NICHOLAS MAXWELL
Iowa City,IA
Summary
Self-motivated professional that brings proven leadership, organizational and customer relations skills. Independently solves problems and keeps teams on task to handle diverse requirements. Adept at managing concurrent objectives to promote efficiency and influence positive outcomes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) Program Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs
05.2024 - Current
- Coordinate and manage all activities related to Workplace Violence Prevention with emphasis on leading the PMDB program for 2,000+ members of ICVAHS team.
- Delegate authority for day-to-day administrative operations of the PMDB Program
- Lead development of goals, objectives, and strategic plans.
- Evaluates and offers technical support and guidance on every facet of the assigned program's operations
- Directed and facilitated over 70+ facility level Training workshops over 4 year period on PMDB team, increasing participant competence and meeting Mandated Goals of 90% Compliance.
- Assist in Coordinating policy and procedure implementation related to hospital behavior incidents.
- Collecting and reporting data on a facility, VISN, and National program office level to measure adherence to program guidelines, program effectiveness, and efficiency.
- Providing administrative assistance in collecting, tracking and reporting on data involving acute behavioral responses
- Managed and supervised administrative and daily program operations, complying with policies and regulations.
Recreation Therapist
Department of Veterans Affairs
08.2014 - 06.2024
- Analyzed clinically appropriate data and made recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within services
- Provided emotional support to patients and their family, directing issues/concerns to the appropriate person.
- Planned, coordinated and organized various Community, outdoor and facility wide therapeutic recreation programs
- Work closely with the Chief of Voluntary Services to Organize and Plan a wide Variety of special events throughout the year and other services
- Implemented innovative and creative recreational programs to address the varied needs of the CLC veteran population.
- Work in collaboration with Leadership, and front-line staff to resolve complex issues that occur at the point of service
- Performed full range of supervisory duties when authorized, including Purchasing, budget allocation, and cost reductions.
- Assigning work to subordinates i.e., Rec Assistants, Volunteers, and Interns based on priorities, difficulty of assignments and capabilities.
- Provided Optimal customer service and social skills to ensured concerns are resolved and patient experiences are positive.
- Designed and put into practice rules and procedures for handling complex and sensitive aspects of recreation planning.
- Connected patients to internal, and community resources that support health behavior changes.
- Conducted and analyzed comprehensive needs assessments for optimal alignment of the program in support of the organization's mission and goals.
- Devised personalized treatment plans, communicated with referring physicians and provided referrals based on patient evaluation.
- Work directly with health care teams, Service Chiefs, and management to facilitate a resolution to problems beyond the capability of front-line staff
- Coordinated and served as a point of contact with outside organizations to establish and maintain effective partnership relations.
- Increased internal and external awareness of VA programs, services and special events and projects, technologies.
- Provide technical and analytical expertise to leadership regarding the need for alterations or revision to current policies and procedures of identified services within the medical center.
- Served as the technical expert in wellness and recreational programs, offering well-informed recommendations to staff, students, and other healthcare professionals.
- Established and maintained proactive contacts with veteran service organization, health care affiliates, and community partners.
- Gathered consistent Statistics and conducted surveys, making changes from the data in programs to meet the needs of Veterans.
PMDB Facility Trainer, MTIT
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 05.2024
- Train staff to identify disruptive behavior, different levels of stress, safety, and de-escalation skills.
- Ensure that VHA's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to staff and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, and work products and services
- Provide training information related to customer service, techniques, and resources needed to educate themselves about specific issues.
- Conducted over 50+ training Sessions at James J. Peter VA medical center emphasizing the importance of Preventing disruptive behavior
Recreation Therapist
NYC Health + Hospitals
07.2011 - 08.2014
- Complete assessments and develop treatment plan based on interpreting medical records, client’s needs and conducting physical and mental evaluation
- Participate in developing and implementing approved recreational activities directed towards the needs, interests and capacities of residents with Dementia/Psychiatric disorders
- Supervise oversight of Music and Memory I-pod Study Program
- Interpret and report patients reactions to treatment
- Modifies techniques and develops new interventions as necessary to ensure the realization of patient treatment goals
- Implement therapeutic objectives which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered
- Document observations, interactions and progress of the patients in weekly notes i.e. Quarterly, Annuals, Significant change, Care Plan etc.
- Function as an integral team member of a clinical multidisciplinary team for the purpose of providing total health care delivery to the patient
- Coordinates the overall treatment plan with the treatment team and patient’s family/caregiver
- Supervise oversight of recreation therapy assistant and volunteers
- Teach various skills including: independent living, social, vocational skills etc.
- Evaluate the department’s various supply needs. Follow this evaluation with replenishment and maintenance of the supplies and equipment.
Education
Bachelor's Science Degree - Recreation Therapy, Exercise Science
Lehman College City University of New York
New York, NY05.2011
Graduate level education -
University Of Buffalo
Buffalo, NYMaster of Health Administration - Master of Health Administration
LSU Online
10.2025
Skills
- Supervision & Leadership
- Program Management
- Team Management
- Organizational Skills
- Training & Development
- Strong Verbal presentation & Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
Software
- TMS Admin
- CPRS
- Caribou
- Asan
- MS Excel
- One Note
- MS Word
- MS Project
Certification
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) NCTRS
- Google Project Management Certificate
- 7 Habits of Effective Leaders Certificate
- Real Colors & Effective Team Dynamics
Affiliations
- Behavior Code Team Field Advisory Committee
- DBC Committee
- NCTRC - CTRS
- Code Green Process Committee
- Project Management Institute
- Toastmasters
Timeline
Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) Program Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs
05.2024 - Current
PMDB Facility Trainer, MTIT
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 05.2024
Recreation Therapist
Department of Veterans Affairs
08.2014 - 06.2024
Recreation Therapist
NYC Health + Hospitals
07.2011 - 08.2014
Bachelor's Science Degree - Recreation Therapy, Exercise Science
Lehman College City University of New York
Graduate level education -
University Of Buffalo
Master of Health Administration - Master of Health Administration
LSU Online
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