Sara Blackwell
Vicksburg
Summary
Accomplished RN with a proven track record at Senior Care Partners PACE, enhancing patient outcomes through expert care planning and chronic disease management. Skilled in case management and fostering patient and family education, I lead with empathy and clinical judgment, significantly improving health services delivery.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RN Care Coordinator
Senior Care Partners PACE
02.2022 - Current
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Developed strong relationships with patients'' families, providing emotional support while addressing concerns or questions about care plans.
- Educated patients on disease management and self-care techniques, promoting lifestyle changes for improved health.
- Assessed patient conditions promptly upon admission to determine appropriate interventions and prioritize care needs.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for comprehensive patient care plans, resulting in better health outcomes.
- Assisted clinic staff when needed with skin assessments, routine wound care, medication administration and home visits.
Case Manager
Select Specialty Hospital LTAC
05.2019 - 01.2022
- Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
- Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
- Monitored ongoing cases closely, adjusting case management strategies as needed based on evolving circumstances or new information.
- Educated clients on available programs, benefits, and services, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care needs.
- Performs verification of utilization reviews while coordinating with labor sources to assure proper reimbursement for hospital provided services.
- Alternate/PRN wound care nurse to provide weekly skin and wound assessments. Coordination of wound treatments with the attending physician.
RN Supports Coordinator
Carewell Services Region 3B Area Agency on Aging
02.2018 - 10.2018
- Provides planning, assessing, coordination and implementation of services through in-home visits for low income, Medicaid eligible adults who are medically frail and whose care needs would otherwise require nursing home care.
- Conduct Level of Care Determination assessments, verify patient eligibility for the MIChoice Waiver program.
- Set up and implementation of the following services: AFC placement, chore provider, home delivered meals, DME, counseling, transportation, PERS and skilled services such as private duty nursing, SLP and PT/OT.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction through effective communication, empathy, and timely response to their needs.
- Provided emotional support to patients during challenging times, fostering a sense of trust and rapport that contributed to better overall wellbeing.
Home Health Nurse
Oaklawn Hospital
06.2017 - 02.2018
- Completes start of care visits to include head to toe assessment with OASIS documentation with the development of the plan of care or 485. Provides complex wound care, lab draws,post-op care, IV administration, PT/INR monitoring via Coagucheck machine, catheter and ostomy care.
- Developed strong rapport with patients and families, fostering trust and open communication during challenging times.
- Educated patients and families on disease management, medication safety, and at-home healthcare strategies to promote selfcare.
- Documented patient vitals, behaviors and conditions to communicate concerns to supervising nurse.
- Contributed to the overall success of the home health agency by maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction and positive outcomes.
Staff RN & Centering Parenting Coordinator
Grace Health
09.2015 - 05.2017
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Obtained client medical history, medication information, symptoms, and allergies.
- Counseled patients via telephone according to established guidelines and protocols, advising on provider-established plans of care.
- Administered vaccines with proper immunization techniques and documentation procedures, fostering a supportive learning environment within the clinic setting.
- Responsible for the overall care and delivery of the Centering Parenting program that provides group well child appointments from birth-2years. Acts as the lesion between The Centering Health Institute, MPCA and Grace Health along with maintaining the program budget.
Health and Wellness Director
Brookdale Senior Living Facility
12.2014 - 07.2015
- Manages the day to day healthcare operations of the facility to ensure resident's healthcare needs are met for up to 40 residents.
- Oversaw ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members to stay current on industry trends and best practices.
- Developed comprehensive health education materials for diverse populations, promoting preventive healthcare practices.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by designing and implementing personalized care plans for patients with chronic conditions.
Director of Clinical Services
Maxim Health Services
03.2012 - 12.2014
- Responsible for the delivery of clinical services managing employees in the provision of care and services according to professional standards of clinical practice, consistent with local, state and federal guidelines
- Championed best practice sharing among departments, resulting in more consistent execution of patient care processes and improved outcomes.
- Manages and directs patient care coordination, assessments, admissions, plan of care/485 process, discharges, branch QI monitoring, quarterly medical records review, filing of weekly field staff documentation.
- Hiring, clinical orientation, ongoing education/in-services and disciplinary action of all employees and competency evaluation of field staff.
- Works directly with the financial business director on insurance authorizations and marketing strategies to include onsite visits to the local hospitals.
- Developed strategic plans for the growth and expansion of clinical services, ensuring long-term organizational success.
Clinical Supervisor
Maxim Health Services
10.2010 - 03.2012
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care for clients with complex needs, ensuring comprehensive support was provided across all domains of life functioning.
- Completes monthly supervisory visits, recertification visits and assessments for patients ranging inage of newborn to adult with various clinical disabilities to include tracheostomy, PEG, home ventilator support, respiratory treatments with various levels of acuity, resumption of care visits post hospitalization, one time teach and train visits for various medications, weekly wound care measurements.
- Served as a liaison between clinical staff and administration to address concerns and optimize workflows.
- Provided supervision to field nursing staff, offering guidance and feedback on their professional development journey.
