- Passionate about balancing physical health with mental & emotional wellness
- Volunteering, church & community
- Watersports, motorcycling, woodworking
NICOLAS BRISTOW
Modesto
Summary
US Army veteran and CNOR-certified perioperative registered nurse with substantial experience in an acute care hospital operating room. Strong focus on collaboration and achieving results. Adept in providing comprehensive patient care throughout surgical processes. Utilizes expertise in surgical protocols to enhance patient outcomes and support surgical teams. Track record of maintaining sterile environments and advocating for patient safety, ensuring successful surgical procedures.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
Military Medical Center
08.2019 - Current
- Circulating RN for more than 3,000 cases (9,500 hours) in a 10-bed multi-specialty OR
- Clinical Coordinator: Daily coordination of room utilization & staffing for 10 operating rooms in concert with anesthesia board runner, successfully optimizing case flow
- Ortho service lead nurse: Developed & routinely updated preference cards for >20 surgeons, promoting improved team preparation, performance & patient safety; managed over $1.2M of equipment
- Adept member of the interdisciplinary team; collaborates with external departments to solve complex problems
- Adaptable & resilient, as demonstrated by circulating over 120 surgical cases in an austere environment (Kuwait, 2025)
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Telemetry
Military Medical Center
11.2016 - 05.2019
- Advocate for patient-centered care, ensuring optimal clinical outcomes for cardiac patients through timely identification of potential complications & prompt intervention; assists with synchronized cardioversion & experienced in post-cardiac catheterization care, IV push cardiogenic agents, & IV drip management (nitro, heparin, insulin)
- Charge Nurse: Successfully managed nursing & tech staff utilization for up to 30 patients, providing guidance & education as needed to staff
- RN Preceptor: Lead preceptor & evaluator for new RNs, providing verbal & written feedback & ensuring 100% completion of core competency assessments
- Graduated Perioperative Nursing Course (2019)
Licensed Practical Nurse Instructor
US Army
06.2011 - 07.2014
- Developed & presented over 400 hours of classroom curriculum as the primary instructor
- Clinical instructor for 10 students, evaluating quality of care for more than 360 clinical hours in medical-surgical & Veterans Affairs Nursing Home settings
- Nominated by students twice as “Instructor of the Cycle”, an award presented by the class president to recognize outstanding mentorship & teaching
- Twice-selected as class advisor (lead instructor) by the dean of the program for demonstrated leadership & competency, assuming responsibility for overall academic progression of a class of 70 students, including evaluations, counseling, study hall oversight, exam proctoring, NCLEX preparation, & disciplinary actions (as required)
Licensed Practical Nurse Unit Manager
Military Medical Center
06.2010 - 06.2011
- Nurse Manager: Supervised 12 LPN & tech staff, ensuring 100% certification of bi-weekly timecards, quarterly developmental counseling, & annual performance evaluations.
- Enhanced workflow efficiency by developing and maintaining clear communication channels between the interdisciplinary team.
- Managed unit resources effectively by prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, & streamlining processes for improved productivity.
- Maintained high standards of hygiene, infection control, & patient safety by rigorously adhering to facility policies, procedures & evaluating Joint Commission compliance.
- Assisted in the onboarding process for new nursing staff members by providing orientation training, feedback, & ongoing support as needed.
Licensed Practical Nurse Team Leader
US Army
02.2008 - 06.2010
- As a dual-trained LPN & EMT, supervised & mentored 5 EMTs as a team lead, developing weekly training schedules, conducting monthly developmental counseling, & completing annual performance evaluations
- Developed, presented, & evaluated evidence-based, hands-on field trauma medicine training for 25 unit EMTs and monitored required EMT & BLS certification dates
- Trained 30 Iraqi Army soldiers in basic field trauma medicine, creating an environment of mutual respect & cultural awareness while deployed to Baghdad, IQ
- Championed a culture of continuous learning by staying up-to-date with industry trends & evidence-based practice guidelines, thereby ensuring optimal care for all patients
- Boosted staff morale by recognizing achievements, offering constructive feedback, & fostering an inclusive work culture
- Delegated tasks effectively to EMTs, ensuring efficient completion of assigned duties while maintaining high-quality patient care & military standards
Licensed Practical Nurse, Intensive Care
Military Medical Center
02.2007 - 02.2008
- Provided holistic, patient-centered care for over 200 critically-ill patients, including wounded OIF/OEF soldiers recently evacuated from Landstuhl, Germany
- Employed empathetic communication in the management of patients in the early stages of limb preservation and/or amputation, burn management, & psychosocial/family support as appropriate
