Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
References
I enjoy painting, and writing poetry whenever life allows the time.
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Michelle Hightower

Apex,NC
Michelle Hightower

Summary

With 28 years of experience in various areas of medicine, including NICU, PICU, ED, Labor and Delivery, Case Management, Home Care, Plastic Surgery, and Professional Instruction at a Community College, I had the enjoyment of branching out into a new profession as a production assistant and found my nursing skill set to be the glue that perfected the position. I bring a diverse skill set and extensive knowledge. Throughout my career, I consistently demonstrate a passion for exceptional patient care and positive outcomes. My expertise lies in managing complex cases, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and delivering evidence-based practices. As a dedicated professional, I am committed to staying abreast to the latest advancements in the field and continuously enhancing my skills to deliver the desired outcomes.

Overview

27
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

Guilford Technical Community College

Faculty With Health Careers Nursing Assistant Program
01.2024 - Current

Job overview

  • Community College is a wonderful foundation for students to experience their dreams, goals, and strengths, all while learning who they are and their place in the community.
  • The medical community is a strong team, and teaching students how to play and work effectively on a medical team was a key component to my teaching style, utilizing my experience as an evidence based foundation of success.
  • Guilford Technical Community College makes amazing happen everyday and produces Titans contributing to the community at large and I am honored to be apart of the experience.
  • Over the last year Guilford Technical Community College has graduated over 500 nursing assistants for the state of North Carolina.
  • Building Bridges within the school community and the community at large to assist the students to have the best experience and greatest success.

Angels of Care Home Health

Pediatric Home Health Nurse
01.2023 - Current

Job overview

  • Worked along side hospice, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and many specialists providing care for a patient with Trisomy 18 and family, helping them navigate the treacherous waters of the illness.
  • I enjoyed the collaboration of everyone, leading to one of the best outcomes I have had the privilege to witness, only affirming the strength of the medical community when we work together.
  • Identified health issues while at home care visits and contacted patient's physician to discuss best method for resolution.
  • Provided compassionate nursing care to medically fragile children in home settings.
  • Tracked patients' progress through careful reporting and documentation at each visit.
  • Handled medication administration, ventilation monitoring and wound care.
  • Communicated with patients and family members, providing detailed information regarding care and medications.
  • Provided physical assessments, medication, and chronic disease management to home health patients.
  • Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
  • Monitored vital signs, developed and implemented care plans, and documented patient progress.

The Hightower Family

Family Manager
10.2004 - Current

Job overview

  • On the journey of raising two strong, intelligent, compassionate daughters, and it has been one of the greatest experiences in life.
  • One is now a sophomore in college at UNC and the other is now in the 6th grade. The gap in their age has taught and equipped me with outstanding time management skills.
  • It is the most rewarding and fulfilling job of in life.
  • Identified warning signs of emotional and developmental problems in children.

Maxim Health Care

Clinical Supervisor
09.2022 - 11.2023

Job overview

  • This job provided a hands on opportunity to assess communities at large. Working to assist patients that benefited the most receiving home health services.
  • Worked along side with Medicaid, NC Tracks, and primary care physicians to assess patients qualifications for approval for home health services.
  • A special time to work in the community as we were learning to live post pandemic and so many had been lost in the shuffle of time.
  • Lead and directed team of 50 clinical personnel and support staff.
  • Monitored, analyzed, and corrected staff performance and worked with nurse manager to raise standards of practice.
  • Assessed patients, determined needs, and managed care.
  • Developed improvement plans to solve problems and improve lagging areas.
  • Responded to crisis situations with calm and professional approach to optimize support.
  • Discussed medical histories with patients in effort to provide most effective medical advice.

Figure Eight Films

Production Assisstant
02.2011 - 10.2014

Job overview

  • Conducted research for location scouting to identify suitable filming sites.
  • Prepared production reports, summarizing daily activities and progress for review.
  • Facilitated communication between departments to align production goals and objectives.
  • Supported crew members with equipment setup by keeping necessary tools readily available.
  • Managed equipment inventory by tracking usage and ensuring proper maintenance.
  • Collaborated with production team to facilitate smooth operations, avoiding disruptions and delays
  • Communicated with other crew members via walkie talkies to coordinated production activities.
  • Reduced production errors through close attention to detail and thorough quality control checks.

