Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Awards
Community Service
Affiliations
References:
Timeline
Generic

Sandra J. Brown

Tucson,AZ

Summary

I have been a Registered Nurse since 2006, with a substantial and broad level of experience beginning as a Surgical Technician in 1984, and then advancing my education. My experience includes Surgery, Critical Care, Organ Transplant, Psych/Behavioral Health, and Emergency/Trauma Nursing. In addition, to being a staff nurse, my experience and knowledge includes being in a Charge, as well as a teaching/preceptor position. My range of care includes both, adults, and children. I have outstanding prioritization and organization skills, as well as being a motivator and team player. My strengths also include, but are not limited to, functioning well under duress and stressful, fast-paced situations. I also welcome the opportunity to learn something new, and will roll my sleeves up and jump into any situation when assistance is needed, proudly following the rule that no job is beneath me! As I prepare to embark on a new career path, I am excited and motivated to find the best position for me. After being an RN for several years, I chose to continue my education, not for the title, but to have a broader scope of practice, hence allowing me to make a greater impact on the quality of care and service I provide. I hope to be considered for a position at your facility. I am confident I will be a positive addition to your team. Thank you for your time…

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Clinical Rotations AGACNP Student:

AGACNP Program

AGACNP Program Clinical Rotations:In NP Student role.

1) St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson, AZ. 05/2024-08/2024

Hours completed: 160hrs. Patients seen: 80

Patients ages 13 and older, with acute, chronic, and significant exacerbation

of pre-existing disease states.

2) St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson, AZ. 08/2024-11/2024

Hours completed: 168hrs. Patients seen: 120

Patients age 55 and older with primary care issues.

3) St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tucson, AZ, 11/2024-02/2025

Hours completed:166hrs. Patients seen: 92

Patients ages 55 and older, with acute, and chronic illnesses.

4) St. Mary’s Hospital, Tucson, AZ. 02/2025-05/2025

Hours Completed: 168hrs. Patients seen: 80

Patients age 55 and older with complex acute, chronic, and critical conditions

including the application of knowledge in the management of medical and surgical patients.

*I graduated from this program May, 2025, with a Masters of Science Degree in Nursing, and also can sit for my boards if I chose to practice as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.*

Registered Nurse

SAVAHCS-Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
05.2025 - Current

As an Occupational Health RN, I see employees of the VA facility with a focus on immunizations and physical exams. Other care provided is providing first aid for minor injuries, to stabilize and transfer to the Emergency Department for continuity of care if warranted. Accidental needle sticks and workplace injuries are also a part of the assessments we provide when presented. In addition, blood born fluid exposures, chemical exposures, and splashes are also seen within our office, treated, and processed. When necessary, tetanus vaccines are also given. The care provided in this office also includes the creating and processing medical files for new hires, and maintaining and updating employees vaccinations to keep them all current and within OSHA guidelines. Answering phone calls, including random medical based questions, and making followup appointments are also a part of the duties in this office. Because much of the work is completed on computer, in this position, we are trained to use the computer systems, such as; EOH-Employee Occupational Health System, OHRS-Occupational Health Recording System, OASYS-Onboarding Applicant System, PIMS-Performance Improvement Management System, and CPRS-Computerized Patient Record System, where we also place orders for labs, and vaccines to be drawn for employees when necessary. I chose this position as it afforded me the opportunity to be home at night with my family, with which I have a teenage Son.

Registered Nurse

SAVAHCS-Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Hospital
08.2020 - 05.2025
  • Emergency Dept. Duties: At this facility, this is a 19 bed ER, treating all levels of acuity within the Veteran population. This position includes triage of incoming patients, including ambulance arrivals, assessing patients according to level of acuity, workup and stabilization of critically ill patients, medication administration, and communication with the caregiver team. The patient population includes Adults/Veterans, of various chronic and acute illnesses, including patients with Psychological issues, including PTSD exacerbation, patients with Dementia, and other Neurological conditions. In addition, patient’s that were choosing to enter into Palliative care or Hospice would also be a part of this patient population. The differences in patients and care needed were very diverse and allowed me to also be a comfort of strength, compassion and support with both patients and their families when warranted. Education and communication with patients at admission and discharge is also a part of daily job duties as well as being in the Charge Nurse role on a weekly basis. The computer system used in this role is Cerner, Epic, and CPRS.
  • Reason for leaving; This was a night shift, weekend, and holiday staff position. I have a young Son. I switched to a day shift position to be at home with family.

