Susan Sutton-Petersen, BSN, RN
Summary
Dedicated and compassionate patient-oriented nurse with a career history in outpatient surgery, care coordination, special procedures, PACU & ICU. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle complex patients, fast-paced environments and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude and excellent customer service.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Surgical Registered Nurse
San Diego Fertility Center
09.2024 - Current
- Provides comprehensive education to patients and families regarding surgical procedures, recovery expectations, and follow-up care
- Ensures all necessary preoperative preparations are completed such as informed consents, history and physical, preop medications administered as ordered, initiate PIV
- Work collaboratively with the surgical and anesthesia team members
- Prepare patients intra-op, position patients, pass instruments and supplies during surgery
- Provide post-anesthesia care after surgery, ensures patient is stable and meets criteria prior to discharging home
- Contact patients pre and post surgical procedures
Surgical RN Per Diem
Esthetica of San Diego
07.2024 - 01.2025
- Perform patient screening tasks and review medical history status prior to surgery
- Discuss procedure and explain what patients can expect before, during and after surgery with patient and caregiver
- Support patients and caregivers during the surgical process, to include pre and post surgical education
- Assist with preparing the OR prior to surgery, positions and preps patients
- Collaborate with the surgical team pre and post op to ensure all patient needs are met
- Assist during surgeries as needed and provide intra-operative circulation
- Monitor patients prior to, provide post anesthesia care and ensure patient meets discharge criteria
- Maintain accurate patient medical documentation and patient records
Pre-Op RN
Poway Surgery Center
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Performed preop assessment, instructed and prepared patients for same day surgery
- Initiated IVs, administered preop medications as indicated
- Provided detailed peri-op teaching to patients and caregivers
- Contacted all scheduled patients prior to surgery and completed an extensive pre-surgical medical history and assessment
- Reviewed preop labs/testing along with medication lists and pre-surgical instructions
- Reviewed risk stratification as indicated
- Walked the patients through the day of surgery process with instructions.
RN Care Coordinator, Orthopedics (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
07.2018 - 03.2023
- Provided leadership and overall surgical coordination to an average panel of 200 veterans indicated for elective and urgent orthopedic surgery
- Assisted the veteran and their family members with navigation through a specialized surgery program from initial clinic evaluation, risk stratification, preoperative education and recovery care
- Coordinated orthopedic surgeons OR calendar and scheduled cases utilizing the Live Data Perioperative Manager software
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, coordinated preop appointment scheduling with the anesthesia department as well as the initial postop appointment in the ortho clinic
- Triaged pre and postop patient and family concerns, communicated between the ortho surgeon and primary care providers
- Coordinated inpatient admissions and aftercare as needed
- Ensured ongoing collaboration with surgeons and UCSD residents
- Acted as a delegated authority for the VA Community Care Program to ensure timely access for veteran's orthopedic surgery outside of the VA medical system.
Special Procedures (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
06.2010 - 07.2018
- Performed specialized nursing duties during GI, pulmonary and anesthesia pain procedures
- Responsible for conducting an initial and ongoing assessment on all patients undergoing procedures to include post procedure monitoring and discharge
- Administered IV sedation while assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating and documenting care
- Delivered pre and post procedure education to the patient, family members and caregivers
- Performed charge nurse duties to direct and supervise the overall operation of the unit
- Ensured the unit delivered quality patient care, managed patient assignments, as well as ensured the overall flow of the unit
- Collaborated and coordinated with the medical teams prior to and following patient procedures to ensure the best outcome
- Volunteered, cross trained and assisted during endoscopy cases as a GI tech
- Trained and precepted new RNs to special procedures and mentored nursing students during their clinical rotation within the unit.
PACU (Unit Coordinator Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
04.2004 - 06.2010
- Provided care to post-operative patients recovering from anesthesia, including general, regional, and local
- Performed continuous assessments and diligent care necessary to confront rapid changes in the patient's physiological condition such as respiratory instability and cardiac monitoring
- Administered post-operative medications, assessed and managed surgical sites, as well as fluids and blood products
- Collaborated and implemented post-surgical plan with the anesthesia and surgical attendings and UCSD residents
- Trained new PACU nurses and provided mentorship to nursing students
- Participated on the OR committee and the peri-anesthesia counsel.
