improvements in nursing practices and achieving high patient satisfaction rates.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
Work History
RN, Assistant Nurse Manager
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System - Livermore Division
Livermore, United States
06.2018 - 01.2022
- Ensures administrative support and guidance while providing oversight for the delivery of resident centered nursing care and management of nursing personnel and clinical resources.
- Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams to management and coordination of health care needs of the patient.
- Assists with the coordination and accountability for all regulatory and environmental surveys and adheres to mandatory response timelines.
- Demonstrates, promotes, creates and ensures a culturally diverse workforce in which the values and needs of all individuals are respected.
- Provides an environment that fosters employees to perform to their full individual potential.
- Acts as a nurse supervisor and provides oversight for the administration of leave, counseling and disciplinary actions in collaboration with the Nurse Manager.
- Acts as the Nurse Manager during times of Nurse Manager absences.
- Assists Nurse Manager to monitor, develop, and implement action plans to improve unit's budget performance.
- Assumes delegated responsibility for the review and approval of unplanned leave.
Nursing Supervisor, RN, MS
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
Denver, United States
05.2004 - 06.2018
- Coordinates staffing needs for eight (8) inpatient units and two(2) outpatient units of the hospital resulting in a safe nurse to patient ratio.
- Interacts with the Nurse Managers/Charge nurses concerning unit management and optimal use of resources leading to cost reduction.
- Coordinates and consults with the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD) with bed control, by transferring patients into the facility from community hospitals, other VA facilities in network, and new admits from the emergency room and outpatient clinics.
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal relationship skills in interpreting and communicating service and ECHCS goals, objectives, policies and procedures to staff, patients, and health care team members.
- Provides consultation and work in partnership with the community, the Administrative Officers of the Day (AOD), staff, and health care team members regarding Medicare/Medicaid and other primary and secondary insurance issues with veterans admitted to the facility. This results to the proper use of additional resources to the veteran patients' and their families.
- Communicates, collaborates and coordinates with all disciplines to ensure clinically appropriate care and intervenes on behalf of the patient to obtain needed resources.
- Develops, promotes, supports, and continue evaluations to the implementation of policies and procedures regarding restraints and seclusion, patient falls, and other medical and psychiatric issues throughout the facility.
- Conducts comprehensive review of charts and other documents; tracks, trends and analyzes appropriate data to ensure compliance and guidelines are met with Joint Commission requirements.
- Educates, mentors, coaches, and guides staff with evidenced-based nursing procedures. This resulted to staff satisfaction, increased knowledge and confidence in performing nursing procedures.
- Evaluates and analyzes the effectiveness of educational programs involving patients, families and nursing staff; initiating recommendations regarding improvement.
- Assumes a leadership role in fostering accountability in others for professional practice and patient care.
- Uses advanced clinical knowledge and communication skills to efficiently and effectively guide the nursing staff in the application of the nursing process especially in critical thinking skills. This is accomplished by working with charge nurses and staff RNs in problem solving staffing needs and other specific nursing issues that may arise to promote patient care and increased nursing job satisfaction.
- CPRS (computer patient record system), BCMA (bar code medication administration), and BMS (bed management system) super user. Consults, guide, teach, and share expertise to staff RNs and other health care team trouble shoot computer issues as they arise on off tour.
- Serves as a resource for clients and staff in resolving ethical issues.
- Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, taking appropriate action.
- Evaluates practice of self and others using professional standards, relevant statutes, and regulations, and takes action to improve performance.
- Answers and communicates patient/family questions, both inpatient and telehealth healthcare issues as they arise.
Patient Care Coordinator (Charge Nurse), RN
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
Denver, United States
08.1998 - 01.2006
- Coordinated staff assignments, resources, and verified the accuracy of the tour of duty and statistical data for 4South(surgical telemetry unit with 28 beds).
- Facilitated interdisciplinary communication related to patient care and administrative issues, thereby increasing patient and employee satisfaction.
- Provided professional assessment, and coordinated for planning of multiple health care services, while meeting the health care needs of the patients.
- Mentored and educated new staff nurses and numerous nursing students, resulting in increased knowledge, recruitment and retention of new staff on 4South.
- Utilized and assisted staff with bar coding medication administration (BCMA) and computerized patient record system (CPRS) leading to decreased medication errors.
- Coordinated and made staff schedules on all three (3) shifts, making sure the unit was staffed adequately and safely, based on the staffing matrix approved by the Chief of Nursing.
- Educates colleagues and/or students and serves as preceptor and/or mentor.
- Demonstrates competency in performing inpatient care coordination, interventions and procedures to include, but not limited to: coordinating and evaluating integrated discharge planning and UM process, performing concurrent chart reviews to evaluate appropriate level of care using InterQual criteria; identifying the resource (financial, human, material, informational) necessary to implement an effective and efficient discharge planning process.
