Susan Buchanan
Locust Grove,GA
Summary
Adept at fostering interdepartmental collaboration and building strong relationships, I significantly enhanced patient satisfaction scores at Heritage Inn of Barnesville Health & Rehabilitation. My expertise in clinical documentation and critical thinking, coupled with a strong work ethic, propelled operational efficiencies and staff performance, ensuring high-quality patient care and regulatory compliance.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Nursing
Heritage Inn of Barnesville Health & Rehabilitation
07.2022 - 02.2024
- Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
- Oversaw and approved recruitment, hiring and orientation of new nursing staff.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by staying current on industry standards and updating policies accordingly.
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
- Streamlined nursing operations by optimizing staffing schedules, resource allocation, and workflow processes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients with complex needs.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
- Enhanced staff performance by conducting regular evaluations, providing constructive feedback, and offering tailored professional development opportunities.
- Identified department issues to recommend corrective actions.
- Increased patient satisfaction scores by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment within the nursing department.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create comprehensive care plans for patients.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Developed positive employee relations, incentives, and recognition programs to promote teamwork and mutual respect.
Assistant Director of Nursing
Condor Health and Rehab
10.2019 - 08.2020
- Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
- Collaborated with staff, management, and external groups to coordinate patient care.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop efficient care strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
- Mentored new nurses in clinical practice and procedures, fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Served as a role model for nursing staff by demonstrating exceptional clinical skills, ethical behavior, and commitment to continuous learning.
- Coordinated with physicians on complex cases, ensuring seamless communication among healthcare professionals involved in patient care.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork by encouraging open communication among staff members and facilitating collaboration across departments.
- Identified department issues to recommend corrective actions.
- Ensured adherence to safety guidelines for both patients and staff members during all aspects of clinical operations.
- Provided educational resources on disease prevention and health maintenance topics to help patients make informed decisions about their care.
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
Director of Nursing
Westbury Nursing and Rehab
04.2019 - 08.2019
- Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
- Oversaw and approved recruitment, hiring and orientation of new nursing staff.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by staying current on industry standards and updating policies accordingly.
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for patients with complex needs.
- Collaborated with staff, management, and external groups to coordinate patient care.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
- Enhanced staff performance by conducting regular evaluations, providing constructive feedback, and offering tailored professional development opportunities.
- Identified department issues to recommend corrective actions.
- Developed strong relationships with community partners to facilitate continuity of care for patients transitioning between healthcare settings.
- Established new policies and updated existing policies to improve standard of care for patients.
- Mentored new nurses through orientation programs, facilitating their integration into the team and fostering their professional growth.
- Conducted regular risk assessments within the department to identify areas of potential vulnerability and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Implemented interdisciplinary rounding practices to streamline communication among healthcare providers involved in patient care.
- Evaluated work performance of [Number] nursing personnel to determine wage increases and implement discipline.
- Championed a culture of continuous learning by promoting professional development opportunities for nursing staff, including in-house training programs, conferences, workshops, and online resources.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create comprehensive care plans for patients.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
Assistant Director of Nursing
Pruitt Healthcare
03.2017 - 03.2019
- Participated in management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, and resident complaints or concerns.
- Collaborated with staff, management, and external groups to coordinate patient care.
- Performed rounds to observe care and interview staff, residents, and families.
- Managed nursing schedules and budgets, streamlining processes for cost savings while maintaining high-quality patient care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop efficient care strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
- Contributed to the accreditation process by maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations for nursing standards.
- Mentored new nurses in clinical practice and procedures, fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Assisted in developing policies and procedures for safe medication administration, minimizing errors within the department.
- Served as a role model for nursing staff by demonstrating exceptional clinical skills, ethical behavior, and commitment to continuous learning.
- Enhanced staff performance through regular training sessions and professional development opportunities.
- Coordinated with physicians on complex cases, ensuring seamless communication among healthcare professionals involved in patient care.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork by encouraging open communication among staff members and facilitating collaboration across departments.
- Optimized staffing levels to maintain an appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio, promoting quality of care without exceeding budget constraints.
- Evaluated staff performance regularly, providing feedback and guidance for improvement when necessary.
- Identified department issues to recommend corrective actions.
- Developed positive employee relations, incentives, and recognition programs to promote teamwork and mutual respect.
- Ensured adherence to safety guidelines for both patients and staff members during all aspects of clinical operations.
- Improved patient care by implementing evidence-based nursing practices and protocols.
- Planned and assigned workload to [Number]-person nursing staff to direct patient care.
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with physicians and staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
- Oversaw and approved recruitment, hiring and orientation of new nursing staff.
- Evaluated work performance of [Number] nursing personnel to determine wage increases and implement discipline.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
- Discussed medical histories with patients in effort to provide most effective medical advice.
Case Manager/MDS Coordinator
Kindred Healthcare Inc.
03.2015 - 03.2017
- Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
- Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
- Monitored ongoing cases closely, adjusting case management strategies as needed based on evolving circumstances or new information.
- Educated clients on available programs, benefits, and services, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care needs.
- Enhanced communication between clients and providers through consistent follow-ups and progress updates.
- Achieved positive client outcomes by developing and implementing comprehensive case management plans.
- Advocated for client rights when interacting with external agencies or institutions, ensuring fair treatment at all times.
- Contributed to team discussions and case conferences actively, sharing insights and expertise with colleagues to optimize client support strategies.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive case management plans to address client needs and goals.
- Improved client satisfaction by efficiently addressing concerns or grievances in a timely manner.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address client needs and formulate tailored support strategies.