ICU (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
07.2003 - 04.2004
- Performed advanced nursing care to acutely and critically ill patients
- Worked in a highly technical and ongoing monitoring environment, including hemodynamic monitoring, ventilators, intra-aortic balloon pumps, continuous renal replacement, assessing and treating lab values
- Consulted and coordinated with a multi-disciplinary team to provide patients with life-threatening problems extensive and complex medications and therapies
- Initiated corrective action according to assessment data to avoid adverse symptomology.
ICU (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
01.2001 - 02.2002
- Performed advanced nursing care to acutely and critically ill patients
- Worked in a highly technical and ongoing monitoring environment, including hemodynamic monitoring, ventilators, intra-aortic balloon pumps, continuous renal replacement, assessing and treating lab values
- Consulted and coordinated with a multi-disciplinary team to provide patients with life-threatening problems extensive and complex medications and therapies
- Initiated corrective action according to assessment data to avoid adverse symptomology.
ICU (Staff RN)
Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego CA
07.1996 - 01.2001
- Completed an adult critical care curriculum and a 6-month ICU preceptorship program in a high acuity level-1 trauma center
- Provided direct care and intense nursing interventions and therapies, performed complex assessment for physically unstable patients requiring continuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring
- Worked with highly technical lifesaving equipment and therapies to ensure positive patient outcomes
- Collaborated care with other professionals as well as advocating for patients and families
- Member of the code blue team.
Med/Surg (Staff RN)
Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach CA
06.1995 - 07.1996
- Completed a 6-week new grad preceptorship program
- Provided direct and individualized bedside care on a 30-bed inpatient medical surgical ward
- Provided care to adult patients prior to and post-surgical procedures as well as patients being treated medically to manage a variety of illnesses
- Coordinated with health care team members to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ03.2013
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Palomar Community College
San Marcos, CA12.1994
Emergency Department Nursing Part I/II -
UCSD Extension
La Jolla, CASkills
- Strong Clinical Judgement
- Peri-operative Nursing
- Disease Prevention & Health Education
- Quality Improvement
- Problem-Solving Ability
- Advocacy for Patients and Families
- Care Planning and Implementation
- Surgical Coordination
- IV Initiation
- Moderate Sedation and Airway Management
- Medication Administration
- Surgical Site Management & Dressing Changes
- Precepting and Mentoring
Certification
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support, 03/2026
- Basic Life Support, 03/2026
- California RN Licensure, 509260, 06/2026
Military Service
U.S. Air Force
Timeline
Surgical Registered Nurse
San Diego Fertility Center
09.2024 - Current
Surgical RN Per Diem
Esthetica of San Diego
07.2024 - 01.2025
Pre-Op RN
Poway Surgery Center
06.2023 - 08.2023
RN Care Coordinator, Orthopedics (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
07.2018 - 03.2023
Special Procedures (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
06.2010 - 07.2018
PACU (Unit Coordinator Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
04.2004 - 06.2010
ICU (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
07.2003 - 04.2004
ICU (Clinical Nurse II)
VA Medical Center, San Diego CA
01.2001 - 02.2002
ICU (Staff RN)
Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego CA
07.1996 - 01.2001
Med/Surg (Staff RN)
Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach CA
06.1995 - 07.1996
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Phoenix
Associate Degree in Nursing -
Palomar Community College
Emergency Department Nursing Part I/II -
UCSD Extension
Similar Profiles
Sara BerkshireSara Berkshire
After-School Program Leader at Child Development Center, CDCAfter-School Program Leader at Child Development Center, CDC
Ester CruzEster Cruz
Medical Records Clerk at San Diego Family Care Center/ Linda Vista Health Care CenterMedical Records Clerk at San Diego Family Care Center/ Linda Vista Health Care Center
ALEXXIS LLANESALEXXIS LLANES
Case Manager at San Diego Regional CenterCase Manager at San Diego Regional Center
Candace SheriffeCandace Sheriffe
Surgical Registered Nurse at Etobicoke General HospitalSurgical Registered Nurse at Etobicoke General Hospital
Rachel KaferRachel Kafer
Surgical Registered Nurse at Restore SD Plastic SurgerySurgical Registered Nurse at Restore SD Plastic Surgery