Susan Mahler
Elgin,IL
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude and excellent customer service.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse, PACU
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Elgin, IL
01.2012 - Current
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
- Worked in busy PACU that oversees 25-45 patients per day.
- Administered medications via oral, IV and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
- Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Managed care of diverse surgical patients including bowel resections, robotic hernia repairs, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, whipples and liver resections. Breast reconstructions, mastectomies, prostatectomies, cystoscopys, PVP, TURP, TURB, CV surgeries including carotid endarterectomies, thoracotomies, AAA repair, Impalla device implants, watchman procedures, and other vascular procedures. Orthopedic surgeries including total hip, total knees, arthroscopies, ORIFs, laminectomies, kyphoplastys. Podiatry cases . Also cared for IR patients and endoscopy procedures. Vitrectomies. Have cared for pediatric population as well with surgeries including appendectomy, tonsillectomies, ear tube placements, dental rehabilitation.
Registered Nurse General Surgical Unit
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Elgin, IL
06.2003 - 01.2012
- Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health and organizational regulations.
- Administered medications and treatments to patients as ordered by physician, maintaining accountability for accurate narcotic count at end of each shift.
- Documented medications administered, treatments and patient procedures performed in appropriate records according to privacy requirements.
- Supervised and managed daily scheduling, tasking and administration for a 29 bed unit.
- Coordinated nursing care on unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring patient orders and communicating with ancillary departments.
- Educated patients and caregivers of various available external resources to support wound management, disease management and medication administration.
- Documented information in patients' electronic medical record, relaying information to clinicians and care providers to facilitate continuity of care.
- Managed JP drains and chest, nasogastric, G and peg tubes.
- Supervised patient admissions and discharges from hospital to home care, rehabilitative facility or self-care.
- Collaborated with various healthcare professionals to determine specific and individualized care plan based on goals and long-term health.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Monitored patient reactions after administering medications and IV therapies.
- Used first-hand knowledge and clinical expertise to advocate for patients under care and enacted prescribed treatment strategies.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
- Assumed role as interim manager as needed three times during work history.
- Participated in numerous hospital councils including shared governance, chair of unit based council, logistics team that planned move of entire hospital to a new facility in 2009, preceptor and acting as a cerner super user during transition.
- Attended out of state seminar with hospital president and CNO in 2007. " Quint Studer's What's Right in Health Care"
- Hospital Nurse of the Year 2008.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL2012
Associate of Science - Nursing
Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL06.2001
Skills
- Clear Patient Communication
- Airway management
- Patient safety advocate
- Employee Training Program
- Patient Care Assessment
- Patient Examination
- Medical Procedure Preparation
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Epic Systems
- Cerner super user
Certification
Certified Perianesthesia Nurse (CPAN certification) obtained 2014 and currently maintained.
BLS, ACLS, PALS
Timeline
Registered Nurse, PACU
Advocate Sherman Hospital
01.2012 - Current
Registered Nurse General Surgical Unit
Advocate Sherman Hospital
06.2003 - 01.2012
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Northern Illinois University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Elgin Community College