Vanessa Gailor

• Coordinates and supervises seven regional nurse consultants and one nursing supervisor in the provision of technical consultation and training to nurses in the 86 local health departments/districts in North Carolina.
• Serves as lead nurse planner and coordinator for the annual communicable disease conference with 250-350 attendees covering a variety of topics and multi-disciplinary speakers.
• Coordinates and supervises a communicable disease 24/7 call center, which is staffed by two nurse consultants and a call center manager. This service provides evidence-based recommendations and assistance to local health departments, medical providers, state and federal partners, and the general public.
• Promotes and disseminates professional development opportunities to encourage local and state public health nurses to pursue continuous training.
• Organizes and provides instruction for short-term educational programs such as lectures and workshops to address specific clinical topics.
• Two decades of experience in presenting on topics related to infectious diseases, public health, outbreak management, public health nursing, nursing education, health education and specific disease prevention and treatment strategies.
• Enhances student knowledge of technology by integrating various web-based applications for research and assignments.
• Incorporates exciting and engaging activities to achieve student participation and hands-on learning.
• Conducts evaluations to measure performance and progress of students, providing guidance for areas requiring improvement.
• Monitors health trends and data to identify health concerns and develop related health education initiatives.
• Collaborates with other healthcare professionals to design and deliver health education services to clients.
• Creates webinars, videos, educational handouts and other health education materials to promote health awareness and preventive health practices.
• Continually improves knowledge, skills, and performance based on feedback and self-identified professional developmental needs.
• Provides technical assistance to local health departments to improve health education services.
• Collects, reviews and approves determinations of program compliance for local health departments pending accreditation.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures and educational offerings for the Medical Consultation Unit.
• Participates in budget discussions, decisions and allocations for communicable disease and sexually transmitted infection programs statewide.
• Delivers technical assistance as part of a communicable disease outbreak response team.

• Assessed, planned, developed and implemented communicable disease trainings/presentations to a variety of audiences, such as local health department staff, regional, state and federal conferences, school nurses, Department of Corrections employees and state health department staff.
• Demonstrated broad knowledge of epidemiology, which includes outbreak investigation, communicable disease control measures, data analysis and statistical methods.
• Provided consultation with local health departments, medical providers, the general public and co-workers.
• Reviewed medical records and summarized care.
• Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention to assist local health departments with redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
• Managed complex cases involving multiple comorbidities, requiring close collaboration with specialists from various disciplines to ensure optimal outcomes for patients.
• Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with the latest advancements in nursing care and best practices.

• Coordinated, supervised and assured the accuracy of the work of five staff members in all areas of the health department including communicable disease, immunizations, tuberculosis control, women’s health, STI and laboratory.
• Organized and led clinical implementation of new electronic medical records system within the health department.
• Collaborated with co-workers and local health department staff with development of public health and departmental policies.
• Participated in county-wide Quality Improvement initiative.
• Met with members of public and local leaders at various community events and discussed ways to reduce illness, food contamination and obesity.
• Prevented illness by education public on healthy practices to stop disease.
• Visited homes to determine patient and family needs.
• Safely administered flu and pneumonia vaccinations, providing education to customers on vaccines, dosage, indications, precautions, contraindications and potential side effects.
• Assumed responsibility for agency in absence of director.
• Provided extensive materials and answered questions from public during times of novel communicable diseases and outbreaks of public health significance, while advising on protective measures.

• Performed patient care for cardiac post-surgical patients which included rapid assessments and interventions.
• Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
• Coordinated patient discharge planning to provide post-discharge patient care, promoting healing and recovery.
• Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
• Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
• Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
• Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
• Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
• Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
• Updated patient charts with data such as medications to keep records current and support accurate treatments.
• Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.