Michele Kaster

• Served as medication nurse overseeing up to 32 patients, and overseeing up to 4 CNA's.
• Fulfilled role of Charge Nurse over 3 wings of 99 patients, 4 LVN's and 10 CNA's
• Completed both admission's and discharges on patient's.
• Performed general nursing duties, changed foley catheters, maintained G-tube feedings, urostomy and colostomy patients.
• Measured and recorded patients' weight, height, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
• Administered prescribed medications using PCC to note times, types and amounts of medications for each patient.
• Answered patient call signals, intercom system notifications and signal lights to determine patients' needs.
• Improved patient medication adherence by providing clear instructions and addressing concerns.
• Ensured proper documentation of administered medications, contributing to accurate medical records for each patient.
• Contributed to a safe nursing environment by adhering to infection control protocols during medication administration.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction with compassionate care and effective communication during medication rounds.
• Maintained compliance with state regulations and facility policies regarding controlled substances by adhering to strict storage, administration, and documentation procedures.
• Collected specimens to prepare for laboratory test procedures.
• Mentored new nursing staff on medication administration best practices, ensuring a consistent standard of care across the team.
• Promoted continuity of care by effectively communicating any changes in patients'' medications or conditions to other healthcare professionals involved in their treatment plan.
• Provided support during emergency situations involving medications, such as administering lifesaving drugs or managing adverse drug reactions under pressure.
• Documented treatments delivered, medications administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
• Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.

Through Clipboard Registry I have worked various different Skilled Nursing/ Rehab Center's throughout the State of California.

• Performed routine evaluations of each patient's status, needs and preferences.
• Obtained patient vital signs and input/output measurements from inpatients.
• Managed patient care through closely monitoring respiration, blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.
• Documented patient vitals, behaviors and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising Doctor on call.
• Responded to patient requests with appropriate clinical and personal assistance.
• Oversaw patient conditions, administered medicine, performed interventions and took detailed records.
• Delivered direct quality care to patients by evaluating medical conditions and managing and assessing treatments.
• Provided basic patient care and treatment for 24 - 30 patients, such as administering medications, taking temperature and blood pressure, dressing wounds and providing general nursing care.

• Provided nursing respite services to multiple children with special needs, working under the license of their Medical Doctor.
• Ability to assess clients conditions and determine client needs.
• Provided customized health care to each client, specific to their needs and family needs.
• Routinely recorded progress notes, vital signs, patient assessment, during home visits. Reviewing patient history to determine best nursing care for client.
• Maintained g-tube/ Mickey button, administered bolus and continuous g-tube feeding, administered medications, bathing, dressing, and provided interaction, while working in coordination with other medical staff for best total care outcome of client.

• Served as medication nurse overseeing up to 32 patients, and overseeing up to 4 CNA's.
• Fulfilled role of Charge Nurse over 3 wings of 99 patients, 4 LVN's and 10 CNA's
• Completed both admission's and discharges on patient's.
• Performed general nursing duties, changed foley catheters, maintained G-tube feedings, urostomy and colostomy patients.
• Measured and recorded patients' weight, height, blood pressure, pulse and respiration.
• Administered prescribed medications using PCC to note times, types and amounts of medications for each patient.
• Answered patient call signals, intercom system notifications and signal lights to determine patients' needs.
• Improved patient medication adherence by providing clear instructions and addressing concerns.
• Ensured proper documentation of administered medications, contributing to accurate medical records for each patient.
• Contributed to a safe nursing environment by adhering to infection control protocols during medication administration.
• Enhanced patient satisfaction with compassionate care and effective communication during medication rounds.
• Maintained compliance with state regulations and facility policies regarding controlled substances by adhering to strict storage, administration, and documentation procedures.
• Collected specimens to prepare for laboratory test procedures.
• Mentored new nursing staff on medication administration best practices, ensuring a consistent standard of care across the team.
• Promoted continuity of care by effectively communicating any changes in patients'' medications or conditions to other healthcare professionals involved in their treatment plan.
• Provided support during emergency situations involving medications, such as administering lifesaving drugs or managing adverse drug reactions under pressure.
• Documented treatments delivered, medications administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
• Implemented care plans for patient treatment after assessing physician medical regimens.

