Paula Freeman
Crete,US
Summary
Professional healthcare provider with strong background in supporting student health and well-being. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with educational staff and adapt to evolving needs, ensuring optimal health outcomes for students. Expertise in clinical care, health education, and emergency response, combined with compassionate approach and reliable performance under pressure. Known for excellent communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and focus on achieving results in school setting.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Certified School Nurse
AERO Thereupeautic Center
Burbank, IL
03.2025 - Current
- Administered health screenings and immunizations to ensure student health compliance.
- Developed over 400 individualized healthcare plans for students with chronic conditions.
- Collaborated with educators to promote wellness initiatives within school community.
- Educated students and staff on health-related topics, enhancing awareness and prevention strategies.
- Managed emergency health situations, providing immediate care and coordinating responses with first responders.
- Ensured yearly compliance with federal, state, and local regulations by maintaining accurate health records and documentation for all students.
- Advocated for healthier food options in the cafeteria menu leading to increased consumption of nutritious meals by students.
Home Health Nurse Case Manager Peds/Infusion
Advocate Aurora Healthcare
Chicago, Illinois
08.2023 - 03.2025
- Developed collaborative relationships with physicians, social workers, therapists and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
- Provided home health services to 35 patients with chronic illnesses and disabilities, utilizing critical thinking skills to develop individualized care plans per week.
- Performed duties in accordance with agency policies, procedures and standards of nursing practice; maintained compliance with state, federal regulations at all times.
- Coordinated comprehensive care plans for diverse patient populations.
- Conducted thorough assessments to determine patient needs and health goals.
Certified School Nurse
Chicago Public Schools District 299
US
12.2019 - 06.2023
- Provides medical care and treatment as needed to staff and student populations.
- Provides health assessments and participates as the health specialist on the child evaluation team to develop the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for children with disabilities, and 504 Plans for children needing modifications that have disabilities.
- Implements heath care plans for children needing medical assistance.
- Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
- Monitors, maintains, and meets state and federal requirements for health requirements of school children and district.
School Nurse
South Holland School District 151
US
07.2017 - 09.2019
- Provides health assessments.
- Develops and implements a health plan for children with disabilities.
- Provides ongoing health information to pupils, parents, school personnel and health agencies.
- Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
- Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health individualized educational plan (I.E.P.).
- Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of students.
- Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching persons to become more assertive health consumers and to assume greater responsibility for their own health.
School Nurse
Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 / Maxim
US
11.2016 - 06.2017
- Provides health assessments.
- Develops and implements a health plan for children with disabilities.
- Provides ongoing health information to pupils, parents, school personnel and health agencies.
- Maintains, evaluates, and interprets cumulative health data to accommodate individual needs of students.
- Participates as the health specialist on the child education evaluation team to develop the health individualized educational plan (I.E.P.).
- Utilizes existing health resources to provide appropriate care of students.
- Participates in health education directly and indirectly for the improvement of health by teaching persons to become more assertive health consumers and to assume greater responsibility for their own health.
- Taught in classroom (of science teacher) middle school children health and nutrition with demonstration, and class participation.
HEDIS Review Nurse
Blue Cross Blue Shield / Illinois / Maxim
US
02.2016 - 06.2016
- Collaborated with contractors for provider government based programs for review and analysis of HEDIS performance measure
- Performed data abstraction of Protected Health Information (PHI) for measurement of HEDIS performance standards.
- Provided clinical-based knowledge to ensure accuracy and timely completion of HEDIS project.
- Supported Quality Management by extracting accurate PHI to meet performance measures for Family Health Plans (FHP), Affordable Care Act for Adults (ACA), and Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) programs.
OB Staff RN
St. Francis Hospital / Maxim
Evanston, Illinois
10.2015 - 01.2016
- Assessed clients by observation, physical examination, and interviewing for health history to assess physiological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual evidence of client's well-being.
- Developed a plan of action and prioritized treatment to alleviate symptoms and high risk situations.
- Implemented the prescribed plan of care to maintain or achieve well-being.
- Educated client and family to keep them informed of the plan of care before, during, and after treatment began.
- Evaluated the plan of care to determine if goals for client wellness and safety were met.
- Managed medications, pain control, and the labor process, for successful labor and delivery of infant, post-partum clients, and pre-term women threatening labor and discharge planning.
Case Manager
Unity Hospice
Chicago, IL
05.2012 - 12.2015
- Managed each of my client's regimens for hospice care, which included directing, supervising, and evaluating work activities of medical, nursing, technical, service and maintenance personnel.
- Maintained communication between ordering physician, social workers, department heads by attending meetings and coordinating interdepartmental functioning.
- Planned, implemented and administered programs and services in a health care or medical facility as needed.
- Monitored, recorded and reported symptoms or changes in client's condition at home or in hospital, or nursing home care.
