Noreen Zawada-Orcutt
Meridian
Summary
Healthcare professional with strong background in patient care and medical support. Known for collaborative work with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality care and adapt to evolving patient needs with strong critical care thinking and communication skills. Expertise in patient assessment, along with compassionate care and reliability.
Strong focus on team collaboration, problem solving, and achieving optimal patient outcomes. Reliable and adaptable, ensuring efficient and compassionate care in dynamic environments. Proven builder of positive team culture and communication skills.
Overview
1
1
Certification
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Manager
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Boise, Idaho
01.2023 - 06.2026
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Directed nursing staff to ensure high-quality patient care and adherence to clinical protocols.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary team meetings to streamline communication and resolve patient care issues.
- Developed training programs for nursing staff to foster professional growth and improve service delivery.
- Evaluated nursing performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
- Spearheaded initiatives to enhance patient safety, reducing incidents through systematic process improvements.
- Mentored new nursing staff, fostering professional growth and development through comprehensive training programs.
- Conducted routine performance evaluations, providing constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement among nursing staff members.
- Maximized nursing staff potential by providing ongoing coaching and support, leading to higher levels of competence and confidence in delivering quality care.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training, and standards of patient care.
- Counseled families to improve communication.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives to identify areas for potential enhancements in patient care delivery methods.
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Boise, Idaho
12.2001 - 01.2023
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Cross-trained to ED as staff nurse
- Led nursing team to ensure high-quality patient care and safety standards.
- Coordinated patient admissions, assessments, and discharge planning processes efficiently.
- Streamlined communication between medical staff, patients, and families to improve care coordination.
- Mentored junior nursing staff, fostering professional development and teamwork within the department.
- Managed resource allocation effectively to optimize patient care delivery during peak times.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
- Mentored and supervised junior nurses, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
- Championed a positive work culture by recognizing exemplary performance from team members and addressing conflicts promptly when they arose.
Per Diem RN
Virginia Rose Assisted Living
Boise, Idaho
02.2010 - 05.2014
- Adult psychiatric home care
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies, and promptly addressing for resolution.
- Provided professional services and support in a dynamic work environment.
- Delivered services to customer locations within specific timeframes.
Staff nurse
Saint Luke’s Regional Medical Center
Boise, Idaho
11.1999 - 04.2002
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Developed and implemented individualized patient care plans for optimal outcomes.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
- Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures, and nursing best practices.
- Collaborated with physicians, pharmacists and therapists to deliver quality, evidence-based care.
- Coordinated patient discharge planning to provide post-discharge patient care, promoting healing and recovery.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Southwest Medical Center
Lawton, Oklahoma
11.1997 - 10.1999
- Newborn nursery (level 1 and 2), pediatrics, post-partum
- Promoted a safe working environment by adhering to infection control policies and regularly reviewing safety protocols.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient information, enabling informed decision-making among the healthcare team members.
- Coordinated discharge planning, collaborating with patients, families, and healthcare providers to ensure seamless transitions of care.
- Reduced medication errors by establishing stringent medication administration procedures.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients.
- Oversaw administration of medication, ensuring adherence to strict safety protocols, thereby maintaining patient safety.
- Advocated for patient needs, resulting in improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- Coordinated daily nursing activities to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, significantly reducing risk of non-compliance.
- Maintained high standards of patient care during high-volume shifts, managing patient assignments to optimize nurse workload.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by personalizing care plans based on individual patient needs and preferences.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
RN Staff Nurse Newborn
Bethania Regional Health Care Center
Wichita Falls, Texas
04.1997 - 11.1997
- Newborn nursery (level 1 and 2)
- Post-partum
- OB/GYN surgery
- Administered medications and treatments per physician orders and established protocols.
- Monitored patient vital signs, promptly reporting changes to healthcare team.
- Educated patients and families on health management and discharge instructions.
- Proactively identified potential patient safety risks, taking corrective actions to prevent harm or injury.
- Served as a liaison between patients, families, and healthcare providers to facilitate clear communication and coordination of care plans.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of patient assessments, treatments, and progress notes for seamless continuity of care.