Worked in a fast paced OB/GYN clinic for 3 days at Kaiser Anaheim, to assist staff during a 3 day strike. Assisted staff and Doctors by checking patients into Kaiser computer system, taking VS, obtained urine specimen's, staged lab work in computer for Doctor's to sign and order. I also set up the exam rooms for pap- smears, pelvic exams, Ultrasounds and other OB/GYN clinical procedures and specimen collection.

As a travel nurse I provided patient focused care in a 50 bed Long-term Post Acute/ Rehab and Wellness Center. Responsible for the care of 30 patients and oversaw the work of 4-6 CNA's.

• Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
• Post op patients
• Wound Treatment
• General LVN duties: passing medication, inserting and removing foley catheters. Identified changes in patient condition and reporting to the doctor. Diabetes management.
• Worked through a Covid outbreak

• Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
• Took samples to complete diagnostic and routine assessment tests.
• Cared for wounds, provided treatments and assisted with procedures.
• Administered medications and treatments to patients as ordered by physician, maintaining accountability for accurate narcotic count at end of each shift.
• Documented medications administered, treatments and patient procedures performed in appropriate records according to privacy requirements.
• Monitored nursing care, patient assessment processes and treatment implementations.
• Documented information in patients' electronic medical record, relaying information to clinicians and care providers to facilitate continuity of care.
• Cared for patients' wounds and changed dressings.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
• Documented patient vitals, behaviors and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising LVN, RN, ADON.

Through this Registry I worked at various Skilled Nursing/ Rehab Centers throughout the state of California.

• Administered medications and performed general nursing care within the scope of my practice to 24-40 residents under my care.
• Oversaw the work of 3-5 CNA's under my supervision.
• Documented accurate and complete patient information to address patient problems and expected outcomes.
• Performed routine evaluations of each patient's status, needs and preferences.
• Assisted with admissions, appointments, transfers and discharges.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of healthcare and social service providers to address patients' needs through effective intervention and care planning.

• Assessing, planning and implementing patient care of 14- 45 mentally disabled clients, adeptly handling all aspects of nursing, from medication administration, wound care, foley catheter care/ changing, maintaining G-tubes and administering continuous and bolus G-tube feedings to redirecting behaviors in clients.
• Assessed need for, ordered, obtained and interpreted lab tests. correlating with the Medical Doctor for appropriate treatments or changes in medication.
• Administered medications and treatments to patients as ordered by physician, maintaining accountability for accurate narcotic count at end of each shift.
• Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health and organizational regulations.
• Assessed patients' temperature, pulse and blood pressure and accurately recorded in medical records.
• Reviewed patient history to verify conditions and current medications.
• Circulated assigned floor to measure and record patients' fluid and food levels, implementing measures to promote healthy intake and output as necessary.
• Performed supervisory duties, overseeing care provided by three to seven CNA's and one other LVN.
• Completed Nursing Summaries and updated Patient Care Plans as needed.

• Assessing, planning and implementing resident nursing care. Giving and receiving verbal patient shift report.
• As Floor Nurse, provided patient care in a LTC and rehabilitation unit responsible for up to 30 residents, adeptly handling all aspects of treatment, from medication administration, wound care, g-tube and NGT maintenance and feeding, to foley catheter care and maintenance. Provided education to both family members and residents.
• Perform daily breathing treatments including nebulizers, cough assist and oral suctioning,
• As Charge Nurse on LTC and Rehabilitation Unit responsible for 30 to 60 residents, 2 RN/ LVN's and 4- 5 CNA's, delegating and assigning care appropriately.
• Critical member of the collaborative team work of speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, dietary, nursing and medical staff, working to achieve treatment goals of each one of my 28-30 assigned residents.
• Effectively carried out patient admissions and discharges.
• Strong clinical judgement
• Geriatric nursing knowledge
• Diabetes, Stroke, Hospice care patients
• Oriented and Mentored new staff nursing members.
• Communicated effectively with patients and family members to convey important instructions and discuss treatments.
• Utilized Point Click Care to document nursing assessments, treatments, medications and discharge / admission instructions.
• Monitored fluid output and intake,
• Followed infection control procedures.
• Ensured HIPPA compliance in the work place.
• Utilized both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management and treatment of various disorders and disease processes.
• Direct Patient Care
• Monitored vital signs, tested and recorded blood glucose levels, administered insulin, obtained physician orders, admissions and discharges, TB testing, ordered labs and x-rays, documentation/ medicare documentation of patient status, monitoring for changes in condition and acute conditions, while updating and collaborating with the physician.
• Maintained accurate records of residents' healthcare treatments and responses.

