Polly Witten
Jacksonville
Summary
Dedicated hospice registered nurse with a proven track record in patient advocacy, compassionate end-of-life care, and effective communication. Committed to enhancing patient comfort and supporting families through challenging times.
Experienced hospice registered nurse skilled in patient safety, critical thinking, and teamwork. Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create personalized care plans, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care and effective symptom management.
Professional nurse with expertise in hospice care, ready to provide compassionate and effective patient support. Strong focus on team collaboration, ensuring seamless care delivery in changing environments. Skilled in patient assessment, pain management, and emotional support, fostering trust and comfort in patients and families. Dependable and adaptable, consistently achieving positive outcomes in palliative care settings.
Experienced with providing compassionate end-of-life care. Utilizes effective pain management techniques and emotional support for patients and families. Knowledge of team collaboration and adaptability in dynamic healthcare settings.
Hospice care professional with robust background in delivering compassionate end-of-life care. Known for positive patient outcomes and providing essential emotional support. Exhibits strong focus on team collaboration and flexibility in dynamic care environments. Skilled in pain management and effective communication.
Overview
49
49
years of professional experience
Work History
Hospice Registered Nurse Inpatient Care
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida
Jacksonville, FL
01.2011 - 02.2026
- Administered comprehensive nursing care tailored to individual patient needs in home and facility settings.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement personalized care plans for patients.
- Educated families on disease progression, symptom management, and end-of-life care options.
- Assessed patient conditions regularly to monitor changes and adjust care strategies accordingly.
- Advocated for patients' rights and preferences during interdisciplinary team meetings and family consultations.
- Collaborated with bereavement specialists to provide ongoing grief support for families after the loss of their loved ones.
- Mentored new nursing staff members, fostering a supportive work environment conducive to professional growth.
- Demonstrated strong communication skills while working closely with interdisciplinary team members and maintaining open lines of dialogue with patients'' families.
- Improved patient comfort by providing compassionate end-of-life care and addressing individual needs.
- Served as patient advocate during care conferences with physicians, therapists, social workers, and other team members.
- Provided education on disease processes, medication administration, and self-care techniques for both patients and families.
- Consistently received positive feedback from families for exhibiting empathy, professionalism, and delivering high-quality patient-centered care.
- Conducted regular clinical assessments of assigned patients, identifying any changes in condition that may necessitate modifications to the care plan.
Registered Nurse
Avante Nursing Home
Jacksonville, FL
09.2007 - 12.2010
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses to ensure optimal care outcomes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement personalized care plans.
- Educated patients and families on health management, promoting adherence to treatment protocols.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify patient needs and adjust care strategies accordingly.
- Implemented infection control measures, resulting in improved safety standards across the facility.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- 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.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
- Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
Home Health Registered Nurse
North Florida Home Health Care Services
Jacksonville Beach, FL
09.2004 - 08.2007
- Provided comprehensive patient assessments and developed individualized care plans to meet diverse health needs.
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses, ensuring adherence to treatment protocols.
- Educated patients and families on chronic disease management, enhancing understanding of care processes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate services and optimize patient outcomes effectively.
- Provided physical assessments, medication, and chronic disease management to home health patients.
- Coordinated with physicians, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless continuity of care for patients.
- Implemented effective pain management strategies to promote comfort and improve overall well-being for patients experiencing chronic or acute pain symptoms.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient progress, treatments administered, and other pertinent information for thorough recordkeeping.
Registered Nurse Refresher Course
Baptist Medical Center
Jacksonville, Fl
01.2003 - 09.2004
- Administer medications and treatments according to prescribed protocols.
- Monitor patient vital signs and report changes to healthcare team.
- Educate patients and families on care plans and health management.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes.
- Develop personalized care plans based on individual patient assessments.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and safety protocols.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare 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.
Private Duty Nursing
Private Client
Jacksonville, FL
01.2000 - 01.2003
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
Sabbatical
Self-employeed
Jacksonville Beach, FL
08.1986 - 01.2000
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Memorial Hospital Of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
08.1981 - 03.1986
- Administered advanced life support and critical care interventions to stabilize patients in acute conditions.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized patient care plans.
- Monitored vital signs and interpreted clinical data to assess patient status and respond promptly.
- Trained and mentored junior nursing staff on best practices in intensive care procedures and protocols.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to enhance patient outcomes and streamline ICU operations.
- Managed complex medication regimens, ensuring accuracy in dosage and administration for critically ill patients.
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
- Improved patient outcomes by developing and implementing individualized care plans for critically ill patients.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Shands Teaching Hospital (curretly UF Health)
Jacksonville, FL
02.1977 - 02.1981
- Led quality improvement initiatives that improved compliance with infection control standards within the unit.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments, identifying potential complications early to optimize patient safety and recovery.
- Handled ventilator support, feeding tubes and central lines.
- Assisted physicians with bedside procedures, ensuring accurate treatment administration and timely patient recovery.
- Demonstrated advanced critical thinking skills while managing complex clinical situations involving multiple organ systems failures in critically ill patients.
- Reduced patient complications by promptly identifying changes in condition and initiating appropriate interventions.
- Managed ventilator settings according to physician orders, significantly reducing instances of respiratory distress among critically ill patients.
- Increased family involvement in patient care by providing timely updates on their loved one''s progress and addressing any concerns or questions they may have had.
- Identified patients' current needs through careful observation, vitals monitoring and discussions with loved ones or patients.
- Facilitated smooth patient transitions from the ICU to other units by providing detailed reports and recommendations for ongoing care.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Santa Fe Community College
Gainesville, FL12-1976
Skills
- Patient safety
- Pain assessment
- Clinical documentation
- Emotional support
- End-of-life care
- Safety management
- Family support
- Ethical practice
- Palliative care expertise
- Symptom management
- Nursing assessment
- Response evaluation
- Oxygen therapy
- Clinical assessment
- Medication administration
- Care planning
- Patient evaluation
- Patient care plans
- Patient needs assessment
- Pain control
- Physician communication
- Hospice care
- Admissions support
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Medication and IV administration
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Compassionate and caring
- Multitasking Abilities
- Basic life support
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- CPR certification
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Patient education
- Patient care assessment
- Monitoring vital signs
- Electronic health records
- Physical assessment
- Vitals monitoring
- Clear patient communication
- Wound care
- Pain management
- Safety protocols
- Self motivation
- Infection control
Timeline
Hospice Registered Nurse Inpatient Care
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida
01.2011 - 02.2026
Registered Nurse
Avante Nursing Home
09.2007 - 12.2010
Home Health Registered Nurse
North Florida Home Health Care Services
09.2004 - 08.2007
Registered Nurse Refresher Course
Baptist Medical Center
01.2003 - 09.2004
Private Duty Nursing
Private Client
01.2000 - 01.2003
Sabbatical
Self-employeed
08.1986 - 01.2000
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Memorial Hospital Of Jacksonville
08.1981 - 03.1986
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Shands Teaching Hospital (curretly UF Health)
02.1977 - 02.1981
Associate of Science - Nursing
Santa Fe Community College