Michele Schaeffer

• Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
• Managed care from admission to discharge.
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
• Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
• Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
• Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management.
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.

• Managed elements of patient care, from admission to discharge or transfer to other units, using nursing expertise to conduct assessments, administer medications, initiate nursing and emergency interventions, contribute to care plan development and educate patients.
• Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
• Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families.
• Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical ability, appearance and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
• Ordered, interpreted and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient condition.
• Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic and cognitive status of patients.
• Formulated plans for nursing measures to restore, maintain and promote patients' physical and mental health.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.

• Provided team based, quality, compassionate, emergency care to a diverse patient population in a freestanding ER setting.
• Assessed vital signs, collected detailed patient history and noted other signs of patient health to make rapid, informed decisions regarding potential diagnosis and needed treatment.
• Acted with a high degree of autonomy according to set medical standards of care to provide safe and timely treatment.
• Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures and nursing best practices.
• Identified learning needs of patients and families and responded with advocacy and health education, including healthy lifestyle changes, follow up options, and community resources.

• Delivered outstanding care to patients with various cardiac diagnoses and managed care including medical treatment, procedural therapies, and Post Open Heart Surgery care.
• Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
• Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
• Educated patients and families on medical-surgical procedures, therapeutic regimens and pain management techniques.
• Prepared patients for surgery, educating patients and family members on surgical procedures such as CABG, Valve repair/replacement, TAVI/TAVR.
• Promoted professional development opportunities to such as Education Fairs and Teaching ACLS, BLS, and PALS.
• I functioned as Clinical Coordinator over 80 beds and 22 to 38 nurses and techs for 8 months during a management transition period. While working three 12 hour nights a week as Clinical Coordinator I maintained my staff position working 3 additional 12 hour nights a week as staff.

• Provided Emergency services to pediatric through senior adult patients.
• Stabilized and prepared Level 1 Trauma patients for transport to Level 1 Trauma Centers.
• Stabilized STEMI patients for transport to Heart Centers in Indianapolis or Cath lab at Howard consistent with ACLS guidelines.

• Provided emergency services to pediatric through senior adult patients.
• Staffed LDRP and NBN to cover needs.
• PRN staffed the LTAC located within this facility.
• Maintained certification in EFM, BLS, ACLS, PALS, and TNCC.

• Provided skilled, effective, compassionate care to Post partum, NBN, NICU, and LDRP patients.
• Served as LDR unit manager.
• Developed and implemented a cost and labor effective stocking and charging system.
• Eliminated the use of Agency and Traveling Nurses through the development and implementation of an in-house nursing registry.
• Coordinated care of low and high-risk laboring women of childbearing age and immediate stabilization of newborn following delivery.
• Responded to emergency situations such as pre-eclampsia, early labor and fetal distress.
• Assisted obstetricians with vaginal and cesarean deliveries and cared for newborns directly after birth.
• Scrubbed, assisted, and circulated Cesarean deliveries, and emergent hysterectomies.
• Certified in BLS, EFM, and grief counseling

*From 1992 to 1995 I also worked as agency staff for Favorite Nurse, Nursefinders, and ACME in all adult ICU's, NICU, Post Partum, Surgical and Medical Step down Units and Home Care.

*From March 1995 to March 1997 I continued PRN while working as an Occupational RN at Haynes International

• Utilized well-honed communication and active listening skills to conduct pre-employment screenings
• Liaised between employees with health concerns and supervisors, maintaining medical confidentiality to communicate work status and coordinate return to work accommodations
• Assisted with accident investigation program to identify root cause of incidents and near-misses
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations
• Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures
• Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery
• Delivered array of employee health services at company, which included health screenings and immunizations
• Collaborated with physicians or other licensed practitioners to arrange further medical treatment
• Promoted high level of service to every individual while observing confidentiality rules and company regulations

• Managed care from admission to discharge
• Provided exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, extensive wound care and rehabilitation
• Monitored patient condition by interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity
• Maintained quality care and comfort for patients with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options
• Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions
• Taught patients how to improve lifestyle choices, dramatically reducing chance of symptom reoccurrence
• Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion and airway management
• Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols
• Reviewed post-operative orders and continuously monitored patients' post-operative vitals, set up PCA and fluids and oriented patients to unit