Teresa Morris
Highland,IL
Summary
An experienced MSN nurse with over 20 years of nursing experience, focused on veteran care, is seeking an Associate Chief Nurse (Inpatient Mental Health) position. I have expertise in management, including overseeing psychiatric units, DOM, SARRTP, and coordinating care for veterans with multiple diagnoses. In the past, I effectively managed Veteran care during staff shortages, open a Covid unit during the pandemic, performed service recovery, and addressed Veteran concerns and family anxieties, and encouraged nursing staff teamwork for positive outcomes. My strengths include organization, multitasking, streamlining operations, initiating tasks, and prioritizing excellent patient care. Additionally, I identify and address staff training and developmental needs to enhance their knowledge and job skills for a more effective workplace.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MHRRTP Nurse Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
St. Louis , MO
2023.03 - Current
- From March 2022 until May 2022, I was the MHRRTP Nurse Manager, and then I accepted a detail to the ACN for Mental Health.
- Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process at the unit level.
- Maintains established standards of nursing practice and standards of care to evaluate programs and/or service activities.
- Initiates and participates in interdisciplinary efforts at the unit, Service, and Medical Center levels.
- Reviewed staffing to analyze financial budget for DOM and SARRTP.
- Develops staff to achieve exemplary standards of patient-centered care and customer satisfaction.
- Assisted the staff by preparing for accreditation (CARF)-passed for DOM and SARRTP with no recommendations.
- Utilizes and encourages the HRO with staff.
- Collaborates to participate in and utilize evidence-based research processes and findings.
- Maintains a satisfactory performance improvement program at the unit level and participates in Nursing Service's processes.
- Promotes team building and utilizes the group processes in managing a patient unit and in collaborating with others in the Service, Medical Center, VISN, and in the community.
- Manages resources, staff, and supplies to facilitate safe and efficient patient care.
Detail-Associate Chief Nurse for Mental Health
Department of Veterans Affairs
St Louis , MO
2022.05 - 2023.02
- Tracked clinical quality data to identify risk and implement quality assurance improvement initiatives. I did a PowerPoint presentation on the following protocols: CIWA, Covid Swab Audit during our ADPACS meeting. The result for CIWA was that nursing documentation was 100%, and physician documentation started out in Qtr. 1 at 76%, but rose to 100% by QTR. 4.
- Implemented a Covid unit on SARRTP, enabling the treatment of MH-positive patients with efficient use of hospital resources. Collaborated with LOD to provide staff training on proper isolation equipment for the care of COVID patients.
- Identified service challenges and needs at JB, including ongoing construction, lack of podiatry care, and absence of private rooms.
- Ensure that nurse managers continue to identify and utilize the HRO principles with their staff. For example, sensitivity to operations by performing monthly environmental care rounds and encouraging staff to participate. Another example is commitment to resilience by discussing the ongoing construction and increasing staff awareness regarding safety. In addition to talking about safety stories during daily huddles.
- Engaged in regular discussions with nurse managers regarding workload, unit concerns, and staff matters, and to help troubleshoot any areas of concern.
- Information sharing with other ACNs. For example, updated reasonable accommodation process.
Registered Nurse
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
St. Louis , MO
2019.11 - 2022.03
- Position is full time; Grade III
- Utilizes recovery language to emphasizes the Veteran first rather than the illness
- Perform Veteran assessments, medical and psychiatric screenings at admission and throughout their stay
- Participates with interdisciplinary teams to help develop individual treatment plans, implement and monitor plans such as daily huddles, treatment team meetings and special meetings
- Administer medications and collaborate with the Veterans' during their safe medication count
- Update and maintain patient's medical records and charts
- Educate Veterans about the dangers of substance abuse and various treatment options
- Provide emotional support to the Veterans that are struggling with addiction, homelessness and other issues
- Others: Preceptor on the unit, MHRRTP Medication Improvement Committee, MHRRTP Safety Committee, DCHV Satisfaction Survey Committee, AES improvement Committee, Nursing Competencies developer and verifier, COVID Champion.
Full time Nurse Manager for 51 North
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
St. Louis , MO
2015.06 - 2019.10
- Position was full time; Grade III
- Managed two inpatient psychiatric units (total of 30 beds) and 45 employees
- Identified Veteran service requirements by establishing personal rapport with Veterans and other persons in a position to understand service requirements
- Maintained nursing guidelines by writing and reviewing policies and procedures
- Assured quality of care by developing and interpreting hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care
- Maintained nursing staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training nurses and auxiliary staff
- Maintained nursing staff job results by coaching, counseling, disciplining employees, planning, monitoring and appraising job results
- Assisting in the development and implementation of departmental financial resources
- Consistently promote the betterment of staff and Veteran well-being and satisfaction
- Covered for 51 West unit due to Management vacancy, Precepted the Nurse Manager for 51 West and the Assistant Nurse Manager for 51 North, as well as being detailed to the ACN Mental Health Nurse position.