- Assisted physicians during medical procedures, ensuring accurate delivery of care as prescribed by the healthcare provider.
Charge Nurse/Psychiatric Staff Nurse
Metroplex Pavilion
Killeen, Texas
06.1994 - 04.1997
- Child/Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Program
- Supervised nursing staff to ensure adherence to best practices and patient care standards.
- Coordinated patient admissions, discharges, and transfers to optimize workflow efficiency.
- Conducted regular assessments of nursing protocols, identifying areas for process enhancements.
- Served as a liaison between nursing staff, physicians, and management, fostering open communication channels among all parties involved in patient care.
- Supervised and managed daily scheduling, tasking, and administration.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives, contributing to the development of best practices within the department.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans, improving patient recovery rates.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
Staff Nurse
Children’s Hospital of Austin
Austin, Texas
01.1994 - 06.1994
- Infectious Disease Unit
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans.
- Implemented infection control measures, enhancing patient safety standards.
- Provided compassionate and empathetic support to patients and their families during difficult situations.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of patient assessments, treatments, and progress notes for seamless continuity of care.
- Educated patients on disease prevention and management, promoting healthier lifestyles.
- Assisted physicians during medical procedures, ensuring accurate delivery of care as prescribed by the healthcare provider.
- Implemented effective time-management strategies to optimize productivity while maintaining high-quality patient care standards.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments upon admission to determine appropriate level of care required based on individual needs.
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Baptist Medical Center
San Antonio, Texas
08.1992 - 12.1993
- Optimized patient satisfaction through timely response to concerns and effective communication among staff members.
- Streamlined nursing workflows for increased efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
- Optimized resource allocation, ensuring all patients received timely and adequate care without overburdening staff.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions, and updated clinical supervisors with current information.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
Staff nurse
St John Hospital
Vanderhoof, Canada
05.1992 - 08.1992
- Reduced medication errors through meticulous administration and documentation of medications.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to develop comprehensive patient care plans, improving patient outcomes.
- Devised customized interventions addressing physical, emotional, social, spiritual aspects of each patient''s well-being while adhering to professional ethics guidelines.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
Education
SANE Certificate - Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
International Association of Forensic Nurses/Idaho State Police Forensic Services
Idaho Falls11-2024
Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leadership
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL05-2024
Bachelor of Science - Registered Nursing
Boise State University
12-2018
Diploma of Technology - Registered Nursing
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Burnaby, British Columbia05-1992
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Medication administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Clinical leadership
- Staff education
- Care coordination
- Quality improvement
- Staff development
- Care planning
- Staff management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
Certification
- Adult/Adolescent SANE-A
- NRP
- PALS
- BLS
- STABLE
LANGUAGES
English – native language
French and Spanish – speak, read and write with basic competence
Interests
Reading, knitting, cooking, physical fitness, gardening, travel
Awards and Scholarships
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center- Boise State University RN to BSN online program scholarship, The DAISY award for extraordinary nurses 2014 and 2020
Timeline
Nurse Manager
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
01.2023 - 06.2026
Per Diem RN
Virginia Rose Assisted Living
02.2010 - 05.2014
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
12.2001 - 01.2023
Staff nurse
Saint Luke’s Regional Medical Center
11.1999 - 04.2002
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Southwest Medical Center
11.1997 - 10.1999
RN Staff Nurse Newborn
Bethania Regional Health Care Center
04.1997 - 11.1997
Charge Nurse/Psychiatric Staff Nurse
Metroplex Pavilion
06.1994 - 04.1997
Staff Nurse
Children’s Hospital of Austin
01.1994 - 06.1994
Charge nurse/staff nurse
Baptist Medical Center
08.1992 - 12.1993
Staff nurse
St John Hospital
05.1992 - 08.1992
SANE Certificate - Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
International Association of Forensic Nurses/Idaho State Police Forensic Services
Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leadership
University of South Alabama
Bachelor of Science - Registered Nursing
Boise State University
Diploma of Technology - Registered Nursing
British Columbia Institute of Technology