Valerie Cook
Lebanon VA Medical Center
Lebanon,PA
44
years of professional experience
Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader.
Work History
BSN, RN Behavioral Health
2 Years 10 Months- Educated patients and families on health management, promoting adherence to treatment plans.
- Delivered exceptional customer service in high-pressure environments, enhancing guest satisfaction and loyalty.
- Administered medications and treatments in accordance with established protocols and patient care plans.
- Monitored vital signs, assessed patient conditions, and documented changes in electronic health records.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care strategies for diverse patient populations.
- Led nursing staff in implementing best practices to enhance patient outcomes and safety standards. Assigned to education on the unit, handwashing ambassador and EKG monitor.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patient's acuity levels and individual needs.
- Received two recent awards of recognition (I Care Award) by a patient and a physician assistant recognition of good nursing care sent to my nurse manager. (Award presented during anniversary presentations.
- Currently writing a book on emotional abuse.
Expert RN Witness, Legal Nurse Consultant
2 Months- Provided a copy of the Second Amended Complaint, medical records of the plaintiff, relevant hospital policies, videos of the unit during the relevant time frames, and relevant transcripts of depositions taken to date.
- Review additional material as it becomes available.
- Provide expert testimony in the field of nursing and hold my opinion to a reasonable degree of nursing certainty.
- Based on experience, knowledge and training, along with review of referenced materials, testify care provided to the patient during the time frame of the case complied with the applicable standards of nursing practice.
- Testify providers used their best judgement in the care of the patient.
- Providing testimony to rebut allegations of the plaintiffs expert witnesses in support of the staff and hospital.
- Attend court August 21, 2023, in Charlotte, NC.
RN, BSN
5 Months- Effectively prioritized twelve patient's assignments daily, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel (three techs and myself ) to deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Monitored and documented twelve patient's safety, risk for self harm, change in patient condition to include mental as well as medical changes, medication effectiveness, test results and communicated changes to MD and treatment team daily.
- Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Worked with census of twelve behavioral health patients that included adult, geriatric, women's trauma, adolescent and COVID unit.
- Communicated with patients regarding non medicinal techniques such as yoga, mindfulness to assist alleviation of depression and anxiety.
- Designed and Implemented teaching backdrops on falls protocols for skills fair. Taught and Checked off staff on education of this protocol.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Worked on a COVID unit within the hospital for behavioral health patients that developed COVID while hospitalized. Tested and Provided behavioral health and medical care while keeping the infected population in isolation from the general community.
- Precepted new nurses coming to the unit on their duties and would often show how to verbally deescalate an agitated patient to avoid injury to patients and staff.
RN, BSN
1 Year- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel to deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, and verifying interventions met treatment goals.
- Assignment included twelve adult patients.
- Conducted independent risk assessment for self directed violence, analyzing risk factors, protective factors, mental status and trigger factors.
- Implemented evidence based and best practice problem solving interventions to establish protective measures for suicide prevention and self harm while hospitalized and post discharge.
- Answered 40-50 phone calls a twelve hour shift between four staff and managed our duties of patient care.
- Educated, administered, monitored, assessed and documented effectiveness of all medications and communicated to MD.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Precepted new nurses coming to the unit on their duties and ways to deescalate a patient to avoid injury to staff or patients.
RN, BSN
1 Month- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition of detoxing and delegating tasks to available personnel to deliver safe and efficient care.
- Assessed, monitored, medicated and reported signs and symptoms of withdrawal and acted accordingly to MD protocol.
- Focus of care was on patient acute alcohol detox unit. RN assignment of six patients.
- Total of eighteen acute patients in various stages of detox required three nurses to collaborate teamwork, delegating duties and sharing work loads. RNs worked under extreme pressure and had to be flexible in assessing , monitoring and acting to prevent patient harm.
- Secured controlled narcotics and distributed medication on schedule to meet patient needs and minimize misuse opportunities.
- Collaborated with MD and social work to provide patient with consistent safe care and acclimate to next level of care post acute detox.
- Assessed and collaborated with patient on medications needed to safely detox.
- Educated staff on involuntary commitments and court procedures to maintain patient rights were being protected.
