SUZANNE GARCIA
Lake Mary,FL
Summary
Patient-oriented nursing professional with extensive experience in direct and indirect patient care across various healthcare settings. Proficient in sample collection, blood draws, IV insertions, and infection control, ensuring high standards of patient safety. Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and make informed decisions in fast-paced environments, enhancing patient satisfaction and workflow efficiency. Collaborates effectively with healthcare teams to monitor patient conditions and administer medications, promoting overall patient well-being. Compassionate Licensed Practical Nurse with experience in delivering patient-focused care and maintaining a safe and efficient healthcare environment. Skilled in monitoring patient conditions, administering medications, and collaborating with healthcare teams to promote patient well-being. Demonstrated ability to improve processes in fast-paced settings, leading to enhanced patient satisfaction and workflow efficiency.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Practical Nursing Instructor
Gwinnett Institute
Orlando, FL
05.2025 - Current
- Teach and supervise students in fundamentals of nursing skills, including vital signs, patient hygiene, safety and basic procedure.
- Facilitated skills labs and evaluated student performance in foundational nursing procedures.
- Delivered structured skills training, simulation activities, and skill check-offs for LPN students.
- Developed nursing curriculum to enhance student learning and engagement.
- Instructed practical nursing students in Lab and classroom settings.
Clinical Research LPN
Florida Cancer Specialists
Lake Mary, Florida
02.2024 - Current
- Experienced Clinical Research Assistant specializing in Phase 1 oncology trials.
- Conducted study procedures for phase 1 cancer clinical trials and performed in pre treatment assessments, vitals, ECGs, and lab monitoring.
- Assist with specimen collection and processing; documenting adverse events, coordinating patient flow and supporting study coordinators and investigators.
Licensed Practical Nurse II
Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital
Orlando, Florida
12.2020 - 01.2024
- Monitored hemodynamic status and performed pain assessments to evaluate conditions.
- Documented changes in patient conditions and communicated concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Administered prescribed medications or started intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patient charts.
- Conducted regular rounds to assess the status of assigned patients.
Infusion Nurse LPN
Florida Cancer Specialists
Orlando, Florida
12.2017 - 12.2020
- Administered chemotherapy and infusion therapies to patients in clinical settings.
- Monitored patient vital signs during infusion treatments for safety and comfort.
- Educated patients on treatment protocols and potential side effects of medications.
- Managed multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
- Coordinated with pharmacies for compounding medications specific to individual needs of patients requiring infusions.
- Conducted regular assessments on patients receiving infusions to ensure safety standards were met.
- Performed venipuncture procedures when necessary for accessing central lines or port catheters.
Correctional Nurse
Central Florida Reception Center
Orlando, Florida
06.2018 - 06.2020
- Provided nursing care to incarcerated individuals in state correctional facility clinic ensuring safety, confidentiality, and adherence to facility protocol.
- Educated inmates on health practices and disease prevention strategies effectively.
- Managed emergency situations by providing first aid and coordinating with medical teams.
- Responded promptly to emergency situations involving inmate injuries or illness.
- Assessed and monitored inmates' physical, psychological, and medical health conditions.
- Assessed prisoners suffering injuries through falls, stabbings or other means and stabilized each prior to transport to nearest medical facility.
- Evaluated inmates for suicidal ideation or other mental health concerns; referred to appropriate healthcare professionals when indicated.
Behavior Health Nurse
Gracepoint Behavior Health
Tampa, Florida
07.2015 - 07.2018
- Conducted mental health assessments to determine treatment requirements.
- Provided crisis intervention and support during challenging situations.
- Maintained accurate patient records in electronic health systems.
- Administered medications and treatments in accordance with physician orders.
- Responded quickly and effectively in emergency situations utilizing advanced life saving skills when needed.
- Assisted with crisis intervention, de-escalated technique, and management of aggressive or self harm behaviors.
- Participated in Emergency responses applied restraints, applied safe restraints and administered Emergency treatment orders (ETO) medications when needed.
Licensed Practical Nurse
Springhill Regional Hospital Bayfront
Spring Hill, Florida
05.2007 - 08.2015
- Utilized telemetry to monitor patients cardiac status.
- Assessed and monitored patient conditions on telemetry unit.
- Developed individualized plan of care for each patient based on assessment data obtained from various sources such as labs, diagnostic tests and other health information.
- Managed intravenous therapy including IV starts, changes, discontinuation per physician orders.
- Performed ECG monitoring and interpretation of cardiac rhythms.
- Initiated appropriate action during code blue situations.
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols.
- Monitored vital signs, fluid intake and output levels, glucose levels, and other medical tests results.
Phlebotomist
Bayfront Health Spring Hill
Spring Hill, FL
02.2000 - 05.2006
- Collected, stored and utilized samples of patient blood, urine and other important physical markers.
- Ensured that all laboratory equipment was kept cleaned, cared for and in compliance with safety guidelines.
- Examined patient specimens with various laboratory tools.
- Noticed signs of abnormalities or disease states within lab test results.
- Prepared patients for sampling.
- Processed an average of 50 patient samples daily for more than 5 years in hospital setting.
- Recommended appropriate courses of action to medical care providers based on laboratory results.
- Recorded and analyzed all data that resulted from specimen observation.
- Uphold the highest standards in patient confidentiality.
Education
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE -
Pasco-Hernando State College
New Port Richey, FL06.2002
Skills
- Medication administration
- Emergency response management
- Time management
- central line port insertion
- Emergency care
- Emergency triage
- Advanced cardiac life support
- Oncology care
- IV insertion
- IV administration
- Basic life support
- EKG interpretation
- PALS certification
Certification
- CPR Certification
- BLS Certified
- Phlebotomy Certification
- IV Therapy and Port Insertion Certification
- ACLS
- PALS
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- Arabic
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Practical Nursing Instructor
Gwinnett Institute
05.2025 - Current
Clinical Research LPN
Florida Cancer Specialists
02.2024 - Current
Licensed Practical Nurse II
Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital
12.2020 - 01.2024
Correctional Nurse
Central Florida Reception Center
06.2018 - 06.2020
Infusion Nurse LPN
Florida Cancer Specialists
12.2017 - 12.2020
Behavior Health Nurse
Gracepoint Behavior Health
07.2015 - 07.2018
Licensed Practical Nurse
Springhill Regional Hospital Bayfront
05.2007 - 08.2015
Phlebotomist
Bayfront Health Spring Hill
02.2000 - 05.2006
LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE -
Pasco-Hernando State College