Sarah Bernhards
Seattle,WA
Summary
Compassionate Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in community health, specializing in acute care, wellness exams, and chronic disease management for culturally diverse populations. Dedicated to promoting health equity and improving outcomes through patient education, preventive care initiatives, and effective disease management strategies. Skilled in patient history analysis, thorough assessments, and interpreting test results for accurate diagnoses. Proficient in Epic electronic health records for meticulous documentation and care continuity.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
International Community Health Centers Shoreline Medical and Dental Clinic
2023.09 - Current
- Delivers comprehensive primary, acute, and chronic care, to a diverse patient panel of over 500 patients with ages across the lifespan as a fully licensed, independent family nurse practitioner
- Partners closely with experienced clinical preceptors who provide ongoing feedback with the goal of improving clinical practice and knowledge
- Participates in the accredited Advanced Practice Provider residency program, which involves working three clinic days in the Shoreline clinic, one specialty rotation day in a variety of local specialty clinics and settings, and one day for didactic learning
- Works on a team of four co-residents to create and deliver a special population project focused on quality improvement and increasing access to healthcare
- Provides care for patients with substance use disorders, including prescribing and managing MAT, through a harm reductionist framework of care
- Collaborates with clinic staff to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate care as well as relevant and effective wrap-around services.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development through attendance at conferences, workshops, continuing education courses.
Registered Nurse
Pacific Medical Centers Beacon Hill Primary Care Clinic
2022.01 - 2023.08
- Assessed and triaged patients' medical conditions in a fast-paced, high-volume primary care setting, evaluating urgency and emergent needs to recommend and coordinate appropriate medical care
- Collaborated closely with a small team of RNs to deliver comprehensive care to a diverse patient base across the panels of 14 family medicine and internal medicine physicians
- Provided medical advice and health education to patients and families through direct interactions, phone consultations, and electronic medical records (EMR) communications
- Conducted OB intake appointments, performed non-stress tests during pregnancies, and delivered diabetes education and medication administration training
- Utilized Epic to document comprehensive assessments, evaluations, plans, and interventions using the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) format
- Administered medications, injections, and performed wound care and catheter management as required to support patient care needs
- Acted as a pivotal liaison between patients, healthcare providers, and community agencies, facilitating seamless coordination of care including referrals to home health services
- Supported smooth transitions of care for patients requiring outpatient services at other facilities as part of continuity of care initiatives
- Collaborated frequently with language interpreters to ensure effective communication and appointment facilitation for a diverse patient population.
Registered Nurse
The Emily Program
2020.11 - 2021.11
- Delivered holistic and compassionate nursing care within an interdisciplinary team at a residential eating disorder treatment facility housing 16 medically and psychiatrically complex patients at a time, ensuring comprehensive support for clients' healthcare needs
- Employed a harm reduction approach and motivational interviewing skills to assist clients in developing healthier coping mechanisms and achieving treatment goals
- Coordinated care effectively between clients, healthcare providers, and external agencies to optimize treatment outcomes and continuity of care
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for therapeutic efficacy as well as side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Initiated patient admissions to residential settings, performing comprehensive head-to-toe nursing assessments and conducting detailed medical and psychiatric history interviews
- Demonstrated swift and effective responses to medical and psychiatric emergencies, including instances of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-injurious behavior, ensuring timely intervention and stabilization.
- 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.
Health Educator
Neighborcare Health School-Based Health Center Program
2018.01 - 2019.06
- Delivered comprehensive prevention and harm reduction education tailored to youth, emphasizing sexual health, contraception, and reproductive choices, including promoting Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) to enhance informed decision-making
- Conducted personalized consultations and counseling sessions on birth control methods, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and emergency contraception utilizing motivational interviewing techniques to support informed healthcare choices
- Spearheaded initiatives to increase awareness and utilization of LARC options among adolescents, resulting in higher uptake of insertions at school-based health center through targeted outreach efforts
- Organized and led health promotion activities such as interactive classroom presentations, lunchtime engagements, and community-wide events to raise awareness on critical issues including STIs, contraception, healthy relationships, consent, mental health, nutrition, and stress management
- Provided parents with accurate information on vaccinations and other pertinent youth health issues, advocating for the importance of vaccines such as the HPV vaccine
- Developed culturally and linguistically appropriate patient education materials and collaborated with the Teen Council to promote health education topics effectively
- Maintained up-to-date expertise in sexual health, contraceptive options, substance use, LGBTQ+ healthcare needs, and broader health and mental health concerns
- Cultivated and nurtured strong partnerships with schools and community organizations to foster collaborative efforts in promoting adolescent health and well-being.
