Amela Okanovic
Host Healthcare
Waterloo,IA
3
Languages
1
Certification
11
years of professional experience
Dedicated professional with expertise in providing quality patient care in diverse settings. Skilled in performing thorough assessments, administering medications, performing and aiding in bedside procedures, coordinating with other healthcare professionals, and delivering compassionate bedside care. Eager to bring strong communication, organizational, and compassionate care skills to a dynamic healthcare team, with a focus on safe and high-quality patient care.
Work History
Travel Registered Nurse, NICU
4 Months- Collaboration with multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality care in order to improve patient outcomes.
- Monitored vital signs and performed assessments to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Educated families on infant care and health management strategies post-discharge.
- Administered prescribed medications accurately and promptly.
- Provided support to families, advocating for as much autonomy deemed appropriate so that families would be able to feel more connected to their baby, lessening the intimidation of the environment and allowing them to feel as though they are part of the baby's plan of care.
- Ensured accurate documentation of nursing care.
Travel Registered Nurse, NICU
6 Months- Monitored patient condition changes, promptly communicating critical updates to healthcare providers for timely intervention.
- Administered medications and treatments to critically ill newborns in NICU.
- Identified potential risk factors that could lead to adverse outcomes for neonates; took appropriate action.
- Conducted thorough physical assessments, documenting vital signs and growth metrics to ensure comprehensive care for infants.
- Provided family support by educating them on the development of their infants, provided parental autonomy when safe to do so.
Travel Registered Nurse, Mother Baby
2 Months- Postpartum/Maternal-Newborn unit across three departments each serving 30+ beds.
- Job duties included, but not limited to: admission to postpartum unit, care of the postpartum mother and/or newborn, assessments/vital signs monitoring, administration of medication, management of Magnesium Sulfate to postpartum mother with Pre-Eclampsia along with monitoring of side effects, straight and/or indwelling catheterization, monitoring of surgical sites, lab draws, PIV insertion/management.
Registered Nurse, PACU
4 Months- Identified potential complications associated with anesthesia or surgery, initiating preventative measures to enhance patient safety.
- Provided patients with post-operative accommodations by administering medications and assessing pain and nausea levels.
- Assessed patients' consciousness levels to determine recovery status.
- Collaborated with surgery team to anticipate possibility of complications.
- Identified anesthesia side effects and addressed them promptly to ensure patient comfort and safety.
- Assessed pain levels and utilized pharmacological interventions as needed for comfort management.
- Performed EKG interpretation to evaluate heart activity and identify abnormalities.
Registered Nurse, NICU
2 Months- 19-bed level 3 NICU.
- Assumed care of neonates from as early as 23 weeks gestation to 40+ weeks gestation.
- Job duties included, but were not limited to: vital signs/assessments, NG/OG tube feeding/management, lab draws, medication administration, management of drips, PIV insertions/management, management of central lines/arterial lines, attendance at high-risk deliveries, along with the admission of such neonates, and management of oxygen delivery devices, such as blended oxygen/microflow, CPAP, NIPPV, intubation, oscillators, and nitric.
- The nurse is also responsible for the transfer of the neonate or discharge.
- The nurse aided in bedside procedures, such as endotracheal intubation, surfactant delivery, central line placement, needle aspiration, chest tube placement, etc.
- Collaborated with an interpersonal team of staff assigned to help patients, including team members such as a neonatologist, resident, charge nurse, bedside nurse, nurse educator, clinical nurse manager, social worker, pharmacist, dietician, lactation consultant, case manager, respiratory therapist, etc.
- Implemented family-centered care approaches that emphasized parental involvement in the child's healthcare plan.
Registered Nurse, Pediatrics
1 Year 4 Months- Inpatient Pediatrics department caring for pediatric population with ages ranging from 1 day old to 18 years old.
- Job duties included, but not limited to: vital signs/assessment, medication administration, PIV insertion, NG tube placement/management, vaccine administration, pre/post surgical prep/care, I/O, oxygen delivery such as: supplementation through a nasal cannula, high flow.
- Inpatient nurse also responsible for holding ENPC credentialing, requiring nurse to be in response to overhead ER intercom alerts, such as: sepsis alert, pediatric assistance, code blue, and pediatric trauma (level I or II) alert.
- Developed strong relationships with families of pediatric patients through compassionate communication and support during times of distress or anxiety.
Registered Nurse, NICU/Mother Baby
4 Years 3 Months- Family birth center, with dual role comprising working in a level III NICU, along with assuming care of mother/baby couplets.
- NICU job duties included, but not limited to: vital signs/assessment, medication administration, NG/OG tube placement/management, feeding, PIV insertion/management, central line/arterial line management, oxygen delivery, such as: blended oxygen/microflow, CPAP, NIPPV, high flow, intubation.
- Assisted in bedside procedures, including endotracheal intubation, surfactant delivery, central line placement, needle aspiration, chest tube placement, and lumbar puncture to enhance patient outcomes.
- Attended deliveries and managed admissions, transfers, and discharges of NICU patients to ensure seamless care transition.
- Couplet nurse job responsibilities included, but not limited to: vital signs/assessment, medication administration, baby and mom care, feeding, care of post-surgical mother, lab draws, etc.
- Precepted new graduate nurses transitioning into the NICU/Postpartum setting.
- Participated in NICU interdisciplinary rounds to collaboratively assess and adjust patient care plans based on progress towards established goals.
- Developed strong relationships with families by providing education about their infant's condition and progress.
- Collaborated with other health care professionals to develop and revise treatment plans, based on identified needs and assessment data.
PCA/OB Tech
3 Years 6 Months- Provided daily care to adults in medical/surgical departments.
- Performed PCA duties such as taking vital signs, monitoring I/O, assisting with feeding, toileting, and other daily care, facilitating ambulation, measuring blood glucose, and reporting findings to the primary nurse.
- Assisted in OB tech duties such as attending deliveries, preparing and maintaining a sterile field for vaginal and cesarean section deliveries, providing care for newborns, and supporting nurses with assigned tasks.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Skills
Customer service
Communication skills
Bilingual
Neonatal care
Patient advocacy
Teamwork
Adaptable
Time management
Organized
Strong work ethic
Professionalism
Certification
- Iowa (Multistate) Nursing License
- Illinois Nursing License
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Languages
Bosnian
Native or Bilingual
Serbian
Native or Bilingual
Croatian
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Travel Registered Nurse, NICU
Host Healthcare
04.2026 - 08.2026Read More
Travel Registered Nurse, NICU
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital
09.2025 - 03.2026Read More
Travel Registered Nurse, Mother Baby
Triage Staffing
06.2025 - 08.2025Read More
Registered Nurse, PACU
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center
12.2024 - 04.2025Read More
Registered Nurse, NICU
Northwest Community Hospital
07.2024 - 09.2024Read More
Registered Nurse, Pediatrics
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center
12.2022 - 04.2024Read More
Registered Nurse, NICU/Mother Baby
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center
05.2019 - 08.2023Read More
PCA/OB Tech
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center
11.2015 - 05.2019Read More
Allen College
Bachelor of Science from Nursing
Read More