- Maintained accurate detailed reports and records, ordered, interpreted, and evaluated diagnostic tests to identify and assess client's condition.
- Consulted with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans, and modify client's treatment plans as indicated by client's response.
- Implemented extensive education of the family and client as to what to expect, how to reach out for any concerns, what to do at the time of death, and follow up care for the family after the loved one has passed.
Case Manager / OB
Centene Corporation / Maxim
Chicago, IL
07.2015 - 10.2015
- Assessment of client to determine level of care with appropriate discipline.
- Educated clients with understanding pregnancy and pregnancy related medical conditions, treatment options, referrals and treatment goals.
- Collaborated with agencies and service providers to facilitate case coordination and information sharing.
- Interpreted medical documents containing medical diagnosis, treatments, doctors' orders, medication reconciliation, referrals, discharge planning, and outpatient testing.
- Coordinated the integration of social services / case management function.
- Evaluated client's satisfaction and quality of care provided.
- Communicated with physicians using clear language and developing a working relationship.
- Referred cases where clients and /or family would benefit from counseling.
- Assisted client and family with making informed decisions.
- Promoted effective and efficient utilization of clinical resources, while maintaining appropriate costs, and ensuring ordered tests were appropriate and necessary.
- Reviewed treatment plan, goals, and resources such as transportation to and from OB appointments.
- Assessed hospitalized client's progress throughout hospital stay.
- Integrated PHI into appropriate data systems in a timely manner.
RN / OB Nurse
Central DuPage Hospital TruStaff Nursing
Winfield, IL
04.2015 - 07.2015
- Management of the laboring woman, Ante-partum woman, and post-partum woman through Assessment of needs, Plan of action, Implementation of plan and Evaluation of plan or follow through of plan of care, and Evaluation of plan of care for success.
- Educated clients' and family on all aspects of pregnancy and child care from labor and delivery of infant to breast-feeding the infant.
- Management of pain, blood pressure control, titration of Pitocin, and control of other labor symptoms such as nausea were key equilibrium and comfort of client during labor.
- Insured accuracy of charting on the EMR (EPIC), interpreting doctors' orders, pharmacy and medication acknowledgements, inter-departmental communications, lab work and other important records involving PHI.
OB Staff Nurse
Saint Anthony Hospital
Chicago, IL
06.2007 - 01.2011
- Management of the laboring woman, Ante-partum woman, and post-partum woman through Assessment of needs, Plan of action, Implementation of plan and Evaluation of plan or follow through of plan of care, and Evaluation of plan of care for success.
- Educated clients' and family on all aspects of pregnancy and child care from labor and delivery of infant to breast-feeding the infant.
- Management of pain, blood pressure control, titration of Pitocin, and control of other labor symptoms such as nausea were key equilibrium and comfort of client during labor.
- Insured accuracy of charting on the EMR (EPIC), interpreting doctors' orders, pharmacy and medication acknowledgements, inter-departmental communications, lab work and other important records involving PHI.
- Responsible for Charge Nurse duties on the OB to manage unit flow, evaluating work activities of medical and nursing staff, assigned staff to appropriate acuity level of patients, delegated non-patient care assignments fairly, implemented organizational policies and procedures of nursing care when in question.
- Ensured safe environment for patients' and staff.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing Education
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL03.2021
Master of Science in Nursing -
Western Governor's University
Utah01.2015
Bachelors of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ03.2010
Skills
- Management of laboring women
- Post-partum care
- Blood pressure control
- Control of labor symptoms
- Evidence based practice
- Titration of Pitocin
- Charting on EMR (EPIC)
Certification
- PEL
- 2537994
Timeline
Certified School Nurse
AERO Thereupeautic Center
03.2025 - Current
Home Health Nurse Case Manager Peds/Infusion
Advocate Aurora Healthcare
08.2023 - 03.2025
Certified School Nurse
Chicago Public Schools District 299
12.2019 - 06.2023
School Nurse
South Holland School District 151
07.2017 - 09.2019
School Nurse
Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 / Maxim
11.2016 - 06.2017
HEDIS Review Nurse
Blue Cross Blue Shield / Illinois / Maxim
02.2016 - 06.2016
OB Staff RN
St. Francis Hospital / Maxim
10.2015 - 01.2016
Case Manager / OB
Centene Corporation / Maxim
07.2015 - 10.2015
RN / OB Nurse
Central DuPage Hospital TruStaff Nursing
04.2015 - 07.2015
Case Manager
Unity Hospice
05.2012 - 12.2015
OB Staff Nurse
Saint Anthony Hospital
06.2007 - 01.2011
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing Education
Lewis University
Master of Science in Nursing -
Western Governor's University
Bachelors of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education
University of Phoenix