Registered Nurse/Charge Nurse

Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital
11.2021 - 11.2023
  • Psychiatric/Behavioral Nurse Duties: Caring for both adult and adolescent patients, with various conditions, including, but not limited to, behavioral, psychological, and etoh and substance abuse. These patients were at different levels of care, including patients in various stages of detoxing of either etoh and/or drugs. This also included the monitoring, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as various levels of emotional instability. Job duties included distributing patient medications, physical assessment, communication with patients who needed assistance with de-escalation of anger and mood, and education of patient medication regimens, treatment plans of care, and progression of rehabilitation. The communication also included patient families, and colleagues. In addition to the above nursing duties, the nurse is in charge of the staff of nurse techs and the care and management of a minimum of 15 up to 25 patients in a 12 hour shift.
  • Reason for leaving: School schedule and working full time at VA, in addition to this facility, the load was too great.

Registered Nurse

Baptist Hospital
06.2012 - 08.2020
  • Emergency Dept. Duties: At this facility, as an ER Nurse, I assess, stabilize and treat patients of various levels of acuity. This is a 36 bed ER with a Trauma Room and also a Pediatric Emergency Room connected to the Adult area as well. I also worked in the triage area, as we float from various parts of our department. This requires critical thinking skills, and the ability to determine the patient's level of acuity. This includes, but is not limited to, Chest pain presentations, as well as Stroke, Baker Act, and Code Sepsis, as well as any and all traumas, including frequent gunshot wounds and stabbings and gang related violence that may arrive by rescue. Participating in Codes, as well as stabilizing patients that arrive in active labor thru our ER is also sometimes warranted. In this arena, teamwork and communication to patient, family, and staff is a vital part of providing quality care to each patient. Education from Nurse to patient and sometimes families are also a daily duty in this position. In this position , I was also able to utilize my SANE training when warranted with sexual assault victims, which included working with the local police to process each case. The patient population largely consisted of Spanish speaking only patients, for which I speak fluently, and was also able to assist in translation when needed.
  • Reason for leaving: Accepted position for VA, moved out of state.

Registered Nurse/Charge Nurse

North Shore Medical Center
03.2010 - 06.2012
  • ICU Duties: At this facility, I worked as a staff RN, in the ICU, as well as in the Charge position. This included caring for up to four critical status patients at various levels of illness and acuity. Some of the patients were on ventilators, and some had arterial and central lines. This position required the knowledge of the necessity of placing patients on various drips and critical thinking and quick assessment skills as patient's levels of acuity changed at times and required more serious and critical levels of care to stabilize. At times it was necessary to communicate as well as educate the families of the patient's regarding the patients’ status and plan of care. When placed in the Charge Nurse role, I was required to supervise a staff of up to 15 Nurses and 2 Technicians, as well as communicate with the Physicians and other medical staff involved in each patient's care. I also delegated job duties to the staff and placed them in their areas of strength. When necessary, I would work alongside the staff assisting those who needed additional nursing support with their patients.
  • Reason for leaving: Moved too far away from facility to commute.

Registered Nurse

Mt. Sinai Medical Center
07.2007 - 03.2010

Operating Room/Open Heart-Post Surgical ICU... Duties: I began working as a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room and after working in that department for a year, I transferred up to the Surgical ICU where I remained. In the Operating Room I functioned as a Circulating Nurse and scrubbed in on various procedures when staffing was short. In this capacity, I performed duties necessary pre, intra, and postoperatively. In this position, I assessed the patient pre-operatively, prepared the surgical suite according to that specific surgery, and assisted the surgical team intra and postoperatively in maintaining sterile technique and providing a safe and efficient environment. At the end of surgery, dressing was applied, and the patient would be stabilized and transported to either the Recovery Room area or unit, if need be. I transferred from surgery to BSICU, which is a Surgical ICU where I worked as an RN. In this position, I cared for both surgical and critically ill patients sometimes needing ventilator support. I prepared necessary drips and communicated with the various physicians and medical staff in maintaining the safety and wellness of each patient. This position required responsibility, working under stress at times, decision making regarding patients care if patients’ status changed, and understanding and interpreting lab results and medical tests. Also in this role, I was responsible for maintaining and understanding the functionality of balloon pumps, as well as arterial lines, as the patient population also included post-op open-heart patients.

  • Reason for leaving: Seeking a position closer to home.

Surgical Technician

Faulkner Hospital
04.2004 - 05.2007
  • Operating Room Duties: As a Surgical Technician, I worked in the operating room. I gathered and set up equipment and instrumentation needed for various surgeries. Collaborated with nursing staff to maintain a sterile environment throughout surgeries. My experience at this facility also included first assisting at times when needed, as well as patient positioning and dressing application. I also trained new staff on operating room protocols and equipment usage for improved efficiency. The surgical services in this 12-suite Operating Room included General Surgery, Plastics, Thoracic, Neuro, Orthopedics, Urology, Gynecology, Burns, and Trauma. This position also educated me on the proper sterilizing and processing of the surgical instruments after use, as well as proper wrapping for use within a sterile environment.
  • Reason for leaving: Moved out of state.