Staff Nurse, RN
StarMed/Intellistaff/NurseFinders Health Agency
Denver, United States
06.2001 - 11.2002
- Provided safe, effective, and specialized nursing care to 8 patients in the Medical/surgical units in different hospitals throughout the Denver area. The hospitals I worked for were: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Hospital, Rose Medical Center, Porter Adventist Hospital, St. Anthony Central Hospital, and St. Anthony Hospital North Hospital.
Charge Nurse/Team Leader, RN
Colorado Lutheran Home
Arvada, United States
06.1998 - 11.2000
- Delivered safe, effective, and specialized nursing care to 40 geriatric residents in compliance with the Standard of Practice and based on the nursing process resulting to outstanding nursing care.
- Monitored and administered intravenous medications on both nursing stations, thereby meeting patient care needs. This resulted to high satisfaction rates among patients and families alike.
- Coached and mentored new RNs and LPNs by demonstrating and providing information regarding policies and procedures, resulting to higher retention rates of newly hired employees.
Staff Nurse, RN
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
Denver, United States
11.1994 - 08.1998
- Conducted safe, effective, and specialized nursing care to 15 adult and geriatric patients in compliance with the Standard of Practice and based on the nursing process. This resulted to higher satisfaction rates with patients, peers, and staff.
- Oriented, mentored, and coached newly hired RNs, LPNs, and CNAs to the 32-bed surgical telemetry unit, resulting in competency and proficiency in the delivery of patient care.
- Coordinated and planned patient care to 16 pre-operative and 16 post-operative patients, leading to safe patient care and high patient satisfaction rates.
- Utilized, promoted, supported, assisted, and evaluated other staff for effective means of health care. This was done with the bar coding medication administration (BCMA) and computerized patient record system (CPRS), which resulted to providing medications safely and decreased medication errors significantly.
- Started IVs, did blood draws on patients on the off tour. This resulted to timely lab results and immediate changes to patient medications, and patient receiving prompt treatment.
Field Nurse, RN
Physicians Home Health Care
Denver, United States
05.1997 - 03.1998
- Executed home health care visits to 8 geriatric medical and post surgical patients resulting in quick surgical recovery.
- Performed dressing changes, preventing post operative infections resulting to quicker healing process and increased patient care compliance.
- Educated patients with medication regimen, side effects, and drug interactions, leading to patient compliance and prevention of drug overdose.
- Performed venipunctures, lab draws, vital signs, and administered intramuscular and intravenous medications to homebound elderly patients. This resulted to patient compliance with medical care and health care issues.
Private Duty Nurse, RN
Self-Employed
Westminster, United States
07.1993 - 12.1995
- Provided home health care by administering oral and inhaler medications and breathing treatments to an elderly patient with end stage COPD.
- Consulted and provided assistance in coordinating with Social Services, Medicare, and Kaiser Insurance health care issues as needed.
- Educated and demonstrated proper use of inhaler and nebulizer treatments to elderly patient with COPD and Emphysema. This resulted to high patient compliance and decreased Dr's office visits.
Charge Nurse/Team Leader, RN
Castle Garden Care Center
Broomfield, United States
11.1992 - 12.1995
- Provided safe, effective, and specialized nursing care to 60 geriatric residents in compliance with the Standard of Practice and based on the nursing process.
- Provided leadership and mentored new RNs, LPNs, and CNAs by orienting and training to the facilities' policies and procedures.
ER Admissions Clerk
Presbyterian/St Lukes Medical Center
Denver, United States
07.1992 - 12.1993
- Admitted patients to the emergency room by inputting patient information in the computer system.
- Provided clerical duties and assisted patients and nursing staff in the emergency department.
Insurance Claims Processor
Principal Financial Group
Denver, United States
07.1989 - 01.1992
- Processed, and provided comprehensive reviews and paid claims to ensure compliance and guidelines with the Principal Financial Group medical insurance division. This insurance claims were sent by different health care providers, including hospitals, physicians, and patients/insured individuals.
- Educated, explained, and gave insurance information to clients needing explanation to the billing process. This resulted to client satisfaction of medical insurance benefits.
Patient Accounts Clerk
Mercy Medical Center
Denver, United States
07.1986 - 08.1989
- Conducted pre-authorization, admission, appeals/denial reviews of third party payers for services provided to patients.
- Processed and submitted medical claims to different insurance companies in Colorado and throughout the United States.
- Provided clerical duties as assigned.
- Assisted and educated patients and families with regard to their explanation of benefits from different insurance companies.
Ward Clerk
Mercy Medical Center
CO, United States
07.1984 - 12.1986
- Provided clerical duties and assisted the nursing staff in various medical, surgical, and psychiatric wards throughout the hospital.
