Raechel Allen
Summary
A Master's prepared Registered Nurse with 20+ years of experience in multiple nursing specialties and nursing administration, who proactively seeks out opportunities to improve patient safety and quality of care through both creative and practical problem solving. Adept at program development and implementation with strong organizational and planning skills. Leads with a passion for sharing knowledge, continuous learning/growth, and process improvement.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Detailed-Sterile Processing Chief/Special Assign.
Veterans Administration Medical Center
2023.09 - Current
- Implement and incorporate regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure safe SPS operations
- Forecast, plans and develops, and manages the SPS program
- Supervise SPS staff and serves as liaison between SPS and other departments, facilities, VISN, and VACO; while maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships
- Effectively coordinate and resolve emerging problems
- Use various technology modalities to compile quality data for SPS quality assurance oversight and continued program development
Infection Preventionist
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2020.07 - Current
- Subject matter expert consultant for pandemic infection prevention and control activities, providing expert consolation to other professionals and sharing expertise with interdisciplinary teams throughout the organization
- Maintains frequent contact with inpatient, residential, and ambulatory care units, as well as Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) to identify patients with actual or potential infectious disease
- Patient population surveillance, using epidemiological data to plan, implement, and evaluate infection control and prevention activities, and recommends actions to improve patient care
- Provides leadership in establishing, coordinating, and integrating quality infection control strategies in order to measure quality and appropriateness of care related to the infection prevention and control program annual risk assessment
- Identifies learning needs, develops plans, and provides education on infection prevention and control to health care professionals, support services, and patients as needed
- Annual influenza vaccination campaign coordination and implementation
- Evaluate and develop electronic healthcare record infection prevention and control documentation to enhance patient care activities
- Advises on risk mitigation for construction activities through project Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRAs)
- Collaborates with facility Safety Department to implement infection prevention and control concepts into the respiratory protection program and legionella monitoring
- External Peer Review Program (EPRP) and other chart reviews, as assigned
- Accreditation staff coverage, PRN
Surgical Quality and Informatics Nurse
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2017.02 - 2020.06
- Performed surgical case clinical quality reviews for two surgical programs as outlined by the VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP)
- Coordinated and provided surgical data reports for the VASQIP programs to surgery leadership and staff
- Provided consultation and subject matter expert advice and education for the VASQIP programs locally
- External Peer Review Program (EPRP) Coordinator
- Informatics Committee Co-chair
- VA Voices Learning Circle Leader
- High Reliability Organization (HRO) planning workgroup member and trainer
- Change Management training point of contact (POC)/coordinator
- Coordinated and facilitated the Invasive Procedure Committee for non-OR procedures performed across the healthcare system
- Coordinated the facility Surgical Workgroup (SWG)
- Provided data/information and participated in quality oversite reviews at the local, VISN, and national level for both Invasive Procedure Committee and Surgical Workgroup (SWG)
- VISN 19 Surgery Summit presentation/education on use of the National Surgery Office (NSO) Clinic and OR Resource Tool
- Just Culture trainer and member of facility implementation team in 2017/18
Utilization Review RN for Non-VA Care
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2015.01 - 2017.02
- Provided clinical reviews and approval for non-VA care consults, as directed by VA Central Office guidelines for non-VA care programs with a focus on increasing access to care
- Assisted, advised and collaborated in developing the VA Montana consult policy and the new role of the RN utilization/clinical reviewer
- Co-developed and implemented consult training for ordering providers and primary care nursing staff, resulting in increased efficiency in using the consult process and thus access to timely care
PACT RN Care Manager
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2011.01 - 2014.12
- Provided ambulatory patient care through assessment, education, triage, along with population health and panel management
- Coordinated and managed immunization updates, including Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) for the unit
- Successful completion of numerous process improvement projects within small work groups
- Active participant responsible for charter development to initiate the unit level Nursing Council
- Developed and provided population/panel management education for the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) at multiple CBOCs, resulting in improved appointment access
- Evidence Based Practice Committee (EBP) member
- Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) trainer
Infection Preventionist and SPS Chief
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2008.10 - 2010.12
- Managed and coordinated H1N1 Influenza pandemic activities
- Acted as a VISN 19 SPS facility reviewer for initial program assessments in 2009, including Sheridan, Cheyenne, Grand Junction and Denver
- Coordinated and provided staff education of infection prevention standards through new employee orientation, CNA specific training, and the annual R&R training event for nursing competency
- Provided Joint Commission infection prevention standards to organizational leadership, during and after environment of care rounds, as needed for facility construction projects, and upon request from staff through just-in-time training
- Facility and community participation in pandemic preparedness planning