- Managed high-risk IV drips & patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
- Served as a member of the helipad transport team; responded to incoming helicopter transfers of wounded veterans by gathering transport equipment, coordinating safe delivery of the patient to their assigned unit, & facilitating effective patient handoffs
Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Room
Army Community Hospital
11.2004 - 01.2006
- Progressed in the fundamental skills of intravenous (IV) catheter placement, administration of fluorescent eye test to diagnose corneal abrasions, suturing acute lacerations, plaster splint molding & application, as well as the EMTs role in emergency management through the active involvement in multiple trauma events
- Maintained NREMT & BLS certifications
- Evaluated patient vital signs & status to determine care needs using pulse oximeters & electronic vital sign machines
- Ensured ongoing compliance with local, state, & federal regulations governing EMS through adherence to policies, procedures, & guidelines
- Communicated with patients about pain, comfort, & needs during triage, transportation, & preliminary medical care
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Washington
Seattle, WA05-2016
Associate Degree in Pre-Nursing -
Pierce College
Lakewood, WA04-2014
Licensed Practical Nurse School -
US Army Medicine
Fort Sam Houston, TX01.2007
Skills
- CNOR
- ACLS
- PALS
- Active Listening
- Closed-Loop Communication
- Precepting
- Charge Nurse
- Timely/Accurate Documentation
- Interdisciplinary Teamwork
- Staff Development
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptable to Change
Certification
- CNOR (EXP 2030)
- ACLS (EXP 2028)
- PALS (EXP 2028)
- BLS (EXP 2028)
Interests
Timeline
Registered Nurse, Operating Room
Military Medical Center
08.2019 - Current
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Telemetry
Military Medical Center
11.2016 - 05.2019
Licensed Practical Nurse Instructor
US Army
06.2011 - 07.2014
Licensed Practical Nurse Unit Manager
Military Medical Center
06.2010 - 06.2011
Licensed Practical Nurse Team Leader
US Army
02.2008 - 06.2010
Licensed Practical Nurse, Intensive Care
Military Medical Center
02.2007 - 02.2008
Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Room
Army Community Hospital
11.2004 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Washington
Associate Degree in Pre-Nursing -
Pierce College
Licensed Practical Nurse School -
US Army Medicine
COMMUNICATION
I consider myself well-spoken & an active listener. I believe closed-loop communication is key for a highly reliable team. I’m astute with the written word & my documentation is clear, concise, & correct.
LEADERSHIP
I’ve spent my entire career learning the fundamentals & nuances of leadership. My natural style of leadership is servant in nature. I believe the challenge lies in getting others to do something because they want to, not because they’ve been told to. A clear understanding of a team’s mutual goals & desired outcomes is paramount for a strong foundation. From there, one needs to earn buy-in from each & every team member.
Training
- 2024 – FIELD TRAUMA MEDICINE (PREDEPLOY)
- 2019 – PERIOPERATIVE REGISTERED NURSING COURSE
- 2016 – ARMY BASIC OFFICER LEADERSHIP COURSE
- 2013 – SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCACY CERTIFICATION (D-SAACP)
- 2011 – CLINICAL NURSE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE
- 2010 – ARMY BASIC INSTRUCTOR COURSE
- 2010 – SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTOR COURSE
- 2009 – ARMY MRAP VEHICLE COMBAT MEDICAL TRAINING COURSE (IRAQ)
- 2008 – COMBAT MEDIC ADVANCED SKILLS TRAINING COURSE
- 2008 – BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM TRAUMA TRAINING COURSE
Hobbies and Interests
SPENDING TIME W/FAMILY (WIFE, 3 CHILDREN) & FRIENDS, CHURCH, VOLUNTEERISM, WOODWORKING, WATERSPORTS, MOTORCYCLES, OFF-ROAD/ATV, CREATIVE WRITING
Awards
CURRICULUM VITAE AND/OR DD 214 AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Specialized Training
2024 – Field Trauma Medicine
2019 – Perioperative Nursing
2016 – Military Leadership
2011 – Clinical Nurse Leadership Development
2010 – Basic Instructor
Similar Profiles
Robin PintoRobin Pinto
Audiologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center/ Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterAudiologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center/ Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Nagham AlobaidiNagham Alobaidi
Work Center Team Lead (40 Hours/Week) at Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterWork Center Team Lead (40 Hours/Week) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
NORA C. RODRIGUEZNORA C. RODRIGUEZ
Administrative Assistant at Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterAdministrative Assistant at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Monico MartinezMonico Martinez
Today's Kitchen and Bath at Eddie JuarezToday's Kitchen and Bath at Eddie Juarez
Francisco Castillo RoblesFrancisco Castillo Robles
Security Officer at Stanislaus Security and ProtectionSecurity Officer at Stanislaus Security and Protection