- Assisted clients in setting achievable goals while providing ongoing encouragement and support throughout the process of reaching those objectives.
- Coordinated essential services for clients, resulting in improved overall well-being and selfsufficiency.
- Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide crisis interventions.
- Fostered open lines of communication with clients'' families and support networks, involving them in the case management process as appropriate.
- Participated in regular professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices within the field of case management.
- Partnered with physicians, social workers, activity therapists, nutritionists, and case managers to develop and implement individualized care plans and documented patient interactions and interventions in electronic charting systems.
- Facilitated successful transitions between levels of care by developing detailed discharge plans and coordinating resources.
- Promoted a safe environment for vulnerable populations by reporting suspected abuse or neglect.
- Improved client outcomes by developing and implementing comprehensive case plans tailored to individual needs.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify client needs, laying groundwork for effective case management.
- Analyzed case outcomes to identify trends and areas for improvement, driving continuous service enhancement.
- Improved client engagement by implementing user-friendly appointment scheduling system.
- Enhanced team collaboration by leading regular case review meetings, promoting unified approach to client care.
- Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
Nursing House Supervisor
Kindred Healthcare Inc.
03.2014 - 03.2015
- Served as a liaison between hospital administration and nursing staff, advocating for improvements that positively impacted patient care delivery.
- Exemplified strong leadership skills by serving as a mentor for new nursing staff members, providing guidance and support throughout their onboarding process.
- Promoted a safe working environment for nursing staff by enforcing strict adherence to safety guidelines.
- Streamlined communication between departments for better patient care and timely treatment.
- Established an open-door policy for staff members, fostering a supportive work environment where issues were promptly addressed.
- Oversaw the admission process for new patients, ensuring proper documentation was completed, and relevant information was communicated to all parties involved in their care plan.
- Developed strong relationships with patients'' families, addressing concerns and providing updates on their loved ones'' conditions.
- Reduced hospital readmissions by closely monitoring patient progress and coordinating follow-up care accordingly.
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
Nurse Unit Manager
Lake City Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
02.2007 - 04.2008
- Oversaw recruitment efforts within the nursing unit, selecting highly skilled candidates who would contribute positively to the team dynamic.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between shifts, ensuring seamless continuity of care for all patients on the unit.
- Actively sought out opportunities for continuing education within the field of nursing management, staying up-to-date on current trends and best practices.
- Established a strong rapport with patients and their families, addressing concerns and providing valuable support throughout the treatment process.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations for nursing staff members, providing constructive feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement.
- Streamlined nurse scheduling, ensuring adequate coverage for all shifts while minimizing overtime costs.
- Reduced medication errors with thorough medication administration education and adherence to best practices.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient information, treatment plans, and progress notes in electronic medical records systems.
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training, and standards of patient care.
- Managed staff scheduling and time off to adequately staff nursing floors and allow nurses earned time off.
Charge Nurse
Brightmoor
06.1999 - 04.2007
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures, and safety protocols.
- Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders, and communicating with ancillary departments.
- Conducted daily shift briefs to inform staff of changes in patient care assignments.
- Mentored and supervised junior nurses, fostering a supportive and professional work environment.
- Optimized patient satisfaction through timely response to concerns and effective communication among staff members.
- Promoted a safe working environment by adhering to infection control policies and regularly reviewing safety protocols.
- Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care.
- Served as a liaison between nursing staff, physicians, and management, fostering open communication channels among all parties involved in patient care.
- Supervised and managed daily scheduling, tasking, and administration.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient information, enabling informed decision-making among the healthcare team members.
- Reduced medication errors by establishing stringent medication administration procedures.
- Advocated for patient needs, resulting in improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- Oversaw administration of medication, ensuring adherence to strict safety protocols, thereby maintaining patient safety.
- Coordinated daily nursing activities to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, significantly reducing risk of non-compliance.
- Managed supply of medical equipment and consumables, ensuring availability and reducing instances of stock-outs.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by personalizing care plans based on individual patient needs and preferences.
- Streamlined shift handovers, ensuring seamless continuity of care and minimizing information gaps.
- Maintained high standards of patient care during high-volume shifts, managing patient assignments to optimize nurse workload.
- Provided skilled, timely and level-headed emergency response to critically-ill patients.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing patient admission and triaging based on acuity and appropriate department admission.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Observed and documented patient factors such as diets, physical activity levels, and behaviors to understand conditions and effectively modify treatment plans.
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute incidents and dealing with chronic conditions.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Cox College
Springfield, MO12.2013
Skills
- Strong Work Ethic
- Relationship Building
- Critical Thinking
- Long-Term Care
- Documentation And Reporting
- Clinical Documentation
- Issue Resolution
- Interdepartmental Collaboration
- Effective Multitasking
Timeline
Director of Nursing
Heritage Inn of Barnesville Health & Rehabilitation
07.2022 - 02.2024
Assistant Director of Nursing
Condor Health and Rehab
10.2019 - 08.2020
Director of Nursing
Westbury Nursing and Rehab
04.2019 - 08.2019
Assistant Director of Nursing
Pruitt Healthcare
03.2017 - 03.2019
Case Manager/MDS Coordinator
Kindred Healthcare Inc.
03.2015 - 03.2017
Nursing House Supervisor
Kindred Healthcare Inc.
03.2014 - 03.2015
Nurse Unit Manager
Lake City Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
02.2007 - 04.2008
Charge Nurse
Brightmoor
06.1999 - 04.2007
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Cox College
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