MICHELLE SALAZAR-RODRIGUEZ
Sturgis,SD
Summary
Highly accomplished and skilled informal nurse leader with 16 years of experience as a registered nurse in busy healthcare settings. Transitioned into administrative roles, gaining 4 years of program development and program management experience. Possesses a comprehensive understanding of the care spectrum and processes for care coordination. Recognizes the complexity of healthcare delivery systems and is dedicated to their improvement. Adept at coordinating patient flow, ensuring accountability to safe and effective care, maintaining safety and quality metrics, and promoting the safest environment for both the veteran and staff. Actively involved with the Nurse Professional Standards Board for 7 years, serving in various roles including secretary and co-chair, as well as the Nurse Professional Practice Subcommittee where currently holds the position of co-chair. Additionally, has a background in a broad range of clinical nursing tasks, specifically as a skilled patient care coordinator with expertise in case management and care planning.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Patient Flow Coordinator/Bed Manager
VA BHHCS
03.2020 - Current
- Assist in the transfers of Veterans in and out of VA BHHCS
- Assisted FM 148D team on transfer process during remodel
- Collaboration with Community partners on utilizing VA BHHCS
- Responsible for audits of all emergent inter-facility transfers out of VA BHHCS; report findings to Quality Patient Safety and provide education to staff on missed opportunities
- Train new hospitalists on the Inter-facility Transfer note and order set required for all emergent transfers out of VA BHHCS
- Mentoring other VAs on their transfer process
- Received second place for VISN 23 Network Star award for transfer process improvement project
- Bed Management Solutions (BMS) Coordinator
- Worked closely with National and VISN during COVID 19 pandemic to assure VA BHHCS was compliant with the standards set forth per VHA Directive
- Works with National BMS team as a test site for patches and enhancements to BMS
- Works with National BMS team on developing new functions for Community Care and the Oracle Health electronic health record implementation
- Monitors utilization of BMS per VHA Directive: Developed education that was made available nationally for all nursing and administrative staff, developed BMS competencies for nursing
- Mentor for multiple BMS/Patient Flow Coordinators throughout VHA
- Working with VA BHHCS Community Living Center leadership to update their bed letter for bed reconciliation
Private Hospitalization Nurse
Care in the Community
07.2018 - 03.2020
- Responsible for review of all Veterans in community facilities once VA BHHCS was notified of hospitalization or emergency department visit
- Reviewed episode of care to determine payment approval
- Completed continued stay reviews for all hospitalized Veterans
- Alerted providers to any discharge orders, medication changes, and follow up needed for hospital stay or emergency department visit
- Transfer Coordinator
- Reviewed Veteran to determine if appropriate for transfer to VA BHHCS for continued acute care
- Worked with community facilities to improve communication and transfer process with VA BHHCS
- Increased number of acute transfers to VA BHHCS from community
- Trained new hospitalists on the Inter-facility Transfer note and order set for all emergent transfers out of VA BHHCS
Nurse Case Manager
Care in the Community (VA BHHCS)
10.2013 - 07.2018
- Reviewed all consults to determine if care should be completed in the community or stay within VA BHHCS
- Assured care was provided and follow care scheduled
- Precepted new staff to the department
- Trained new providers on Choice and Non-VA (Community) Care
- Provided coverage for Private Hospitalization Nurse/Transfer Coordinator
- Assisted in creating multiple new consults to create better tracking and workflow
Emergency Department Nurse
VA BHHCS
08.2012 - 09.2013
- Responsible for the emergency care of Veterans within a six-bed emergency department
- Charge nurse as assigned
- Responded to rapid responses and code blues
- Provided staff competencies for restraints, blood products, and central lines
Emergency Department Nurse
Rapid City Regional Hospital
02.2011 - 07.2012
