Sandra Jeffries
Evansville,IN
Summary
Compassionate Registered Nurse with extensive experience at Select Specialty Hospital, recognized for enhancing patient satisfaction and reducing readmissions through effective education. Proficient in IV therapy and skilled in critical thinking, I excel in collaborative care, ensuring holistic treatment and advocating for patient needs in high-pressure environments.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse, Long-Term Acute Care
Select Speciality Hospital
09.2020 - Current
- Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate care and addressing individual needs.
- Reduced hospital readmissions through patient education using teach back and appropriate language to patient learning level.
- Trained new nursing staff on unit procedures, equipment usage, and best practices to promote effective teamwork. Informal resource nurse on any unit worked.
- Coordinated with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care for patients including respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers.
- Enhanced patient comfort by performing comprehensive assessments and promptly addressing concerns.
- Ensured compliance with state regulations and accreditation standards through adherence to policies and procedures.
- Administered medications safely and accurately, adhering to strict protocols and guidelines.
- Handled high-stress situations calmly under pressure when managing critical incidents such as code blues or rapid response calls.
- Assessed and managed various patient treatments for numerous patient diagnoses from sepsis to acute respiratory distress.
- Oversaw various aspects of telemetry by administering vasoactive drugs, titration, thrombolytic therapy, dysrhythmia interpretation, and chest tubes.
Registered Nurse, Progressive Care Unit
University of Missouri Hospital
08.2014 - 07.2020
- Prevented complications by closely monitoring vital signs and promptly responding to changes in patient status.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop optimal treatment plans tailored to individual needs.
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities to stay current on best practices in progressive care nursing techniques and technologies.
- Implemented physician orders and tracked progress against care plan to assess results.
- Facilitated smooth transitions of care by thoroughly documenting patient information and providing detailed handoffs during shift changes.
- Increased efficiency in the Progressive Care Unit by effectively prioritizing tasks and managing time.
- Helped team manage patient flow by promoting timely placements for admissions, discharges and transfers.
- Developed strong rapport with patients through active listening skills, cultural sensitivity, and compassionate care approach.
- Contributed to quality improvement initiatives by identifying areas for improvement and implementing evidence-based solutions.
- Provided clinical supervision for student nurses during their practicum rotations within the Progressive Care Unit setting.
- Helped physicians and interns complete bedside procedures to address patient concerns.
- Ensured timely administration of treatments by proficiently starting IVs, inserting Foley catheters, performing tracheostomy care, changing dressings, performing wound care procedures among other essential nursing tasks.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Demonstrated adaptability by floating to other units as needed, applying comprehensive nursing skills across various clinical settings.
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical ICU
Lake Regional Hospital
04.2011 - 07.2014
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
- Provided support for patients'' families during difficult medical decisions or end-of-life care, serving as a liaison between the healthcare team and loved ones.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
Registered Nurse
Lake Regional Hospital
06.1997 - 04.2011
- Assisted in the training and mentorship of new nursing staff members, contributing to a positive work environment and high-quality patient care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Served as a preceptor for nursing students during their clinical rotations, providing valuable real-world experience and guidance to foster professional growth.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based nursing interventions and individualized care plans.
- Implemented evidence-based fall prevention strategies, resulting in a significant decrease in patient falls within the unit.
- Streamlined medication administration processes for increased safety and accuracy during busy shifts.
Registered Nurse, Skilled Nursing Facility
Windsor Estates Nursing and Rehabilitation
07.1996 - 06.1997
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in nursing care and emerging trends in healthcare delivery.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the healthcare facility by participating in quality improvement initiatives, identifying potential hazards, and advocating for best practices in nursing care delivery.
- Contributed to interdisciplinary team meetings by presenting relevant clinical data about patients'' progress toward reaching established goals of care.
- Facilitated patient transitions between different levels of care, ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruptions in treatment plans.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for complex cases.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
Education
Diploma of Nursing - Nursing Science
St John's School of Nursing
Springfield05-1996
Skills
- Basic life support
- Clinical judgment
- Compassionate care
- End-of-life care
- Health promotion
- Tracheostomy care
- Ventilator management
- Advanced cardiac life support
- Airway management
- IV setup
- Intravenous therapy
- Healthcare team collaboration
- Advanced life support
- Evidence-based practices
- Taking vitals
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Patient advocacy
- Wound care management
- Life-sustaining machines
- Problem-solving
- Medication and IV administration
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Critical thinking
- Strong clinical judgment
- Direct patient care
- CPR certification
- Dementia care
- Blood draw and sample collection
- Physical assessment
- Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
Certification
- Licensed [Job Title] - [Timeframe]
- Certified [Job Title], [Company Name] - [Timeframe]
Timeline
Registered Nurse, Long-Term Acute Care
Select Speciality Hospital
09.2020 - Current
Registered Nurse, Progressive Care Unit
University of Missouri Hospital
08.2014 - 07.2020
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical ICU
Lake Regional Hospital
04.2011 - 07.2014
Registered Nurse
Lake Regional Hospital
06.1997 - 04.2011
Registered Nurse, Skilled Nursing Facility
Windsor Estates Nursing and Rehabilitation
07.1996 - 06.1997
Diploma of Nursing - Nursing Science
St John's School of Nursing
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