Savannah Hightower
Travelers Rest,SC
Summary
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with more than 5.5 years in diagnosis, treatment, and follow up with adult oncology/hematology patients, and more than 8 years of adult oncology experience collectively.
.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
St Luke's Hospital Cancer & Infusion Center
01.2021 - Current
- Deliver outstanding care to complex medical oncology patients in outpatient setting.
- Provide inpatient consults as needed and arrange for timely inpatient to outpatient follow up
- Evaluate patient care needs, prioritize treatment and maintain patient flow, individualize care plans based off of each patient need.
- Utilize strong assessment skills to make treatment decisions
- Ensure excellent charting and detailed care plan timelines for future reference and improving patient care between disciplines.
- Review chemotherapy orders, verify dosing per Oncologist's orders, sign subsequent treatment plans.
- Provide detailed chemotherapy/immunotherapy education visits in easy-to-understand terms with individualized written information.
- Review NCCN guidelines and recommendations, chemotherapy templates, ensure treatments align with NCCN guidelines.
- Make recommendations on emerging oncologic practice changes to ensure our facility continues to provide up to date oncologic care.
- Implement/coordinate care between palliative care/home health/hospice when appropriate
- Follow/Implement survivorship plans for oncologic patients
- Provide management of treatment-related side effects
- Diagnose and treat lab abnormalities
- Provide physical and psychological support to patients and families with goal of treating the patient as whole.
- Evaluate and treat benign hematologic abnormalities
- Manage, review, and implement appropriate treatment plans for the Lung Cancer Screening Program. Ensure follow up and referrals are arranged in a timely manner.
- Evaluate patients in the High Risk Breast Cancer/Risk Reduction Clinic, ensure additional follow up is arranged and completed.
- Provide education on nutrition and health management, place consults as appropriate for additional services
- Order and track molecular/genomic profiling
- Order genetic testing and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged pending results
- Oversee Infusion Center for all patients present in the infusion suite
- Communicate with multiple specialties, departments, and locations daily for patient care coordination/Multi-disciplinary approach
- Review all referrals and approve scheduling accordingly
- Complete peer to peer discussion/write letters of medical necessity with insurance companies to obtain authorizations for treatment plans
- Provide additional coverage/office hours if needed pending clinical scenario
- Write prescriptions for medications and blood products
- Served as provider on call in absence of physician
- Complete bone marrow biopsy's
- Participate in community events providing educational material related to oncology and cancer screenings
- Develop educational material for patients and community members related to oncology services and screenings
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Greenville Health System/Prisma Health
10.2017 - 01.2021
- Provided outpatient and inpatient oncologic care
- Provide exceptional care for oncology patients undergoing treatment or close monitoring.
- Prescribe treatment plans to help manage symptoms, diagnose lab abnormalities, and treat possible treatment related adverse effects.
- Provide physical and psychological support to patients and families.
- Complete bone marrow biopsies, more than 20 completed
- Collaborate with oncologists (multiple) to ensure plan of care is implemented correctly and in a timely manner for a variety of cancers and stages.
- Review and implement chemotherapy orders, plans, and discuss with prescribing Oncologist any potential changes warranted.
Registered Nurse - Supplemental Staffing Team, ICU
Greenville Health System
10.2016 - 10.2017
- Aimed to restore patients' health in the critical care setting in five different Intensive Care Units (Cardiovascular ICU, Coronary Care ICU, Neurology ICU, Trauma ICU, and Medical/Surgical ICU) by completing thorough assessments, demonstrating critical thinking skills, collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members; such as pharmacist social workers, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, and providing physical and psychological support to patients and families. Also, encourage and aim to restore patients' health on the variety of inpatient floors throughout Greenville Health System.
- Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work as a team by adapting to each unit each shift
- 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.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion, and airway management.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Greenville Health System
08.2015 - 08.2016
- Restore patients' health in critical care setting on Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit by completing thorough assessments, demonstrating critical thinking skills, collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members, such as pharmacists, social workers, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, and providing physical and psychological support to patients and families.
- Facilitated smooth patient transitions from the ICU to other units by providing detailed reports and recommendations for ongoing care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to establish optimal care plans, resulting in improved patient satisfaction.
- Contributed to the development of quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety measures within the ICU setting.
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
- Mentored new nursing staff, facilitating smooth integration into the ICU.
Registered Nurse, Oncology
Greenville Health System
12.2013 - 08.2015
- Restore patients' health on inpatient Oncology unit; collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary team members, such as pharmacists, social workers, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist; providing physical and psychological support to patients and families; delegate to assigned team members.
- Follow Chemotherapy orders and precautions, maintain chemotherapy certification
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Administered medications safely according to established guidelines while closely monitoring for side effects or adverse reactions requiring intervention.
- Complete Charge Nurse duties
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Complete admissions, transfers, discharges.
Patient Observer
Greenville Health System
09.2012 - 12.2013
- Provide direct supervision, one on one to ensure safety for patients who could cause possible harm to themselves or others; such as, suicidal/homicidal/violent patients, medical necessity patients, or patients on fall precautions.
- Assist medical staff as needed with patient care given dual role of certified nurse assistant.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC08.2017
Bachelor's of Science in Nursing -
Clemson Univeristy
Clemson, SC12.2014
Associates in Applied Science, Nursing -
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC09.2013
Associate of Science -
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC09.2013
Skills
Telemetry Certified
ACLS/BLS certified
BLS Certified- current
Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Certified, initially February 2015
Design Patient Education Material
Community Education Sessions
Multidisciplinary Coordination
Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Teaching
Certification
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, ANCC Board Certified, August 2017
- Registered Nurse, September 2013
Affiliations
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners Member
- American Nurses Association Member
- Oncology Nurse Society Member
Accomplishments
Everyday Angel Award, St Luke's Hospital, May 2024
Goose Award, St. Luke's Hospital, September 2023
Deans List at Clemson University
Stellar Star Awards at Greenville Memorial Hospital five times
Clinical Excellence Awards, Greenville Technical College, 2012-2013
Deans List, Greenville Technical College
Timeline
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
St Luke's Hospital Cancer & Infusion Center
01.2021 - Current
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Greenville Health System/Prisma Health
10.2017 - 01.2021
Registered Nurse - Supplemental Staffing Team, ICU
Greenville Health System
10.2016 - 10.2017
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Greenville Health System
08.2015 - 08.2016
Registered Nurse, Oncology
Greenville Health System
12.2013 - 08.2015
Patient Observer
Greenville Health System
09.2012 - 12.2013
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
University of South Carolina
Bachelor's of Science in Nursing -
Clemson Univeristy
Associates in Applied Science, Nursing -
Greenville Technical College
Associate of Science -
Greenville Technical College
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, ANCC Board Certified, August 2017
- Registered Nurse, September 2013
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