Specialist in Plastic Surgery

Clinical Dermatology Nurse
01.2006 - 01.2011

Job overview

  • Delivered compassionate support and counseling services to patients dealing with the emotional aspects of their dermatological conditions.
  • Enhanced patient satisfaction with thorough assessments and personalized treatment plans.
  • Served as a resource for other nurses seeking guidance on dermatology-specific issues or questions related to patient care management.
  • Performed multiple laser treatments ranging from resurfacing to vein removal. Licensed Intradermal pigmentation artist specializing in breast reconstruction.

Phoenix Children's Hospital

NICU Nurse and Supervisor
09.1997 - 10.2007

Job overview

  • Working in the NICU for 10 years was one of the most amazing lessons in life.
  • I learned the skills required of an NICU Nurse, Supervisor, and Case Manager.
  • I was a grief counselor and learned the effective skill of therapeutic communication.
  • I worked with a team and discovered first hand how collaboration and consistency of care not only change the outcome for the better for our patients but create strong teams within the system that become unbreakable.
  • I have a passion for infant development and became a developmental specialist in the NICU.
  • It was a beautiful thing to learn that skin to skin holding and containment was sometime all that was needed to calm a fast heart rate, or baby in withdrawal, or a neurological trauma.
  • I am grateful for the journeys my patients, families, and colleagues welcomed me to take with them.
  • They are precious and impactful and lessons that are irreplaceable, and have been a foundation for my navigation through life.

Education

Northern Arizona University

Bachelor of Science from Nursing
01.1997

University Overview

During my college years I was a member of Tri Delta Sorority, and later became the Panhellenic President. I worked closely with Saint Jude's Hospital for fundraising, which laid a foundation for my career as a pediatric nurse. I was a member of the Greek Judicial Review Board that taught me a great deal about discernment and accountability. Lessons that became essential for my journey in health care.

In 1996 I was awarded Greek Woman of the Year. It was a huge honor and many wonderful people helped me to achieve this honor.

My Nursing class remains close to this day, and the elements of a team were found in the beginning threads of my career and I am grateful for all of them.

Skills

  • Strong Leadership skills achieved through many experiences working as lead for many
  • Grief Counselor working with family walking through grief Discovering need for final goodbyes to provide closure, providing support to families in years after loss There was always had grief counselors on at all times and would follow up with families walking through unimaginable loss
  • ECMO Technician Nurse, often taking most challenging and difficult families Wonderful Doctors and Nurses that taught effectiveness of therapeutic communication, accountability, and diligence, that led to nothing shy of miracles
  • Developmental Specialist, working with nurses, doctors, Physical therapist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, social workers, and families to achieve best developmental outcomes for patients, looking at long term effects of procedures and experiences, while in constant pursuit to do better
  • Nursing Supervisor, leading 120 bed unit and helping to create assignments, matching nursing skills sets with patient needs Coordinating care and providing safe and efficiently run NICU
  • High Risk Delivery Nurse, attending deliveries in which baby or mother were known to be in distress, trained in procedures and techniques to assist in safe passage for both baby and mother
  • Case Manager, working with insurance companies, home health agencies, and medical teams to collaborate care for patient and families
  • Developmental nurse, working on ways to improve quality of life for patients and families incorporating a family centered care approach

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Heart of Nursing Award 2004

Phoenix Children's Hospital


IMDb Production Assistant

Bringing up Bates

Certification

  • North Carolina Board of Nursing RN, ACTIVE
  • CPR Certification, ACTIVE

References

References
  • Warren Crow, Director of Health Careers for Guilford Technical Community College, rwcrow@gtcc.edu
  • Mary Wilkinson, Faculty Member Health Careers for Guilford Technical Community College, mawilkinson@gtcc.edu

I enjoy painting, and writing poetry whenever life allows the time.

I enjoy painting, and writing poetry whenever life allows the time.

I believe that utilizing our creative mind can help balance our work, life relationships and help us bring peace to challenging times. I utilize my skills in painting and writing to help me achieve this steady balance. I am also a huge fan of family time and my girls bring much needed joy and gratefulness for the opportunities life has to offer. 

Timeline

Faculty With Health Careers Nursing Assistant Program
Guilford Technical Community College
01.2024 - Current
Pediatric Home Health Nurse
Angels of Care Home Health
01.2023 - Current
Clinical Supervisor
Maxim Health Care
09.2022 - 11.2023
Production Assisstant
Figure Eight Films
02.2011 - 10.2014
Clinical Dermatology Nurse
Specialist in Plastic Surgery
01.2006 - 01.2011
Family Manager
The Hightower Family
10.2004 - Current
NICU Nurse and Supervisor
Phoenix Children's Hospital
09.1997 - 10.2007
Northern Arizona University
Bachelor of Science from Nursing

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Michelle Hightower