Surgical Recovery Coordinator

New England Organ Bank
12.2003 - 03.2004
  • Duties: In this position, a team of 3 persons, including myself, would go to various hospitals and medical facilities in New England to surgically recover donated tissues. As a team, we coordinated organ recovery efforts, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and best practices. My responsibilities included going to the main office to pack for the various recoveries and travel to the facilities at any given time within a 24hr period. At this time, under sterile conditions using our own equipment and surgical instrumentation, we would surgically recover the tissues and bone. We would then , upon completion, treat, wrap, and package the tissues in proper containers to transport and return to the office and pack and prepare the donated tissues for transport to the needed facilities and processing centers. My job duties also included doing a physical assessment on the donor pre-operatively, completing necessary paperwork, drawing blood from the donor, and being on call 24hrs a day 5 days a week, as well as managing donor referrals and maintaining accurate records in electronic health systems for efficient tracking.
  • Reason for leaving: Facility unable to guarantee set eves. off to attend class.

Surgical Technician

Medical Express Travel Nursing Company
01.2000 - 11.2003
  • Operating Room Duties: My duties included but were not limited to the set up and handling of equipment and instrumentation needed for various surgical procedures. At times, first assisting in surgery was required as well as the positioning of the patient and dressing application pre and post-operatively. As a traveler, it was required to become familiar and comfortable with the various facilities procedures rather quickly, as my need at the facility at that time was due to the facilities need of staffing. Therefore, independence and strength in my skills were relied upon. In my travel assignments with this company, I worked at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass as a traveler for two years. I also worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Labor and Delivery as a Surgical Tech./Trainer. In this capacity, I was responsible for training staff members to scrub on cesarean section and emergency procedures.
  • Reason for leaving: Obtained a permanent staff position.

Surgical Technician

Supplemental Health Travelers
10.1998 - 01.2000
  • Operating Room Duties: My duties included, but were not limited to the set up and handling of equipment and instrumentation needed for various surgical procedures. At times, first assisting was required as well as dressing application and patient positioning pre-operatively. While with this company, I worked at Staten Island University Hospital, which handles all surgical services, including Orthopedics, Neuro, Plastics, General, Vascular, Reconstructive, Ob/Gyn, G.U. and E.N.T. as well as trauma. Prior to that position, I completed an assignment at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, in Leesburg, Florida, which also handled the same surgical services.
  • Reason for leaving: Company unable to find me an assignment at the time.

Private Scrub/First Assistant

Lake Surgical Clinic
12.1997 - 10.1998
  • Duties: My duties included assisting a general/vascular surgeon in various surgeries; surgical wound closure, dressing application, and pre-operative patient positioning. In this capacity, I also assisted the doctor in the office, saw patients, documented information in patients charts, assisted in patient education, wrote orders, completed medical coding, handled patient phone calls, filed medical records, called in patient prescriptions, and made rounds on the surgical floors at the hospital, pre and post operatively.
  • Reason for leaving: Became a traveler.

Surgical Technician

Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital
08.1995 - 12.1997
  • Operating Room Duties: My duties at this facility included the set up and handling of equipment and instrumentation needed for various surgeries. This facility is a LEVEL 1 Trauma Center which handles all surgical services including, Neuro, Ortho, General, Plastics, Vascular, Thoracics, GU.Ob/Gyn , and Maxillofacial, as well as eye surgery. On occasion I floated to the Hasbro Children’s Hospital O.R. which handled all pediatric surgical services, and was connected to Rhode Island Hospitals Operating Room. Because this was a Trauma Center, I also gained experience with gunshot wounds, stabbings, MVA’s, and high stress situations based on the urgency of patient care with each case. This was a 20 room O.R.
  • Reason for leaving: Moved out of state.

Surgical Technician

Brigham & Woman’s Hospital
09.1991 - 08.1995
  • Operating Room Duties: This facility functioned with a pod-system. Each service was contained in a pod, consisting of three rooms. I primarily worked in the Neuro-E.N.T. pod. In this service, I gained experience in numerous neurosurgical procedures, including aneurysm clippings, tumor excision, brain biopsies, stereotactics, transphenoidals, laminectomies, and shunt placement. In addition, I was afforded the opportunity to be chosen to work with the Chief of Neurosurgery and gained a wealth of knowledge and experience assisting him in various surgical procedures. In the E.N.T. service, I gained experience in endoscopic surgeries as well as laser, in addition to more routine E.N.T procedures. This facility had 32 working Operating Rooms.
  • Reason for Leaving: Accepted a position closer to home.

