Susana Contreras-Whitney
Phoenix,USA
Summary
Experienced nursing professional prepared for critical care and post-anesthesia roles. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Skilled in patient monitoring, pain management, and rapid response care. Reliable and adaptable, ensuring optimal outcomes in dynamic healthcare settings.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
PREOP/Staff Registered Nurse, PACU
United Surgical Partners
Phoenix, AZ
01.2026 - Current
- Monitored patient vitals and administered medications in post-anesthesia care unit.
- Collaborated with surgical teams to ensure optimal patient recovery protocols.
- Educated patients and families on post-operative care instructions and discharge planning.
- Preparing patients for surgery through starting IV's, performing admission physical assessments, verifying medical history and medical reconciliation
- proper pre-operative documentation, safety protocols and checks,
- performing preoperative phone calls to optimize patients for surgeries
- performing post operative calls to monitor patient outcomes and satisfactions
PACU RN staff
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, BC
06.2020 - 01.2026
- Trauma level 1 Hospital, Teaching hospital with 28 recovery beds 1:1-2 nurse: patient ratio
- Duties include recovering a wide range of surgeries from same day discharge orthopedics, to Thoracics, general surgery, kidney transplant, spine, neurology, gynecology and urology, ENT, plastics, robot assisted surgeries.
- Setting up and managing pain modalities such as epidural infusions, Ketamine infusions, lidocaine infusions, and PCA’s.
- Managing Invasive arterial lines, as well as resuscitation of patients with blood product administration and use of vasopressors.
- My leadership role in the unit included orienting new incoming staff and new grads. I also took on the role as Bay leader or float which aids in supporting staff with new PACU admissions, overseeing skills and assisting, and being a resource to staff within my bay. In these roles I coordinated all breaks within my bay and perform break coverage for my fellow employees. As Bay-leader and float I also coordinate closely with PCC for proper disposition of both in patients and same day discharges.
- Strong knowledge base in anesthesia blocks and experience with monitoring patients pre and post op during block administration for any signs of local anesthesia toxicity or adverse events.
- Main Patient population range from 17-98 yr old but also recover pediatric patients from endoscopy procedures, age range (4-13yrs)
PACU RN Travel
Banner Dessert Medical Center
Phoenix, Arizona
03.2023 - 10.2024
- Phase 1 Recovery of ICU and PCU trauma post-op patients, as well as ENT, urology, gynecology, orthopedics, dental extraction, vascular and general surgeries.
- Phase 2 recovery of various same day discharge surgeries including ENT, urology, gynecology, and orthopedics; patient and family discharge education and post operative care instructions.
PACU RN Travel
Tucson Medical Center
Tucson, Arizona
11.2023 - 03.2024
- Phase 1 Recovery of ICU patients post op Craniotomy and spinal tumor resections.
- Recovering neurology, orthopedics, neuro-spinal, vascular and general surgeries. Including pediatric patients ages 12 months to 13 years for various orthopedics, and podiatry surgeries
- Phase 2 recovery of total knee and hip surgeries and patient education on proper discharge instructions and management of care at home.
PACU RN Travel
UW Medical Center-Northwest
Seattle, WA
06.2023 - 09.2023
- Pre-op, and post op phase 1 and 2 of urology, orthopedics, vascular, neurology, robot assisted, gynecology, plastics surgeries
WA-PACU RN Travel
Providence Regional Medical Center
Everett, WA
03.2023 - 06.2023
- Phase 1 recovery of CVL patients including TAVR, watchman’s, as well as general surgery, Neurospinal, plastics, gynecology, urology, orthopedics.
Acute Medicine RN
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, BC
04.2014 - 06.2020
- Duties include managing patients with chronic and acute medical conditions. As well as managing the safety and medical issues of patients going through alcohol and opioid withdrawal
- Interim PCC duties included managing bed flow for incoming patients from the ER, making safe and effective nursing staff assignments, Attending bed board meetings to aid with over-all hospital bed flow and care of patients.
- T10C/10H/14G 1:4 nurse:patient ratio
Education
Advanced Critical Care Nursing Specialty - Distinction
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Burnaby, BC06-2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing BSN
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC05-2016
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science - BMLSc
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC05-2013
Bachelor of Science - Program
NorthWest Nazarene University
Nampa, Idaho05-2010
Skills
- Epic Charting System
- Cerner charting system
- CWS-teletracking
- CMS- patient flow
LANGUAGES
English
Publications
- Gershkovich P, Sivak O, Contreras-Whitney S, Darlington JW, Wasan K.
- Assessment of cholesterol absorption inhibitors nanostructured aluminosilicate and cholestyramine using in vitro lipolysis model. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2012; 291-300.
Certification
- ACLS provider through AHA-expires 09/2027
- PALS provider through AHA-expires 09/2027
- BLS provider through AHA expires 09/2027
Liscenses
- Arizona RN License 292477-Renewal 04/01/2027
- Washington RN License 61313621- Renewal 03/17/2027
- British Columbia RN License 0967292-Renewal 03/31/2027
Timeline
PREOP/Staff Registered Nurse, PACU
United Surgical Partners
01.2026 - Current
PACU RN Travel
Tucson Medical Center
11.2023 - 03.2024
PACU RN Travel
UW Medical Center-Northwest
06.2023 - 09.2023
PACU RN Travel
Banner Dessert Medical Center
03.2023 - 10.2024
WA-PACU RN Travel
Providence Regional Medical Center
03.2023 - 06.2023
PACU RN staff
Vancouver General Hospital
06.2020 - 01.2026
Acute Medicine RN
Vancouver General Hospital
04.2014 - 06.2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing BSN
University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science - BMLSc
University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Science - Program
NorthWest Nazarene University
Advanced Critical Care Nursing Specialty - Distinction
British Columbia Institute of Technology