Shannon Thomas

Independent Provider

• Perform basic clinical monitoring such as blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation, promptly documenting and reporting changes to the healthcare team.
• Provide high-quality care
• Assisting individuals with activities of daily living such as: bathing and skincare, oral hygiene, dressing, eating, toileting/incontinence care, meal prepping, light housekeeping, medicating management, and transportation.
• Provide thorough continence care, including catheter and colostomy care, as well as assistance with urinals, bedpans, and bedside commodes to maintain dignity and comfort.
• Skilled in the safe use of supportive and mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, gait belts, Hoyer/Ez-Lifts, sliding boards, and geri chairs to support patient transfers and mobility needs.
• Maintain accurate, detailed documentation of patient status and care provided, ensuring seamless communication during shift reports.

Patient Support, Safety, and Well-Being

• Provide total care for bed-ridden and medically complex individuals while upholding dignity, cultural sensitivity, and respect for individual rights.
• Ensure patients are clean, comfortable, safe, and well-presented throughout the day.
• Promote mental and emotional well-being by encouraging engagement in individual and group activities, while closely observing and documenting changes in mood, behavior, or cognitive function.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the care team to support a positive and coordinated care environment.
• Ensures environmental safety in the home to mitigate air quality and fall risks.

Specialized Care Experience

• Support individuals with cognitive impairments, traumatic brain injuries, or advanced medical needs, assisting with extensive activities of daily living.
• Provide range-of-motion exercises and mobility support to maintain or improve physical function.
• Assist with meal preparation and feeding, ensuring nutritional needs and safety standards are met.
• Conduct safe transfers between bed, lift chairs, shower chairs, and other adaptive equipment.

Home and Community Support

• Perform light housekeeping tasks such as laundry, dishwashing, vacuuming, and changing linens on both occupied and unoccupied beds.
• Offer medication reminders, as well as transportation to medical appointments, errands, and social outings.
• Provide companionship with a strong focus on the patient’s overall well-being and safety.
• Work collaboratively with clients, families, and care teams to reduce medical risks—including fall prevention—and support emergency readiness.

Professional Standards

• Maintain all required continuing education credits and strictly adhere to HIPAA guidelines and State regulatory standards.

• Administered daily personal care and hygiene for individuals, ensuring comfort and dignity.
• Assisted nursing staff with patient mobility and transfers, enhancing safety protocols.
• Maintained accurate records and documentation of patient care activities and observations for healthcare team review.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop personalized care plans tailored to individual needs.
• Provide personal care including hair care, oral hygiene, bed baths, showers, moisturizing dry skin, and routine repositioning every two hours or as needed.
• Change wound dressings and observe skin integrity to support healing and comfort.
• Monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels, reporting changes promptly.
• Ensure comfort and cleanliness for incontinent patients, including catheter care, colostomy care, and assistance with urinals, bedpans, and bedside commodes.
• Safely operate supportive equipment including wheelchairs, gait belts, Hoyer lifts, Ez-Lifts, sliding boards, and geri chairs.
• Document all pertinent medical information accurately and provide clear handoff reports to incoming staff.
• Maintain each individual’s dignity while respecting cultural beliefs, personal preferences, and human rights.
• Assist with comprehensive personal hygiene needs, including bathing, oral and denture care, grooming, and skin care.
• Provide total care for bed-bound individuals, ensuring safety, cleanliness, and comfort throughout the day.
• Promote mental and emotional well-being by encouraging participation in individual and group activities.
• Monitor, document, and communicate any changes in mood, behavior, or cognitive function.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues to support coordinated and compassionate care.

• Operated sterilization equipment to ensure safety and compliance with hospital standards.
• Inspected surgical instruments for cleanliness and functionality prior to use.
• Developed and implemented efficient workflow processes for instrument processing.
• Trained new staff on sterile processing protocols and safety procedures.
• Decontaminate, clean, and disinfect surgical instruments and medical equipment using approved sterilization protocols.
• Decontamination, receiving and cleaning contaminated instruments and equipment using approved sterilization protocols.
• Operate sterilization equipment such as steam sterilizers (autoclaves), hydrogen peroxide/plasma units, and low-temperature sterilization systems.
• Inspect, test, and assemble instrument trays with precision, ensuring all components are functional, complete, and properly labeled.
• Maintain strict adherence to infection-control and safety standards set by AAMI, AORN, OSHA, and facility guidelines.
• Perform proper wrapping, packaging, and sealing of instruments and supplies prior to sterilization.
• Monitor sterilization cycles, verify biological/chemical indicators, and document cycle results for quality assurance.
• Manage workflow in the decontamination, assembly, and sterile storage areas to support efficient surgical operations.
• Track, inventory, and restock sterile instruments, supplies, and case carts to ensure availability for upcoming procedures.
• Identify and report damaged instruments or equipment for repair or replacement.
• Maintain organized sterile storage areas, ensuring adherence to FIFO, expiration checks, and sterile integrity standards.
• Collaborate with surgical teams, nurses, and OR staff to meet case needs and ensure timely delivery of sterile trays.
• Follow strict PPE and safety procedures within all sterile processing zones.

Quality Assurance

• Conduct thorough inspections of surgical instruments and trays to verify cleanliness, functionality, and proper assembly before sterilization.
• Monitor and document sterilization cycle parameters, including temperature, pressure, exposure time, and load contents, to ensure compliance with AAMI/AORN standards.
• Verify and interpret biological, chemical, and mechanical indicators to confirm successful sterilization and maintain quality control records.
• Perform routine audits of decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and storage areas to ensure adherence to infection prevention and safety protocols.
• Identify and report nonconformities, equipment malfunctions, and contaminated or damaged instruments to prevent procedural delays and maintain patient safety.
• Maintain accurate documentation for quality tracking, traceability, and regulatory compliance, including load logs and instrument tracking systems.
• Ensure proper storage, labeling, and handling of sterile supplies to maintain package integrity and prevent breaches in sterility.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by recommending updates to workflows, procedures, or equipment usage based on QA findings.
• Assist in training new staff on proper sterilization techniques, quality standards, and compliance protocols.
• Support compliance with regulatory standards, including Joint Commission, OSHA, CDC, and state guidelines.