Sarah Nelson
Saint Ansgar,IA
Summary
Professionally trained Registered Nurse with experience ensuring high standards of culturally competent care for a wide variety of patients with diverse needs. I have specialized in hospice care for the last 11 years as a Hospice Care Coordinator. Providing critical evaluation of patients with declining health and ensuring they have the best quality of life with what time they have left. I have learned to manage complex medication/treatment regimens. Desire to utilize my nursing skills I have obtained in a variety of ways with hands on care as well as leading.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
05.2010 - Current
- I am currently working in Hospice where I manage care for a wide variety of disease processes for patients. I am a Hospice Care Coordinator and manage 10-12 patients on average. I am a strong leader for the nursing personnel assigned to the unit/shift. I have assisted in care for patients with multiple chronic diagnoses including COPD, Alzheimer’s, cancer as well as many others. I am partnered with a team of Registered Nurses to ensure the well-being of all the patients and have utilized strong assessment skills to determine necessary patient care. We have a multi-disciplinary team approach which ensures the patient and family receive support from all aspects including but not limited to social work, spiritual care, aide, music, volunteer, and bereavement. I often work independently while seeing patients in their homes and facilities, but also know and understand the importance of taping on my colleagues for further support and guidance. I work with the patients and their families to determine the best type of care they may need in-order for them to be successful in caring for their loved ones at one of the most important times in their lives. Even though I am seeing them individually I recognize the importance of being able to collaborate as a team to provide holistic care for the patient. I have great joy in the work that I do and know that I am making a difference for those around me whether it be the patient, family or colleagues that benefit from it.
Home Health/Hospice Aide
MCHS- Austin
Austin, MN
06.2007 - 06.2010
- Assisted nurses with wound care for pressure ulcers, bed sores, and surgical site wounds.
- Provided compassionate personal care to patients, ensuring comfort and dignity.
- Assisted with daily living activities including bathing, grooming, and meal preparation.
- Monitored patient vital signs and reported changes to healthcare professionals.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to develop individualized care plans.
- Trained new staff on best practices for patient care and safety protocols.
- Maintained a safe and sanitary environment to promote overall well-being of patients.
- Maintained accurate and detailed records of patient progress, aiding in the assessment of care plan effectiveness.
- Contributed to a safe home environment by identifying potential hazards and implementing appropriate preventative measures.
- Provided emotional support to patients and families, fostering positive relationships and open communication.
- Assisted patients with mobility exercises and transfers, promoting physical activity and reducing risks of injury or falls.
- Assisted patients with daily living activities, improving their overall quality of life during end-of-life care.
- Enhanced patient comfort by providing compassionate and attentive care in a home health hospice setting.
- Performed light housekeeping tasks, creating a clean and comfortable space for patients during their time at home hospice care.
- Observed strict infection control protocols to minimize risks of illness transmission and maintain a healthy environment for patients.
- Participated in ongoing training opportunities to continuously enhance knowledge of hospice care best practices and maintain certification requirements.
- Protected privacy and delivered comfort to preserve dignity of dying patient and family members.
- Assisted patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, and oral hygiene care both in private residences and facilities.
- Monitored changes in clients' conditions to report concerns to supervisor.
- Assisted with end-of-life care.
- Trained new staff members on best practices for home health care.
Nursing Assistant
Charter House
Rochester, MN
05.2006 - 04.2007
- Assisted patients with bathing, oral hygiene, grooming, feeding and elimination.
- Documented resident records on daily flow sheets.
- Assisted with ADLs.
- Provided patients and families with emotional support.
- Administered simple range of motion exercise.
- Positioned residents for comfort and to prevent skin pressure problems.
- Assisted with transferring residents in and out of wheelchairs and adaptive equipment.
- Assisted with adequate nutrition and fluid intake.
- Cleaned and organized patients’ living quarters.
- Answered patient calls for care and feeding.
- Assisted nurses with wound care of pressure ulcers, bed sores, and surgical site wounds.
- Answered call lights and aided in patient comfort and safety by adjusting beds, lights, bed rails, pillows, patients’ clothing and bedside tables/equipment.
Nursing Assistant
Riceville Rest Home
Riceville, IA
12.2004 - 02.2006
- Provided direct patient care, assisting with daily living activities and promoting comfort.
- Assisted in maintaining a clean, safe environment to enhance patient health outcomes.
