- Outdoor Recreation
- Gardening
- Family time
- Time with my cats and dogs I am an animal lover
Paula McLaen
Britton,SD
Summary
RN with extensive experience at Marshall County Healthcare Center, excelling in patient advocacy, assessment skills, and critical thinking skills. Proven track record in enhancing patient safety and leading multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal care outcomes. Strong clinical judgment and compassionate communication skills drive patient satisfaction and recovery.
Experienced with patient care, critical thinking, and effective communication. Utilizes medical knowledge to support patient recovery and manage complex conditions. Strong understanding of healthcare protocols and compassionate care delivery.
Healthcare professional with strong background in direct patient care and management of staff. Known for collaborative work with medical teams to deliver high-quality care and adapt to evolving patient needs. Expertise in patient assessment and medication administration, along with compassionate care and reliability.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Home Health Nurse
Marshall County Healthcare Center
Britton, SD
03.2026 - Current
- Provided high-quality nursing care to patients in home settings, ensuring comfort and safety.
- Assessed patient conditions, developing individualized care plans based on unique health needs.
- Administered and overseeing/managing medications and treatments, adhering to best practices and regulatory standards.
- Educated patients and families on health management strategies for improved self-care practices.
- Implemented quality improvement initiatives that enhanced patient satisfaction and care efficiency.
- Conducted comprehensive evaluations to identify areas for operational enhancements within home health services.
- Educated patients and families on all aspects of disease management, prevention strategies, and self-care techniques to home health patients.
- Coordinated with physicians, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless continuity of care for patients.
- Educated patients on use and benefits of equipment such as home blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient progress, treatments administered, and other pertinent information for thorough recordkeeping via Meditech and Expanse EMR
- Implemented effective pain management strategies to promote comfort and improve overall well-being for patients experiencing chronic or acute pain symptoms.
- Fostered patient independence and self-management skills by teaching families how to assist with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and mobility exercises.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by closely monitoring patients'' conditions and addressing potential complications early on.
- Provided emotional support for patients coping with serious illnesses, helping them to maintain a positive outlook on their recovery journey.
- Efficiently managed time-sensitive tasks such as wound dressing changes and administering medications at appropriate intervals.
- Experience with death and dying and all related physical, emotional, and spiritual care and education to patients and family/caregivers in the home care setting
- Performed skilled nursing procedures along with education to patients and families regarding IV insertion, Picc line management and cares, port access/removal and management, foley catheter insertion/removal and management, blood draws, specimentcollection, wound care and management, etc in the home setting
RN Director of Home Health and Assisted Living
Marshall County Healthcare Center
Britton, SD
05.2017 - 03.2026
- Director and manager of Assisted Living residents and staff.
- Director and manager of all home health patients and staff.
- Management and direct care of all residents in the Assisted Living long term care setting including admissions, discharges, interdisciplinary coordination of care, care plan initiation and adherence to this by all staff, comprehensive ongoing assessments of residents, all provider order oversight, all medication administration oversight, and any other duties related to the care of each resident as an individual
- Management of all staff in the Assisted Living including all staff education, policy development, implementation, and adherence to them, interventions and education with staff relations as they occur, interventions and education with staff regarding all aspects of resident care
- Developing system for charting and medication administration records
- Initiating Long Term Care pharmacy management of all resident medication administration and continuous monitoring of effectiveness of this
- Administered medications and treatments in accordance with established protocols.
- Comprehensive assessments and vital signs per orders and with resident status changes and reporting changes to appropriate medical staff promptly.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement care plans.
- Implemented infection control measures, policies, enhancing resident safety across departments.
- Managed all policies and procedures during Covid pandemic which related to resident well being.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify patient needs and develop interventions.
- Maintained accurate electronic health records, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Demonstrated expertise in wound management techniques resulting in accelerated healing times for patients with complex wounds or pressure injuries.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to residents, family, caregivers, and staff in easy-to-understand terms.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill residents.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for residents under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Promoted patient and family comfort during challenging recoveries or chronic conditions to enhance healing and eliminate non-compliance problems.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping residents gain or improve coping abilities.
- Equipped residents with tools and knowledge needed for speedy and sustained recovery.
