Nkiruka Nwalozie, MSN/MBA, RN, C-ONQS

Assistant Patient Care Manager

• Assist with the day-to-day operations of two (2) 18-bed units.
• Share management of approximately 78 FTEs.
• Assist with monitoring staff vacancies, and participate in staff recruitment and retention efforts.
• Supervise and coordinate patient care delivery to ensure alignment with organizational and regulatory agencies' standards.
• Coordinate and manage staff's schedules.
• Process and approve staff's timecards.
• Review staff's time and attendance, and issue corrective actions according to policies.
• Support and educate staff during the implementation of workflows and processes.
• Perform chart audits to ensure policy and documentation compliance.
• Participated in multidisciplinary rounds to discuss patient progress, plan of care, and facilitate efficiency with throughput and access to care.
• Round on patients and family members, and provide service recovery when necessary.
• Provide coaching sessions and/or disciplinary action surrounding deficits in quality, policy and procedure, and/or adherence to organizational mission, vision, and values.
• Monitor compliance with the unit's staffing models to ensure safe and quality care delivery, while meeting budgetary goals.
• Collaborate with staff to promote and increase engagement efforts on Shared Governance committees.
• Participates in staff development by ensuring education, advancement of staff skills, and certifications.

Assistant Patient Care Manager

• Supported Patient Care Manager in the day-to-day operations of a 18-bed unit
• Shared management of approximately 38 FTE’s
• Managed staff's schedules and processed timecards.
• Audited charts to drive accurate and thorough documentation to ensure safe and quality patient care delivery
• Promote professional development through the utilization of goal setting, coaching sessions, and performance reviews.
• Managed staff performance through rewards, recognition, coaching, and disciplinary action.
• Performed daily leadership rounds to assess quality of nursing practice and identify potential problems or issues needing resolution.
• Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams to improve overall patient care outcomes and throughput times.
• Participated in the development and implementation of new policies for patient care services.
• Consider the fiscal and budgetary implications in decision-making to facilitate throughput and meet productivity goals.
• Identified opportunities for improvement in processes related to patient flow, staffing models.
• Conflict management through collaborative coaching session to improve team relationships in alignment of the organization’s mission, vision, and values

• Provided direct supervision to nursing and hospital staff during the night shift
• Provided patient, clinical, and administrative support to resolve concerns and maintained lateral and upward communication with staff and unit/hospital leaders
• Directed and monitored patient care activities to ensure high quality care
• Supervised the facilitation of timely patient bed assignments for admissions and/or transfers to units
• Reviewed departmental schedules to provide adequate staffing for inpatient care units for the next shift
• Provided coaching sessions to staff to ensure patient care delivery and other job duties were aligned with the hospital’s mission, philosophy of care, and goals

Quality Nurse (February 2019 - June 2022)

• Assisted the leadership team with unit-specific quality improvement projects and goals.
• Performed audits and developed reports on patient documentation, infant safe sleep, and isolation precaution compliance.
• Collected and submitted monthly data on various Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative initiatives.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to evaluate performance goals and staff compliance, as well as developed action plans on various Family Birth Centers' and the CAUTI work group's quality improvement projects.
• Revamped and updated the unit's SharePoint directory page to provide a centralized online resource platform for staff.
• Developed educational documents and tip sheets for patient and staff

Consistent Charge Nurse (May 2019 - June 2022)

• Collaborated with Labor and Delivery’s charge nurse to facilitate patient transfers and to assess units’ staffing needs for the current and oncoming shift
• Prioritized and assigned patient admissions to fellow nurses
• Provided support to resolve any patients or staff concerns
• Prepared the staff's patient assignment for the next shift.
• Collaborated with the Staffing Office and Labor & Delivery for ongoing assessment of unit staffing needs throughout the shift, and for the oncoming shift.

Staff Nurse (February 2017 - June 2022)

• Precepted new hires and travel nurses
• Provided ongoing direct care and documentation including wound care and medication administration on low and high-risk antepartum/postpartum patients and newborns.
• Performed electronic fetal monitoring assessment, interpretation, and documentation on antepartum patients.
• Educated patients and caregivers on postpartum and newborn care, while promoting family and newborn bonding.
• Provided emotional support to patients facing difficult diagnoses or treatments.
• Facilitated transition to home care by providing patients with continued care information and discharge instructions.
• Answered patient questions and provided take-home materials for further information.
• Responded to emergency situations with speed, expertise and level-headed approaches to provide optimal care, support and life-saving interventions.
• Participated in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care outcomes.

Magnet Champion (February 2017 - March 2019)

• In conjunction with fellow nurses and hospital leadership, I coordinated and led events and projects to provide ongoing education on the magnet recognition process and sustainment.

Magnet Champion (November 2016 - February 2017)

• Partnered with colleagues and leadership hospital-wide to develop strategies for disseminating information to staff about the organization’s journey to Magnet recognition.

Unit Based Council Chair (February 2016 - February 2017)

• Collaborated with peers and management to improve patient care.
• Coordinated and facilitated monthly meetings with council members and management to address staff and patients' concerns.

Staff Nurse (August 2014 - February 2017)

• Interpreted and documented fetal well-being using electronic fetal monitoring strips.
• Provided direct nursing care to low and high risk antepartum and laboring patients as well as neonates.
• Circulated in the operating room during obstetric and gynecologic procedures.
• Provided close monitoring and acute care for patients in the PACU during the immediate postoperative period.
• Precepted new hires and nurse externs.
• Engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration to support patients' plans of care.

• Provided direct nursing care to pre- and post-surgical cardiac, thoracic, vascular, and transplant patients.
• Closely monitored patients with Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for complications.
• Interpreted EKG strips, and observed patients on cardiac drips.
• Educated patients and their families on disease management and lifestyle modifications.
• Conducted preoperative teaching sessions with patients prior to scheduled surgeries.
• Performed bedside nursing procedures such as wound dressing and catheter insertion.
• Coordinated with healthcare team to establish, enact and evaluate patient care plans.