- Trained new staff on protocols, fostering knowledge sharing to enhance team efficiency.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient care strategies and services.
- Implemented best practices for infection control, contributing to improved facility standards.
- Helped patients effectively manage routine bathing, grooming, and other hygiene needs.
- Improved patient satisfaction by providing compassionate assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding.
- Increased patient engagement by providing emotional support, companionship, and encouragement during challenging times.
- Promoted a safe and clean environment by maintaining strict adherence to infection control protocols and sanitation standards.
- Promoted good oral and personal hygiene by aiding patients with shaving, bathing, and teeth brushing.
- Answered call lights and supported patient comfort and safety by adjusting bed rails and equipment.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Documented care actions by completing records and logs in medical software system.
- Agreed to take on additional shifts and extra hours during busy periods and holidays to maintain proper staffing and floor coverage.
- Maximized patient satisfaction by helping individuals carry out personal tasks such as dressing and walking.
- Assisted in the training of new Nursing Assistants, sharing knowledge of best practices to improve overall department performance.
- Observed or examined patients to detect symptoms that required medical attention such as bruises or open wounds.
- Assisted nursing staff with wound care procedures for faster healing and reduced infection rates.
- Engaged in housekeeping tasks by replacing linens and cleaning and sanitizing patient rooms.
- Facilitated efficient patient transfers, reducing risk of injury through proper body mechanics and use of assistive devices.
- Enhanced continuity of care by thoroughly documenting shift reports and maintaining clear communication with incoming staff members.
- Streamlined workflow for nursing staff by efficiently managing supplies inventory and restocking necessary items in a timely manner.
- Expedited response times to call lights, boosting overall patient satisfaction levels during their stay at the facility.
- Monitored vital signs and reported changes to nursing staff for timely intervention.
Education
No Degree - General Education
Rochester Community And Technical College
Rochester, MN, USABachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA01.2015
Associate of Science - Registered Nurse
Riverland Community College
Austin, MN, USA01.2010
Skills
Assisted/assisting with the following projects: standardization, care plans, magnet-nursing excellence, unit council (co-chair), hospice clinical practice committee (chair), visits at the end of life (silver project)
- Pain assessment
- Patient education
- Clinical documentation
- End-of-life care
- Family support
- Care coordination
- Palliative care expertise
- Pain control
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Nursing assessment
- Hospice care management
- Oxygen therapy
- Symptom management
- Clinical assessment
- Emotional support
- Medication administration
- Care planning
- Patient evaluation
- Palliative care
- Psychosocial assessment
- Patient needs assessment
- Family education
- Patient care plans
- Physician communication
- Hospice care
- EMR updating
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Basic life support
- Compassionate and caring
- Strong clinical judgment
- Organizational skills
- Wound care
- Quality improvement
Care transitions: Admission, recertification, discharge, death, respite/GIP, transfer to nursing home, continuous care
Medication management
Safety evaluations: oxygen, fall and equipment
Care of a variety of patients with a variety of disease processes
Management of tubes/drains
Procedures: Specimen collection
Line management: port, PICC, sub Q infusions, macy catheters, pleurx
Elimination management: ostomy, nephrostomy, colostomy, foley catheter, supra-pubic catheter
Pumps: CADD
Wound care management
Prioritizing/managing deadlines
Strong organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Prioritizing and multi-tasking
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Assisted/assisting with the following projects: standardization, care plans, magnet-nursing excellence, unit council (co-chair), hospice clinical practice committee (chair), visits at the end of life (silver project)
Certification
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification October 2022 to October 2024
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification October 2022 to October 2026
- Registered Nurse in Minnesota, License number R 196147-8, present
- Registered Nurse in Iowa, License number 132434, present
- PIP (Prevention- Intervention- Postvention) September 2010
- Critical Care (EPIC) November 2010
- Rapid Response Team February 7, 2010
- Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) Certification July 2013
- Quality Academy Fellow-Silver December 2025
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Mayo Clinic
05.2010 - Current
Home Health/Hospice Aide
MCHS- Austin
06.2007 - 06.2010
Nursing Assistant
Charter House
05.2006 - 04.2007
Nursing Assistant
Riceville Rest Home
12.2004 - 02.2006
Associate of Science - Registered Nurse
Riverland Community College
No Degree - General Education
Rochester Community And Technical College
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Iowa