Rachel Carpenter
Santa Cruz,CA
Summary
Experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse with over 10 years of clinical practice across medical-surgical, telemetry, pediatrics, home health, and chemotherapy settings. Demonstrated leadership as a Charge Nurse for 4+ years on a busy 30-bed med-surg unit. CMSRN- and chemotherapy-certified with a strong commitment to safe, evidence-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration. Known for mentorship, calm under pressure, and excellence in patient-centered care.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Charge Nurse
Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2019 - Current
- Lead and coordinate nursing care for a 30-bed medical-surgical unit, managing patient flow, bed assignments, and shift operations.
- Supervise and mentor RNs and CNAs, ensuring adherence to clinical protocols and supporting team development.
- Act as central communication point between nursing staff, physicians, case managers, and other departments.
- Oversee admissions, discharges, and complex or high-acuity cases while maintaining quality and patient safety.
- Address family concerns, perform real-time problem solving, and support incident reporting and administrative tasks.
- Med-Surg (30 Beds)
Staff RN
Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Provided direct, comprehensive care to adult and geriatric patients in a high-volume med-surg environment.
- Delivered safe medication administration, wound care, and ongoing clinical assessments.
- Participated in care planning, interdisciplinary rounds, and discharge coordination.
- Precepted new nurses and supported unit-based quality improvement initiatives.
- Med-Surg
Staff RN
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, CA
- 01.2014
- Provided care to a diverse patient population across med-surg, telemetry, and pediatric units.
- Managed complex medication regimens and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to improve outcomes.
- Supported pediatric patients and families through both acute care and chronic management.
- Med-Surg, Telemetry, Pediatrics
Home Health Nurse
Maxim Healthcare
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Delivered individualized care to patients in the home setting, including medication administration, wound care, and chronic disease management.
- Communicated with physicians, caregivers, and family to support continuity and safety of care.
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric Services of America
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Provided home-based nursing care to children with complex medical needs, including respiratory support and developmental monitoring.
- Educated families on equipment use and condition management.
Clinic Nurse
Dermatology Surgical Medical Group
Santa Cruz, CA
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Assisted with in-office dermatologic procedures and post-op wound care.
- Provided patient education, suture removal, and treatment documentation.
- Dermatology
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing Leadership
Western Governors University
01.2021
Associate of Science - Nursing
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA12.2011
Skills
- Charge Nurse Leadership & Staff Coordination
- Medical-Surgical & Telemetry Care
- Pediatric & Home Health Nursing
- Chemotherapy Administration
- Wound Care & IV Therapy
- EMR Systems (eg, Epic, Cerner)
- Patient/Family Education & Communication
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Clinical Precepting & Mentorship
Certification
- Registered Nurse – California
- BLS (Basic Life Support) – Current
- CMSRN – Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
- Chemotherapy Certification – Current
Timeline
Charge Nurse
Dominican Hospital
01.2019 - Current
Staff RN
Dominican Hospital
01.2014 - 01.2019
Home Health Nurse
Maxim Healthcare
01.2013 - 01.2014
Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric Services of America
01.2012 - 01.2013
Clinic Nurse
Dermatology Surgical Medical Group
01.2011 - 01.2012
Staff RN
Watsonville Community Hospital
- 01.2014
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing Leadership
Western Governors University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Cabrillo College