Teresa Kvistad
Fargo,United States
Summary
Perioperative Registered Nurse with 6 years of Level I trauma PACU experience and demonstrated independent competency in Phase I post-anesthesia recovery. Additional background includes ICU experience with ventilated patients, ED stabilization exposure, endoscopy and cath-lab post-procedural recovery. Highly proficient in high-acuity post-anesthesia management including airway support, hemodynamic instability recognition, and rapid surgical turnover. Consistently functions as a core PACU nurse in high-volume procedural environments with minimal orientation needs.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse
Level I Trauma Hospital
07.2021 - Current
- Independently managed Phase I PACU recovery for high-acuity post-surgical patients requiring airway stabilization, ventilatory support, and intensive hemodynamic monitoring.
- Provided recovery care across complex surgical populations including orthopedic, neuro, vascular, thoracic, and general surgery cases.
- Identified and intervened in post-anesthesia complications including respiratory depression, airway obstruction, hypotension, and cardiac rhythm disturbances.
- Managed moderate and deep sedation recovery cases with continuous respiratory and neurological assessment.
- Collaborated with anesthesia providers on pain control, nausea management, and safe discharge readiness.
- Functioned as core PACU staff in a high-volume, rapid turnover Level I trauma environment.
- Charge Registered Nurse as needed for busy weekend shifts.
Emergency Department Utilization Review RN
Altru Health
06.2018 - 06.2021
- Fostered excellence by example by "setting pace" and being hands on mentor to admission physicians in
determining reimbursement diagnosis via utilization review. - Increased annual revenue by $1,170,000 by partnering with physicians to improve admission process during pre-admission phase and ongoing patient stay status analysis via communication with insurance company personnel and Altru physicians and Altru Medical Director.
- Perform medical case analysis by reviewing vital signs, lab results, diagnostic tests, medical history, medications delivered, and medical team notes to identify insurance reimbursement diagnosis and
determine appropriate level of care. - Orchestrate patient flow from time of admission decision to nursing unit placement - reducing patient wait time in ER.
- Developed and updated policies and procedures, maintaining compliance with statutory, regulatory and local, state and federal guidelines relating to legal emergency holds, psychiatric committals, patient
rights, and patient specific care plans. - Collaborate with psychiatric provider team to perform patient assessment, inter-facility patient
admission and transfer. - Collaboration with hospital leadership to accommodate hospital expansion needs and interim process for patient movement from Emergency Department via Patient Placement Team to appropriate Nursing Unit.
Intensive Care Registered Nurse
Essentia Health Hospital
07.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed ventilated patients requiring continuous respiratory and hemodynamic support.
- Titrated vasoactive and sedation infusions per protocol.
- Performed frequent critical assessments and responded to acute patient deterioration.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary ICU teams for complex care planning and stabilization.
- Post-Anesthesia Recovery of cardio-thoracic surgery.
Neuromedical-Surgical Charge Registered Nurse
Sanford Health
08.2014 - 07.2017
- Supervised nursing care of 24-bed neuroscience medical-surgical unit and assigned patients to registered nurses in charge RN role.
- Primary neurology nursing preceptor of new staff and travel nurses for NIH stroke assessment training and sign-off.
- Staff RN - managed caseload of six patients by providing bedside supportive cares, treatments, and wound care.
- Monitor chest tubes, lumbar drains, nasogastric tubes, and feeding tubes.
- Post-operative assessment and care of traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, craniotomy, cervical and lumbar fusions, burr hole, brain bypass, and intracranial stent placement.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Roseman University of Health Sciences
Henderson03-2014
Bachelor of Arts - Business And Accounting
University of Saint Catherine
Saint Paul12-2006
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Phase I PACU independent recovery (high acuity) Adults & Pediatric
- Airway management & post-extubation care
- Ventilated patient care (ICU experience)
- General deep sedation recovery
- Hemodynamic instability recognition & intervention
- Post-op pain & nausea management (PCA, multimodal protocols)
- Rapid turnover PACU workflow (Level I trauma setting)
- Multi-specialty recovery: ortho, neuro, vascular, thoracic, general surgery
- Cath lab & interventional procedure recovery
- Emergency response in PACU (airway, hypotension, arrhythmias)
- Interdisciplinary collaboration with anesthesia & surgical teams
- EMR documentation (Epic)
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS
· North Dakota Registered Nurse Multi-State Compact License (R40994)
· Minnesota Registered Nurse License (2202796)
· Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
· Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
· Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider Certification
· NIH Stroke Certification
AWARDS
Guardian Angel Award
Daisy Award
Timeline
Post Anesthesia Care Unit Registered Nurse
Level I Trauma Hospital
07.2021 - Current
Emergency Department Utilization Review RN
Altru Health
06.2018 - 06.2021
Intensive Care Registered Nurse
Essentia Health Hospital
07.2017 - 06.2018
Neuromedical-Surgical Charge Registered Nurse
Sanford Health
08.2014 - 07.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Business And Accounting
University of Saint Catherine
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Roseman University of Health Sciences