• Provided in-home care services, LTC/ Rehabilitation and Hospice nursing care services to assigned clients and facilities.
• Flexible and adept at working in different facilities and clients homes at any given shift.
• Documenting vital signs, general assessments, and progress notes.
• Provided full care in all daily activities, including bathing, dressing, turning and repositioning, meals, medication administration.
• Skilled at providing one-to-one nursing care for Home Health patients aging in range from 1yo to elderly.
• Provided nursing care to patients undergoing chemotherapy, diagnosed with seizure disorder. Skilled at intermittent straight catheterization, and G-tube/ J-tube maintenance with administration of intermittent bolus feeding and continuous tube feeding.
• Helped patient's achieve higher standards of living through effective ROM ADL coaching, teaching and assisting. Administered PO and G-tube medication administration, filled prescription medication refills, notifying Medical Doctor of changes in condition, writing Doctor's Orders and carrying them out as ordered, making Doctor's appointments and ensuring patient arrived to appointments.
• Receiving and giving oral reports to on-coming and off-going nurses, reviewing care plan for each patient, obtaining vital signs and beginning of shift head-to-toe assessment and writing nursing notes for each shift.
• End of life care and family support for Hospice patients.
• Provided physical assessments, medication and chronic disease management to home health patients.

• Responsibilities have included medication administration, and general nursing care for various temporary assignments.
• Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA flu clinic and urgent care assistance administering Influenza, Pneumonia and Tdap vaccinations from ages of 6 months and up to the elderly.
• INR testing for Coumadin patients in Kaiser Permanente Coumadin Clinic, performing patient assessment, identifying and informing clinical RN of all abnormal test results and patient conditions.
• Responsibilities also included checking patients in and out of the Kaiser Permanente clinic appointment system, and documenting on the electronic charting system.
• Training new staff members to carry out my functions in the INR Coumadin clinic.
• At Telecare Clinic, performed nursing for parolees with mental Health issues, built a rapport with CORE clients, talking with clients one-on-one concerning their current mental health issues, crisis, and medications. Worked with the Licensed Psychologist to make client medication appointments, working closely with the CORE team to ensure clients made it to their appointments, ensure client’s medications were ordered from the pharmacy and delivered to facility for client pick-up and updating the Psychologist and medical staff on any change in client status.
• Other responsibilities at Telecare Clinic included, completing client’s yearly Nurse Screening and Tuberculosis Screening as required to keep in compliance with Telecare regulations and requirements. I also was responsible for leading CORE group therapy sessions throughout each week with clients.
• Worked closely, collaborating with CORE Team case managers and clients to assist clients with their financial needs, Social Security Supplemental Security Income application, Low Income Health Program (LIHP) application, Copy of Birth Certificate requests, MTS Application for Reduced Bus Fare, job applications, and resume writing.

• On a busy Neurology Floor, supported doctors in surgery and follow-up for brain, seizure, back and neck, trauma care, and adult orthopedics patients. Provided pre-operative and post-operative care including head-to-toe nursing assessments, detailed neurological assessments, tracheotomy and chest tube care, ostomy care, status change notifications, and peripheral IV status and maintenance. Administered and managed blood products, oral and IV medications, gastrointestinal and nasal feeding tubes, foley catheter insertion and maintenance and removal, sterile dressings, and patient instructions. Supervised nurse aid care, providing clear instruction and hands-on leadership to ensure accurate and compassionate nursing services to hospital clientele.
• Built genuine rapport with each patient, establishing sound trust and comfort levels to gain insight and understanding of their total health, solve problems, and provide top-tier comprehensive care.
• Recognized for precise attention to detail while conducting and documenting patient assessments, with notable strengths in neurological assessments.