Nursing Assistant
Mercy Medical Center
Denver, United States
07.1981 - 07.1984
- Provided safe, effective nursing care by assisting the RN's and LPN's on the medical, surgical, and psychiatric wards throughout the hospital.
Nursing Assistant
Eventide Nursing Home
Longmont, United States
01.1979 - 05.1981
- Provided safe, effective nursing care by assisting the RN's and LPN's on the 120-bed skilled nursing facility deliver patient care to geriatric patients.
Education
Master's Degree - Master of Science Nursing (Leadership in Healthcare Systems)
Regis University
Denver, CO, United States08.2009
Bachelor's Degree - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Regis University
Denver, CO, United States05.2005
Associate's Degree - Associate Degree of Applied Science in Nursing (RN)
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO, United States12.1993
Technical or Occupational Certificate - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO, United States12.1992
Skills
- Health records management
- Team collaboration
- Staff supervision
- Resource allocation
- Quality assurance
- Conflict resolution
- Effective communication
- Leadership development
- Critical thinking
- Mentorship training
- Data analysis
- Patient relations
- Emergency care
- Data collection
- Care plan development
- Gastrostomy tube and catheter procedures
- Physical assessments and wound care
- Clinical judgment and relationship building
- Home health care and postpartum support
- Patient care planning and monitoring
- Immunization administration and advocacy
- Electronic health records management and HIPAA compliance education
- Rehabilitation support and chronic disease management
- Medication and IV administration
- Patient education and counseling
- Nursing plan development
- Home visits
- Long-term care coordination
Affiliations
- Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing, member
- Filipino-American Community of Colorado - Filipino-American Community Organization, Member
Additional Information
Attended 8-hour class in Anger, Anxiety, & Hypertension, 10/28/2011 in Longmont, Colorado - to enhance knowledge on PTSD, Hypertension, and other Psychological Diseases, treatments for the Veteran patients., Current Nursing Service coordinator to the Respiratory Fit Testing Program at the Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS, 2008 to present., Committee Member for the Asian-American/Pacific-Islander Program at the Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, 05/2012 - 05/2014., Attended 2004 Nursing Symposium in Medical/Surgical Nursing, Orlando, Florida, March 2004.
References
- Carol Losh, Department of Veterans Affairs, ECHCS, RN, Nursing Supervisor, (303)619-6044, Carol.Losh@va.gov
- Marilyn Mills, Department of Veterans Affairs, ECHCS, Lead Medical Support Assistant Clerk, (720)291-3360
- Connie Haseloh, Retiree, Denver VA ECHCS, Off Tour Nursing Supervisor, (303)699-9859
- Deanna Gallegos, Retiree, Department of Veterans Affairs, ECHCS, RN, Clinical Applications Coordinator, (303)433-9696
Availability
Permanent, Telework, Full-Time, Part-Time, PRN, United States, CO, CA, United States
Languages
Tagalog
Job Related Training
- MS Excel, Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS, 4-hour class, 2007
- MS Power Point, Self-Trained, 2003
- MS Word, Self-Trained, 1997
- Beginning Typing, Adams County Adult Education Program, Certificate - 1985
Timeline
RN, Assistant Nurse Manager
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System - Livermore Division
06.2018 - 01.2022
Nursing Supervisor, RN, MS
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
05.2004 - 06.2018
Staff Nurse, RN
StarMed/Intellistaff/NurseFinders Health Agency
06.2001 - 11.2002
Patient Care Coordinator (Charge Nurse), RN
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
08.1998 - 01.2006
Charge Nurse/Team Leader, RN
Colorado Lutheran Home
06.1998 - 11.2000
Field Nurse, RN
Physicians Home Health Care
05.1997 - 03.1998
Staff Nurse, RN
Department of Veterans Affairs ECHCS
11.1994 - 08.1998
Private Duty Nurse, RN
Self-Employed
07.1993 - 12.1995
Charge Nurse/Team Leader, RN
Castle Garden Care Center
11.1992 - 12.1995
ER Admissions Clerk
Presbyterian/St Lukes Medical Center
07.1992 - 12.1993
Insurance Claims Processor
Principal Financial Group
07.1989 - 01.1992
Patient Accounts Clerk
Mercy Medical Center
07.1986 - 08.1989
Ward Clerk
Mercy Medical Center
07.1984 - 12.1986
Nursing Assistant
Mercy Medical Center
07.1981 - 07.1984
Nursing Assistant
Eventide Nursing Home
01.1979 - 05.1981
Master's Degree - Master of Science Nursing (Leadership in Healthcare Systems)
Regis University
Bachelor's Degree - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Regis University
Associate's Degree - Associate Degree of Applied Science in Nursing (RN)
Front Range Community College
Technical or Occupational Certificate - Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Front Range Community College