Surgical Technician

Saint Luke’s Hospital
07.1985 - 09.1991
  • Operating Room Duties: My duties included the gathering and set up and handling of all equipment and instrumentation needed for various surgical procedures. This was not a teaching facility, therefore, a lot of first assisting was required. This facility handled surgical services not limited to, Ortho, Plastics, Neuro, E.N.T. Thoracics, Ob/Gyn, General, Vascular, and Trauma. I also gained experience in endoscopic procedures including. colonoscopies, gastroscopies, sigmoidoscopies, and bronchoscopies. There were 16 O.R.’s here.
  • Reason for leaving: Accepted a position in Boston, to gain more experience in this role.

Education

Master of Science - Nursing: AGACNP Program, Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Walden University
MN
05.2025

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Chamberlain College of Nursing
OH
10-2015

Associate of Science - Nursing

Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley, MA
12.2006

Certificate: Surgical Technology - Surgical Technology

Quincy Junior College
Quincy, MA
05-1984

Skills

  • Fluent in Spanish
  • Computer experience: Cerner, Epic, CPRS, EOH, OHRS, OASYS, and PIMS As well as creating spread sheets, and electronic logs

Certification

  • AGACNP Program Completion. May, 2025.
  • Registered Nurse: RN 9270342-Compact License State of Florida Board of Nursing Issued: 11/15/2007 Exp. 4/9/2026
  • BLS Basic Life Support Certification Issued by the American Heart Association Valid: 6/07/2025-6/30/2027
  • PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification Issued by the American Heart Association Valid: 6/07/2025-6/30/2027
  • ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification Issued by the American Heart Association Valid: 6/07/2025-6/30/2027

Awards

Daisy Award: While employed at Baptist Hospital, I was nominated by a patient for a Daisy Award. This award is given for being recognized as providing exceptional nursing care and going above and beyond the normal scope of practice.

Community Service

1) I was very active within my hospital community, as well as within the population in the surrounding community during my experiences in Florida. The surrounding community is in an underserved area. As a volunteer, I participated in the various workshops to educate and speak to groups that attended, regarding topics such as Diabetes education, Wound care and treatment, and Weight Loss. I also assisted in providing education of signs and symptoms of stroke and heart attack., 2) For 5 years, I prepared and distributed sandwiches, fruits, and beverages to the homeless in random areas where this is very prevalent. I have included my child and random friends who also accompanied me on these trips. This occurred twice a year. The average homeless that were fed on each trip ranged from 50-100 people. I state 100 because that is how many sandwiches were prepared for each visit! 3) Volunteer work with the residents of Agape Women's Shelter. I had been a volunteer with this shelter for three years, as a mentor, guide, support, and resource, as they transitioned thru this difficult point in their lives, also to assist with the new residents that arrived. The population of residents included domestic abuse, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and long-term homelessness. Both women and children were welcome at this facility. 4) I have organized and been a part of the collection, and distribution of food, school supplies, and toys in the community to families in need. This occured during the holidays, and just before school began for the new year. I also coordinated bake sales and drives within my hospital to collect monies and donations to purchase backpacks for distribution to children of underserved families.

Affiliations

SANE- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. Description: As an Emergency Room Nurse, sexual assault victims would present to the E.R. for exam and workup. As a SANE Nurse, you work with the police in the examination, processing, and gathering of evidence and information. To become part of this group, a 40 hour course was given, and upon completion of this course, the group, which included 18 other colleagues and myself were allowed to sit for the SANE certification exam.

References:

Available upon request:

Timeline

Registered Nurse

SAVAHCS-Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
05.2025 - Current

Registered Nurse/Charge Nurse

Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital
11.2021 - 11.2023

Registered Nurse

SAVAHCS-Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Hospital
08.2020 - 05.2025

Registered Nurse

Baptist Hospital
06.2012 - 08.2020

Registered Nurse/Charge Nurse

North Shore Medical Center
03.2010 - 06.2012

Registered Nurse

Mt. Sinai Medical Center
07.2007 - 03.2010

Surgical Technician

Faulkner Hospital
04.2004 - 05.2007

Surgical Recovery Coordinator

New England Organ Bank
12.2003 - 03.2004

Surgical Technician

Medical Express Travel Nursing Company
01.2000 - 11.2003

Surgical Technician

Supplemental Health Travelers
10.1998 - 01.2000

Private Scrub/First Assistant

Lake Surgical Clinic
12.1997 - 10.1998

Surgical Technician

Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital
08.1995 - 12.1997

Surgical Technician

Brigham & Woman’s Hospital
09.1991 - 08.1995

Surgical Technician

Saint Luke’s Hospital
07.1985 - 09.1991

Clinical Rotations AGACNP Student:

AGACNP Program

Master of Science - Nursing: AGACNP Program, Adult Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Walden University

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Associate of Science - Nursing

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Certificate: Surgical Technology - Surgical Technology

Quincy Junior College