Health Center Coordinator
Neighborcare Health School-Based Health Center Program
2016.10 - 2018.01
- Led and managed clinic operations as primary coordinator, overseeing outreach activities, community health initiatives, and relationships with external agencies to enhance clinic services and engagement
- Coordinated targeted outreach activities and events aimed at promoting, integrating, and informing clinic services to students, families, and school partners
- Organized and executed health promotion and education outreach initiatives in collaboration with medical providers, dental teams, and King County Public Health's HPV Campaign, fostering community engagement and awareness
- Played key role in King County Public Health's HPV Campaign, establishing clinic as recognized participant and actively promoting vaccination efforts
- Implemented quality improvement initiative using vaccination reports to identify patients in need of HPV vaccine, collaborating with school nurse to significantly enhance student body compliance with all required school vaccinations
- Managed patient scheduling, appointment reminders, phone outreach, referral coordination, EMR registrations, and facilitated insurance application processes by connecting patients with eligibility specialists
- Provided culturally sensitive care to diverse families, collaborating closely with interpreters and in-house family support specialists to ensure effective communication and comprehensive care delivery.
City Year AmeriCorps Member
AmeriCorps City Year Seattle/King County
2015.08 - 2016.06
- Served as a City Year AmeriCorps volunteer in an urban school setting, supporting students' academic and socio-emotional development through mentorship, tutoring, and community engagement
- Participated in an afterschool club focused on nutrition, cooking, and healthy eating habits, contributing to educational sessions and activities aimed at promoting student wellness
- Assessed students' academic needs through collaboration with teachers, school partners, class observation, and student error analysis, developing individualized curriculum and strategies for academic interventions in small group and individual sessions
- Focused on socio-emotional learning as the coordinator, teaching effective self-advocacy skills, mentoring students in behavior management, and building meaningful relationships to cultivate student achievement and well-being
- Received over 300 hours of training in leadership, trauma-based care, cultural competency, and interpersonal relationship building, enhancing skills crucial for supporting diverse student populations in healthcare settings
- Facilitated small group sessions on mental health awareness, physical activity, and nutrition education, contributing to a supportive environment for student health and wellness
- Collaborated effectively with school counselors, nurses, and social workers to address students' healthcare and wellness needs, advocating for resources and support services as necessary
- Demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating challenges within the school environment, contributing to a positive and inclusive school culture conducive to student success.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner -
Seattle University
Seattle, WA06.2023
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Seattle University
Seattle, WA09.2020
Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science and Biology -
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA05.2015
Skills
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Collaborative Practice
- Patient examinations
- Clinical judgment
- Patient Education
- Health Promotion
- Disease Prevention
- Quality Improvement
- Chronic Disease Management
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Health condition treatment
- Addiction Treatment
Certification
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) Board Certification, 07/2028
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Washington State License #AP61471480, 07/2026
- Registered Nurse, Washington State License #: RN61093811, 07/2025
- Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Provider, American Heart Association, 04/2025
- ASAM Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Course, 09/2023
Affiliations
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Society of Addiction Medicine
- National Health Service Corps Scholar
Timeline
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
International Community Health Centers Shoreline Medical and Dental Clinic
2023.09 - Current
Registered Nurse
Pacific Medical Centers Beacon Hill Primary Care Clinic
2022.01 - 2023.08
Registered Nurse
The Emily Program
2020.11 - 2021.11
Health Educator
Neighborcare Health School-Based Health Center Program
2018.01 - 2019.06
Health Center Coordinator
Neighborcare Health School-Based Health Center Program
2016.10 - 2018.01
City Year AmeriCorps Member
AmeriCorps City Year Seattle/King County
2015.08 - 2016.06
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner -
Seattle University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
Seattle University
Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science and Biology -
University of Virginia
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP) Board Certification, 07/2028
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Washington State License #AP61471480, 07/2026
- Registered Nurse, Washington State License #: RN61093811, 07/2025
- Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Provider, American Heart Association, 04/2025
- ASAM Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Course, 09/2023
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