Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

REBECCA WHITTINGTON, RN, BSN, CFRN

Hurricane,WV

Summary

Dynamic Registered Nurse bringing 18 years of treating patients and coordinating care with other healthcare staff. Proven history of leveraging critical thinking, analysis and medical knowledge to deliver superior care in high-pressure environments. Prioritizes clinical and operational tasks in fast-paced emergency medicine settings.

Specialized practice in caring for patients in the Emergency Department, Flight Nurse with Healthnet Aeromedical Inc,, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Burn Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units, and Interventional Radiology. Respected by physicians and my peers for ability to critically think and remain calm in emergency situations, collaborate in team settings and proactively access complex patients. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to build positive relationships with patients and their families.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
03.2023 - Current
  • Adaptable in Acute Care Facility and resourceful while managing critical patients
  • Confidently made nursing judgments that impacted resources available for patients
  • Routinely assigned to triage patients and place them in pods according to their vital signs, presentation, providers present, and activated ancillary departments when appropriate
  • Administered TNKase, vasopressors, antibiotics, PRBC's and reversal agents when indicated by using the 6 rights of medication administration for patient safety
  • Obtained transport to outlying facilities of higher level of care for patients when consent given by patients and physicians
  • Responsible for point-of-care testing and phlebotomy
  • Monitored lab results, performed sterile procedures including catheterization, IV starts and dressing changes
  • Routinely chosen to be preceptor to new RN's during their orientation
  • Resource person for staff with the introduction to a new EMR (Cerner) system
  • Monitored skin breakdown and airway after chemical restraints
  • Monitored for skin breakdown and need for possible airway intervention after chemical restraints performed.

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
10.2022 - 01.2023
  • Level I Trauma Center
  • Assisted physicians in life saving procedures and maintained patient standard of care and confidentiality
  • Proficient at recognizing stroke symptoms and activating stroke alerts
  • Administered TPA to stroke patients and monitored neurological symptoms hourly
  • Splinted orthopedic fractures and controlled their pain under physicians orders
  • Responsible for point-of-care testing and phlebotomy and EKG's
  • Monitored lab results, performed sterile procedures including catheterization, IV starts and dressing changes
  • Initiated vasopressors, clot busters, IV heparin, antibiotics, blood products (PRBCs, platelets, FFP, RhoGam), IV fluids, intramuscular and oral medications using the 6 rights of medication administration for patient safety
  • Monitored for skin breakdown and the need for possible airway intervention after chemical restraints performed.

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
09.2021 - 09.2022
  • Level I Trauma Center
  • Adaptable to high acuity patients and diverse patient populations
  • Culturally sensitive to patients from different ethnicity groups
  • Prepared patients for emergent surgeries and offered emotional support to patients and their families
  • Managed acutely psychotic patients and navigated proper resources for inpatient and outpatient therapy
  • Responsible for point-of-care testing and phlebotomy and EKG's
  • Monitored lab results, performed sterile procedures including catheterization, IV starts and dressing changes
  • Administered conscious sedation in collaboration with physicians and respiratory therapy
  • Initiated vasopressors, clot busters, IV heparin, antibiotics, blood products (PRBCs, platelets, FFP, RhoGam), IV fluids, intramuscular and oral medications using the 6 rights of medication administration for patient safety
  • Use of chemical and physical restraints and proper documentation for both order sets
  • Recognizing patient and staff safety
  • Monitored for skin breakdown and need for possible airway intervention after chemical restraints performed.

Certified Registered Flight Nurse

Healthnet Aeromedical Inc
01.2020 - 06.2022
  • Provided patient care in a helicopter and sometimes an ambulance in high-pressure situations
  • Evaluated and stabilized critically ill and traumatic patients
  • Administered PRBCs and never frozen plasma to trauma patients
  • Constant evaluation of patient status
  • Close communication with my partner and pilot along with base of operations to determine best facilities for patients
  • Routine maintenance and quality control checks of equipment daily
  • Monitoring weather patterns for safety prevention for crew and patients
  • Quick, critical thinking skills
  • Proficient with gaining access using ultrasound machine (Butterfly) and monitoring critical patients hemodynamic status with ultrasound., Accessing and maintained airways on critical and traumatic patients
  • Efficient ventilation management based on ideal body weight and disease processes
  • Performing and interpreting EKG's and activating cath labs for patients having STEMI
  • Provided community with free education and access to learn first aid, basic life support and early recognition of strokes.

Critical Care Float Pool/Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

Cabell Huntington Hospital
10.2014 - 01.2020
  • Level II Trauma Center
  • Responsible for providing care for patients Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Burn Intensive Care Unit, Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units, Emergency Department and Interventional Radiology
  • Very adaptable to change; in a single shift it was possible to be floated to multiple floors to meet staffing needs
  • Developed patient care plans, including assessments, evaluations, and nursing diagnosis
  • Liaised between patients and physicians to ensure best treatment plan
  • Educated patients and families on proper discharge instructions and medication, and follow-up appointments
  • Prepared patients for preoperative procedures and recovered patients postoperatively
  • Administered conscious sedation for procedures and testing while properly monitoring ventilatory function with capnography in all age groups
  • Able to recognize and treat airway complications
  • Managed invasive lines by using sterile technique
  • Made follow up appointments for patients after procedures in Interventional Radiology.