- Recorded details regarding therapies to keep patient charts updated.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluations of behaviors and conditions
- Participated in evidence-based practice project implementation, nursing competency development and nursing simulation activities.
- Conveyed treatment options, diagnosis information and home care techniques to patients and caregivers to continue care consistency.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Sustained quality standards by performing routine medication audits and upholding internal and industry best practices.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance patient care and operational efficiency across healthcare services.
- Oversaw budget management, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for department operations.
- Developed and implemented policies to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
- Collaborated with clinical teams to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based practices.
- Mentored and trained staff on best practices in patient management and service delivery.
Registered Nurse Staff Nurse
Marshall County Healthcare Center
Britton, SD
09.1998 - 03.2017
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to ensure optimal care outcomes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive patient care plans.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify patient needs and implement appropriate interventions.
- Provided education and support to patients and families regarding treatment options and health management.
- Charge Nurse in a rural hospital setting responsible for Emergency room patients, inpatients, and outpatients simultaneously
- Maintained accurate electronic health records to enhance continuity of care and documentation accuracy.
- Trained new nursing staff on all aspects of the RN role within the rural hospital setting while promoting adherence to best practices in patient care.
- Mentored and precepted students and new RN/LPNs within the rural hospital setting while promoting adherence to best practices in patient care.
- Implemented infection control measures, contributing to improved patient safety standards within the unit.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Contributed to interdisciplinary team meetings by presenting relevant clinical data about patients'' progress toward reaching established goals of care.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Trained new nursing staff on hospital protocols, promoting adherence to best practices in patient care.
Registered Nurse
Avera St. Lukes Hospital
Aberdeen, SD
06.1998 - 09.2000
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed, ensuring patient safety and adherence to protocols.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients.
- Monitored patient vital signs and conditions, reporting changes to medical staff promptly for timely interventions.
- Educated patients and families on health management and post-discharge care instructions, fostering understanding and compliance.
- Responsible for all aspects of post op care in the hospital setting
- Identifying concerns and changes in patient conditions and rapidly and using critical thinking and collaboration withing the interdisciplinary team to resolve these concerns and changes quickly
Education
Bachelor of Science - Registered Nurse
Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD05-1998
Skills
- Direct patient care in the areas of Emergency, acute/inpatient, swingbed, critical, hospice, palliative, home health care, long term care, and outpatient care in the rural hospital setting
- Direct communication and reporting to Providers
- Comprehensive patient assessments
- Comprehensive patient, family, and caregiver education per plan of care
- Patient, family, and caregiver advocacy
- Case management
- Compassion and empathy
- Documentation and charting using Meditech and Expanse EMR systems
- Strong clinical judgment
- Strong adherence to infection control measures
- Wound care
- Care plan development and implementation
- Professional bedside manner
- Patient evaluation
- Taking vitals and interpreting results
- Staff leadership
- Precepting and orientating nursing students and new employees
- Patient discharge coordination
- Lab result interpretation
- Team coordination
- Complex Problem-solving
- Proper foley catheter insertion/removal and monitoring
- Proper peripheral catheter and port access insertion/removal and monitoring
- Proper management and cares of Picc lines and Central lines
- NG insertion, removal, and management
- Monitoring and management of chest tubes
- Medication administration including IV, IM, Sub Q, ID, PO, SL, Topical, and Buccal routes
- Emergency response
- Maintaining privacy
- Vaccine administration
- Diabetes and Insulin medication monitoring and administration
- High level of autonomy
- Procedure preparations
- ADL assistance
- Personal care needs
- Emergency procedures
- Data collection including QI reporting
- HIPAA education and adherence
- Removing sutures and staples
- Managing deadlines
- Managing at-risk patient care
- Appointment scheduling and coordination
- Call triaging
- Setting up referrals
Certification
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- BLS - Basic Life Support
- Previous TNCC certification
Interests
Timeline
Home Health Nurse
Marshall County Healthcare Center
03.2026 - Current
RN Director of Home Health and Assisted Living
Marshall County Healthcare Center
05.2017 - 03.2026
Registered Nurse Staff Nurse
Marshall County Healthcare Center
09.1998 - 03.2017
Registered Nurse
Avera St. Lukes Hospital
06.1998 - 09.2000
Bachelor of Science - Registered Nurse
Presentation College