Registered Nurse for 51N3
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
St. Louis , MO
2012.11 - 2015.06
- Position was full time; Grade II
- Trained and managed registered nurses on 51N3 how to use the BMS (Bed Management System) and achieved significant improvements in our productivity
- Designed informational packet for nurses to use when performing community meeting functions
- RN Preceptor
- Consulted and coordinated with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate Veteran care plans
- Assessed the needs of individuals and families to identify potential health and safety problems
- Instructed individuals and families on topics such as health education, disease prevention and stress management
- Monitored all aspects of Veteran care by documenting and reporting symptoms and changes in Veterans' conditions
- Modified Veteran treatment plans as indicated by the Veterans' responses and conditions
- Designed a V-tel pamphlet to be placed inside of an admission folder giving Veterans an idea of what to expect from a teleconference
- Executing Charge Nurse duties by delegating care for the Veterans, supporting and guiding team members, and troubleshooting day to day unit issues
- Participating in various committees including Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Competency Committee, Peer Review Board, and BMS Committee to strengthen my foundation in excellence of care for the Veterans.
Registered Nurse
St. Louis Regional Psychiatric Stabilization Center
St. Louis , MO
2011.08 - 2012.05
- Position was full time
- Executed daily operations as a Charge Nurse
- Part-time Nursing Supervisor
- Monitored all aspects of patient care, documented and reported symptoms and changes in patients' conditions
- Directed and supervised health care personnel and supervised a unit on night shift
- Observed nurses and visited patients to ensure that proper nursing care was provided
- Assisted with the needs of administration with the opening of a new facility.
Registered Nurse
Missouri Baptist Hospital
St. Louis , MO
2011.05 - 2012.05
- Position was full time
- Evaluating and documenting the health of patients and adjusting treatments accordingly
- Coordinating, organizing, and prioritizing complicated multi-patient assignments
- Managing patients and assisting physicians with tracheostomies, IVs, central lines, IV pumps, syringe pumps, Foley catheters, G-tubes, NG-tubes
- Acting as advocate for patients and as a liaison between patient, family and our healthcare team
- Creating and coordinating patient care plans
- Consulting and working alongside other healthcare team members to ensure best possible patient outcomes
- Educating and guiding patients and their families regarding treatment options
- Administering medication and monitoring vital signs.
Education
MSN in Leadership and Management -
Walden University
Baltimore, MD01.2017
BSN -
Goldfarb School Of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO01.2008
ASN -
Florissant Valley Community College
Florissant, MO01.2000
Skills
- Management experience
- Coordinating Veteran care
- Organizational skills
- Multitasking
- Streamlining operations
- Initiating tasks
- Supporting healthcare team
- Veteran care prioritization
- Identifying developmental and training needs
- Utilizing recovery language
- Performing assessments and screenings
- Participating in interdisciplinary teams
- Preceptorship
- Managing DOM and SARRTP units
- Recruiting and training nursing staff
- Developing and interpreting nursing guidelines
- Financial resource management
- Promoting staff and Veteran well-being
- Consulting and coordinating with healthcare team
- Assessing needs and providing education
- Monitoring Veteran care
Certification
- Missouri, 2001012879
- Illinois, 041.38102
Affiliations
- Member of the American Nurse Association
- Member of the Sigma Theta Tau International
References
- Erin McInerney-Ernst, Ph.D., Domiciliary Chief /Program Manager, Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV), 314-652-4100 ext: 65086
- Gwen Hulbert, ACN-Mental Health, STL-Mental Health Nursing, 314-652-4100 ext. 64118
- Pam McAteer, Associate Chief Nurse for Acute Inpatient Nursing Service, 314-652-4100 ext. 53480
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
MHRRTP Nurse Manager
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2023.03 - Current
Detail-Associate Chief Nurse for Mental Health
Department of Veterans Affairs
2022.05 - 2023.02
Registered Nurse
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2019.11 - 2022.03
Full time Nurse Manager for 51 North
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2015.06 - 2019.10
Registered Nurse for 51N3
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
2012.11 - 2015.06
Registered Nurse
St. Louis Regional Psychiatric Stabilization Center
2011.08 - 2012.05
Registered Nurse
Missouri Baptist Hospital
2011.05 - 2012.05
MSN in Leadership and Management -
Walden University
BSN -
Goldfarb School Of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
ASN -
Florissant Valley Community College
- Missouri, 2001012879
- Illinois, 041.38102
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