- Updated/revised 50+ infection control policies in year one
- Successful VA oversight bodies (SOARS, OIG) surveys and Joint Commission continued accreditation for both the infection prevention and sterile processing programs in 2010
- Lead and managed sterile processing staff and sterile processing activities across the state
- Developed and chaired the Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) Committee
- Initial standard operating procedure (SOP) development for reusable medical equipment (RME)
- Collaboration with community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and the operating room (OR) for reprocessing challenges and instrument needs
- Provided sterile processing standards education to SPD staff, CBOC staff, endoscopy, leadership, and others on a continuous basis, including just-in-time training
Private Sector Health Care Experiences
Community Hospitals
1999.03 - 2008.09
Director, Same Day Services, St. Peter's Hospital, Helena, MT
- Operational 24/7 responsibility for a 21-bed unit that serviced four outpatient specialty areas, including endoscopy, OR, cardiac catheterization lab, and diagnostic imaging special procedures lab
- Implemented numerous process changes through collaboration and team building, which included improved patient access and flow, use of a conscious sedation nurse and endoscopy tech for all endoscopy procedures (vs. a single nurse for procedures)
- Developed a training program and competency to utilize LPNs as endoscopy techs and competency development and training for scope reprocessing within the endoscopy unit
- Developed an endoscopy pre-procedure patient education/prep instruction via telephone program
- Implemented a staffing assignment protocol and use of a charge nurse
- Implementation of a supply management philosophy
- Increased compliance of specialty standards and Joint Commission/OHSA standards for endoscopy services
- Researched and coordinated Nurse Administered Propofol Sedation NAPS training
- Management responsibility of 50-60 employees for a six OR suite and sterile processing unit
- Responsibilities included annual budget preparation, annual evaluations, hiring, and disciplinary actions
- Improvement activities included: development, training, and utilization of behavior-based interviewing, SCIP and National Patient Safety goals implementation and data collection processes
- Implementation of consistent monthly staff meetings and morning “huddles”
- Created a weekly OR leadership meeting for improved communication
- Implemented different staffing models in collaboration with staff, executive leadership, and the union to enhance employee satisfaction
- Revision and retraining of the OR computer documentation template
- Partnered with the OR educator to implement a new OR nurse training program
- Circulate and scrub assist on open heart/CV team and circulated other surgery cases, including orthopedics, neuro, vascular, general, GYN, cysto, laser, C-sections, ENT, and conscious sedation cases
- Special projects and committees included: Best Practice Committee, participated in training of OB nurses to circulate C-sections and emergent GYN cases, two-member team creation of a new OR employee packet, and organization/management of OR in-service education
- OR-circulated all specialties; facility types ranged from surgery centers, 2 OR suite critical access hospital to a 24 bed OR at a level one trauma center
- Provided conscious sedation during endoscopy and local cases
- Acted as the OR charge nurse, as assigned
- Per diem assignments also included shifts on telemetry units and med/surg units
- Main OR-responsible for circulating ortho, neuro, vascular, general surgery, GYN, and cysto cases
- Pediatrics – provided direct care of pediatric patients (after telemetry unit was closed)
- TSU – provided primary nursing care for telemetry patients
Education
MSN - Informatics
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FLRN-BSN - Nursing
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FLAssociate of Science - Nursing
Polk State College
Winter Haven, FLAssociate of Arts -
Polk State College
Winter Haven, FLSkills
~ Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
~ Strategic thinker
~ Learns quickly to assimilate and synthesize new information and skills
~ Excellent program develop skills
~ Able to develop positive working relationships at all levels and roles within an organization
~ Effective verbal and written communication skills
~ Adaptable in a dynamic and changing environment
Certification
~ CIC (Certified Infection Control) 2022-2027
~ CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) 2020-2024
Past certifications:
~ CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information & Management Systems) 2019-2022
~ CIC (Certified, Infection Control) 2010-2015
~ Sterile Processing (SPD) VA Certification 2010
~ CNOR (OR nursing certification) 2003-2013
~ ACLS ~ PALS
~ TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course)
Timeline
Detailed-Sterile Processing Chief/Special Assign.
Veterans Administration Medical Center
2023.09 - Current
Infection Preventionist
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2020.07 - Current
Surgical Quality and Informatics Nurse
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2017.02 - 2020.06
Utilization Review RN for Non-VA Care
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2015.01 - 2017.02
PACT RN Care Manager
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2011.01 - 2014.12
Infection Preventionist and SPS Chief
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2008.10 - 2010.12
Private Sector Health Care Experiences
Community Hospitals
1999.03 - 2008.09
MSN - Informatics
Jacksonville University
RN-BSN - Nursing
Jacksonville University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Polk State College
Associate of Arts -
Polk State College
~ CIC (Certified Infection Control) 2022-2027
~ CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) 2020-2024
Past certifications:
~ CAHIMS (Certified Associate in Healthcare Information & Management Systems) 2019-2022
~ CIC (Certified, Infection Control) 2010-2015
~ Sterile Processing (SPD) VA Certification 2010
~ CNOR (OR nursing certification) 2003-2013
~ ACLS ~ PALS
~ TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course)
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