RN Staff Nurse
The Legacy at The Oaks
02.2010 - 10.2010
- Provides card for Alzheimer's and Dementia patients in an assisted living environment.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of patient assessments, treatments, and progress notes for seamless continuity of care.
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Maximized resident engagement through effective collaboration with activities coordinators, tailoring various programs to individual interests and cognitive abilities.
Home Hospice Nurse
LifeSpan
09.2009 - 04.2010
- Provided detailed instructions for medication administration, ensuring patients and caregivers understood the importance of proper dosing and potential side effects.
- Educated family members on end-of-life care, empowering them to support their loved ones during the hospice journey.
- Advanced patient advocacy by effectively communicating individual needs and preferences to interdisciplinary team members during care planning meetings.
- Assessed patients'' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, adapting care plans accordingly to address evolving concerns.
- Improved patient comfort by providing compassionate and attentive care in a home hospice setting.
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
VA Medical Center
08.2008 - 09.2009
- Administered medications in accordance with the five rights, ensuring safe and accurate dispensing of psychotropic and non-psychotropic drugs.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress, treatment plan adjustments, and ongoing care coordination efforts.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to identify subtle changes in patient behaviors or symptoms that may indicate a need for immediate intervention or reassessment of treatment plans.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions for patients, fostering an open dialogue about mental health topics and coping strategies.
- Managed challenging behaviors effectively through de-escalation techniques and implementation of behavior management plans.
Director of Staff Development
The Laurels of Bedford
04.2008 - 07.2008
- Ensured regulatory compliance in all aspects of staff development, including licensing, certifications, and continuing education requirements.
- Performed reviews of employee work performance to check for areas in need of additional training.
- Monitored employee performance to look for areas in need of improvement.
- Proactively identified scheduling issues and developed quick solutions to promote efficiency and profitability.
Medical-Surgical/Oncology RN
Battle Creek Health System
10.2003 - 04.2008
- Managed caseload of 5-7 patients simultaneously by providing bedside care, treatments, IV therapy, and wound care.
- Assessed patient conditions accurately by conducting comprehensive physical assessments, interpreting diagnostic tests, and utilizing critical thinking skills.
- Educated patients and families on medical-surgical procedures, therapeutic regimens, and pain management techniques.
- Administered chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, ensuring accurate dosing and proper patient education.
- Maintained detailed documentation of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
Dialysis Registered Nurse
Battle Creek Health System
04.2003 - 10.2003
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members to ensure comprehensive care for all patients undergoing dialysis.
- Coordinated care with other healthcare providers, such as dietitians and social workers, to ensure comprehensive support for patients during their dialysis journey.
- Provided emotional support to patients coping with chronic kidney disease, helping them navigate complex medical information while maintaining hope for improved health outcomes.
Circulating Nurse, Operating Room
Battle Creek Health System
05.2002 - 04.2003
- Streamlined operating room setup for faster procedure turnaround times, ensuring timely patient care.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between surgical cases by efficiently preparing operating rooms for subsequent procedures.
- Reduced risk of infection by maintaining a sterile operating room environment through proper cleaning and equipment handling techniques.
- Minimized post-operative complications through diligent assessment of patients'' vital signs and overall condition during recovery.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek, MI05.2002
Skills
- Clinical judgment
- Case Management
- High level of autonomy
- Discharge Planning
- Quality Improvement
- Patient Assessments
- Nursing staff leadership
- Care Planning
- Wound Care
- Chronic Disease Management
- Home care
- Family Education
Certification
- Registered Nurse License (RN) - State Board of Nursing. MI: 4704239632 Expires 7/2026
- Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) Expires 3/2025
Timeline
RN Care Coordinator
Senior Care Partners PACE
02.2022 - Current
Case Manager
Select Specialty Hospital LTAC
05.2019 - 01.2022
RN Supports Coordinator
Carewell Services Region 3B Area Agency on Aging
02.2018 - 10.2018
Home Health Nurse
Oaklawn Hospital
06.2017 - 02.2018
Staff RN & Centering Parenting Coordinator
Grace Health
09.2015 - 05.2017
Health and Wellness Director
Brookdale Senior Living Facility
12.2014 - 07.2015
Director of Clinical Services
Maxim Health Services
03.2012 - 12.2014
Clinical Supervisor
Maxim Health Services
10.2010 - 03.2012
RN Staff Nurse
The Legacy at The Oaks
02.2010 - 10.2010
Home Hospice Nurse
LifeSpan
09.2009 - 04.2010
Registered Nurse, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
VA Medical Center
08.2008 - 09.2009
Director of Staff Development
The Laurels of Bedford
04.2008 - 07.2008
Medical-Surgical/Oncology RN
Battle Creek Health System
10.2003 - 04.2008
Dialysis Registered Nurse
Battle Creek Health System
04.2003 - 10.2003
Circulating Nurse, Operating Room
Battle Creek Health System
05.2002 - 04.2003
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Kellogg Community College
- Registered Nurse License (RN) - State Board of Nursing. MI: 4704239632 Expires 7/2026
- Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) Expires 3/2025
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