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

CAMC General Hospital
07.2012 - 12.2014
  • Level I Trauma Center
  • Decisively and confidently made nursing judgments on patient conditions based on vital signs, presentation, and initial assessment
  • Triaged acuity, place patients in appropriate zones, and activated specialized teams when indicated
  • Collaborate with all members of interdisciplinary team, social workers, physicians and pharmacist
  • Administered IV fluids and medications including antibiotics, PRBC, narcotics, while carefully monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions
  • Monitored lab results, performed sterile procedures including catheterization, IV starts and dressing changes
  • Responsible for phlebotomy and point-of-care testing
  • Assisted providers in lifesaving procedures and maintained patient standard of care and confidentiality
  • Use of chemical and physical restraints and proper documentation of both
  • Monitored for skin breakdown and need for possible airway intervention after chemical restraints performed.

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

St Marys Medical Center
10.2010 - 02.2012
  • Level II Trauma Center
  • Proficient with identifying stroke symptoms and activating stroke alerts
  • Performed EKGs, phlebotomy, IV's, lines, foley catheters
  • Triaged patients and placed them in appropriate zones based on acuity
  • Prioritized time based off acuity of patients
  • Encouraged team player atmosphere
  • Managed trauma patients and medical patients simultaneously.
  • Cared for as many as 10-15 patients each day, quickly identifying concerns, controlling symptoms and providing expert emergency care.

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

Kings Daughters Medical Center
05.2006 - 10.2010
  • Served as charge nurse over 30= beds
  • Prioritized patients based on acuity
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop positive outcomes for patients and their families
  • Participated in free screenings, health fairs and blood drives to give back to the community
  • Became PALS, BLS and ACLS instructor
  • Performed EKGs and point-of-care testing
  • Assisted with admissions and discharges, check and maintain equipment, assist with high acuity/difficult patients, follow-up on discharged patients, educate RN's on hospital policies and procedures, diffuse high stress situations, and role model appropriate behavior
  • Routinely chosen to be nursing preceptor to new RN's during their orientation
  • Performed physical restraints and documented according to proper guidelines.

Education

Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing - Nursing

Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, KY
05.2006

Skills

  • Competent
  • Assertive
  • Professional
  • Critical Thinker
  • Culturally Sensitive
  • Calm in Stressful Situations
  • Cost Conscious
  • Adaptable to Change
  • Teachable
  • New Nurse Preceptor
  • Charge Nurse Role
  • Skilled in Triage and Nursing Assessment
  • ER and Acute Care Experience
  • Certified Flight Nurse
  • Proficient with Nursing Skills
  • NIH Stroke Scale Assessment
  • Cerner Super User
  • Epic Trained
  • Glucometer Trained
  • Restraint Supervisor/ Trainer
  • Proficient with Conscious Sedation
  • Proficient IV Placement and Drug Therapy Maintenance
  • Catheters, Lines, and Drains
  • Butterfly Ultrasound IV Placement
  • Code Procedure Protocol: American Heart Association; PALS, BLS, ACLS
  • Experienced Burn Wound Care
  • Early Recognition of Sepsis
  • Ekg Interpreter
  • Arterial Line Insertion and Maintenance
  • Respiratory Ventilation
  • Insertion of Needle Decompression
  • Maintaining Chest Tubes
  • Initiating and Maintaining Critical Drugs and Drips
  • Placement of Patients to Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Glidescope Use
  • Emergency Care
  • Trauma Nursing
  • Student Precepting
  • Strong Clinical Judgment
  • Patient and family advocacy

Certification

  • Kentucky Board of Nursing License, July 2006-Multi-State
  • West Virginia Board of Nursing License, December 2010-Multi-State
  • Ohio Board of Nursing License, April 2014-Multi-State
  • Board Certified Flight Registered Nurse, June 2022-Current
  • Basic Life Support, 02/2023
  • Advanced Life Support, 02/2023
  • Pediatric Life Support, 02/2023
  • Hazmat First Responder
  • West Virginia Mobile Critical Care Nurse, WV528621
  • FEMA National Incident Management System
  • American Heart Association Stroke Certified, 2007
  • NIH Stroke Scale Certified, 2007
  • IS/ICS/NIMS 100
  • IS/ICS/NIMS 200
  • IS/ICS/NIMS 700
  • IS/ICS/NIMS 800

References

  • Dane Friley, RN, CFRN, Senior Flight Nurse, Healthnet Aeromedical Inc, 304-962-0319
  • Laura Bare, RN, Nursing Professional Development Coordinator, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, 304-661-3951
  • Kala Dameron, MSN, FNP-BC, Cabell Huntington Hospital ER Nurse, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Charge Nurse, 304-647-4411, 304-228-7580
  • Kris Little, MSN, FNP, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Emergency Nurse Practitioner, 304-647-4411
  • Autumn Hayes, RN, Lead Charge Nurse, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Emergency Department, 305-647-4411

Timeline

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
03.2023 - Current

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
10.2022 - 01.2023

Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Agency
09.2021 - 09.2022

Certified Registered Flight Nurse

Healthnet Aeromedical Inc
01.2020 - 06.2022

Critical Care Float Pool/Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

Cabell Huntington Hospital
10.2014 - 01.2020

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

CAMC General Hospital
07.2012 - 12.2014

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

St Marys Medical Center
10.2010 - 02.2012

Emergency DepartmentStaff Registered Nurse

Kings Daughters Medical Center
05.2006 - 10.2010

Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing - Nursing

Kentucky Christian University
REBECCA WHITTINGTON, RN, BSN, CFRN