- Responsible for care of patients presenting to the Level 2 Trauma Center emergency department
- Triage nurse for all patient arriving per ambulatory means
- Proficient in splinting and casting techniques
- Member of emergency department redesign team to improve patient flow
Travel Nurse
Supplemental Health Care
07.2010 - 01.2011
- Responsible for various assignments as directed per the travel nursing coordinator
- Ability to adapt to different departments efficiently
- Assignments to Fort Lyon Medium Security Prison, Littleton Adventist Hospital, Parker Adventist Hospital, and Saint Anthony's Central Hospital
Registered Nurse
Sturgis Regional Hospital
01.2008 - 06.2010
- Charge nurse responsible for patient assignments
- Ability to care for multiple levels of patient needs from acute to swing bed status to emergency department
- Precept to new staff and students
- Responsible for ancillary department duties during their off hours
Education
Masters of Science - Nursing: Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT08.2024
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Aspen University
Denver, CO07.2019
Associate Degree - Nursing
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD12.2007
Skills
- Program Development and Management
- Communication and Relationship Building
- Proficient in VA charting applications
- Medical terminology knowledge
- Attention to Detail
- Ability to Multitask and Organizational Skills
- Patient Care
- Critical Thinking
- Organizational Skills
- Creative Problem-Solving
Certification
- Registered Nurse, South Dakota, R036681, 06/16/26
- Yellow Belt Certification, 05/19/22
Custom
- VA BHHCS, Current VISN LEAD participant - graduate 12/01/24, Nurse Professional Standards Board, past secretary, and current co-chair: 2015 to 2024, Professional Nurse Practice Subcommittee, current co-chair: 2015 to present, Veteran Transfer Service Board: 2018 to present, Completed Own the Moment, Local LEAD graduation: 2017 through 2018, Preventative Ethics Committee: 2017, Completed VA BHHCS Mentoring Program: 2016
- Professional Leadership, Chapter 364 Chapter Contact, Nurses Organization of Veteran's Affairs (NOVA), VA BHHCS: 2015 to present, President Elect NOVA: 01/01/24 through 12/31/25, Chair of NOVA Legislative Committee: 07/01/15 through 12/31/20, Co-Chair NOVA Legislative Committee: 01/01/23 to present, Chair NOVA Social Media Committee: 01/01/17 through 12/31/20, Director at Large for NOVA Board of Directors: 01/01/17 through 12/31/20; 01/01/23 to present, President South Dakota Nurses Association, Districts 1, 2, 3: 01/01/18 through 12/31/19, Poster present for NOVA 2017 Annual Meeting: Improving Veteran Care Through Implementation of a Patient Flow Team at VA Black Hills Health Care System
Custom
- NOVA Professional Nurse Award for Clinical Excellence, 2016
- South Dakota Nurses Association Rookie of the Year (for new SDNA members), 2019
- VISN 23 Network Star Award second place winner, Bringing Veterans Home, process improvement project for increasing acute transfer back to VA BHHCS and assisting with better discharge planning following hospital stays when the Veteran discharges from VA
Custom
- Ms. Charity Baptista, 1018 Fair Winds Avenue, Zachary, LA, 70791, (605)430-5250
- Dr. Robert Vosler, 11840 Ridgefield Court, Spearfish, SD, 57783, (605)645-2705
- Ms. Randee Parsons, 2638 Meadows Drive, Sturgis, SD 57785, (605)499-8962
- Ms. Marcy Morrison, 21795 Elk Vale Road, Piedmont, SD 57769, (605)381-9449
Affiliations
- Nurses Organization of Veteran's Affairs
- American Nurses Association
Timeline
Patient Flow Coordinator/Bed Manager
VA BHHCS
03.2020 - Current
Private Hospitalization Nurse
Care in the Community
07.2018 - 03.2020
Nurse Case Manager
Care in the Community (VA BHHCS)
10.2013 - 07.2018
Emergency Department Nurse
VA BHHCS
08.2012 - 09.2013
Emergency Department Nurse
Rapid City Regional Hospital
02.2011 - 07.2012
Travel Nurse
Supplemental Health Care
07.2010 - 01.2011
Registered Nurse
Sturgis Regional Hospital
01.2008 - 06.2010
Masters of Science - Nursing: Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Aspen University
Associate Degree - Nursing
University of South Dakota
- Registered Nurse, South Dakota, R036681, 06/16/26
- Yellow Belt Certification, 05/19/22
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