RN, BSN
2 Months- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel to deliver safe and efficient care.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Secured controlled narcotics and distributed medication on schedule to meet patient needs and minimize misuse opportunities.
- Cultivated relationships with patients discussing ways to help improve overall health while alleviating self harm practices.
- Care centered on eight to ten patients in crisis stabilization t of adult and geriatric patients.
RN, BSN
1 Month- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Completed admissions and client assessments.
- Collaborated with physician with medications, treatments and their effectiveness.
- Responsible for collecting and sending labs to main hospital.
- Delegated and managed various patient oriented duties including vital sign monitoring, medication administration, and patient behavior assessments.
RN, BSN
9 Months- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel to deliver safe and efficient care.
- Assessed and admitted patients.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Educated, administered, assessed and monitored effectiveness of medications and communicated this information to MD and accurately documented all information.
- Made safety rounds monitoring patients for safety.
- Participated in finding a suicide attempt on unit of patient hanging herself in bathroom and successfully resuscitated her.
- Conducted independent risk assessments for self directed violence, analyzing risk factors, protective factors, mental status and current triggers.
- Developed collaborative safety plans after establishing rapport with patients.
- Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
- Precepted new nurses and served as a resource in verbal deescalation and seclusion restraints.
- Assisted with the transition to EPIC documentation as a super user.
RN, BSN
3 Months- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked acute child neuro psych unit and had max of six very acute patients that were generally seventeen year old highly combative males that were usually incontinent, had genetic abnormalities, exhibited pica and were autistic.
- This unit required staff to utilize environments free of most things, including utensils. Trays were served with cardboard spoons with mainly finger foods. Safety rounds were conducted multiple times throughout shifts to maintain safe environments.
- Restraints consisted of multiple devices including helmets. Staff was trained in modified CPI program for safety of all involved. Responses for codes were designated to working staff on each unit to respond.
- Sensory room was provided for staff to allow their patient to go into for rewards. Staff monitored patients not leaving them alone.
- Monitoring patient's medications, communicating effectiveness to MD and documenting was imperative for treatment.
- Assisting in morning care of each patient was group effort due to resistance.
- Establishing rapport with patients was necessary as many did not speak or hear. Developing positive reinforcements was necessary in working with this population.
- Worked with interdisciplinary health care teams developing, implementing adjustments to six patient care plans daily while individualizing strategies to improve health to meet recovery goals.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
- Met with family members educating goals achieved and plans that were implemented with their children Offered family support on a continuous daily basis. Most clients were institutionalized long term and were unable to be cared for at home.
RN, BSN
32 Years 5 Months- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
- Extensive experience within hospital that included Phlebotomy, med surg floor nursing, staff nurse of adult, geriatric, child adolescent behavioral health units, access intake worker in emergency dept, helped develop protocols, treatment and assisted in the development of the emergency department behavioral health unit, taught suicide prevention in community related programs set up by the hospital, assisted in behavioral health skills fairs and worked in checking off staff, clinical coordinator of the Intensive management unit, adult and later the child adolescent unit and unit designated preceptor.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
- Initially worked with Yalom's theory of "the here and now approach" later transitioned to cognitive therapy models.
- Conducted group therapy on all units such as Intensive Management, the Adult Unit and the Adolescent Unit.
- Educated patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
- Participated in policy making and root cause analysis. Helped design unit specific programs.
- Maintained safe environments for patients by teaching rapid response and code participation roles. Provided consistent education for staff in maintaining safety and observation rounds.
- Role play labs created for staff to practice verbal deescalation and seclusion restraints.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care teams to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Completed chart audits on a regular basis.
- Super User for EPIC documentation.
RN, BSN
2 Years- Effectively prioritized assignments, executing care based on each patient's relative condition and delegating tasks to available personnel deliver safe and efficient care.
- Worked with geriatric behavioral health clients.
- Participated in and attended grand rounds. Sodium Amytal interview of one alzheimer patient that became mute.
- Participated in ECT treatments.
- Participated in Ice water sheet wraps for calming patients.
- Participated in seclusion and restraints of geriatric patients.
- Educated, administered and documented effectiveness of all medications and communicated this to MD and treatment team.
- Verified patients had information necessary for ongoing care, providing guidance on diagnoses, management of medications and prevention methods.
- Worked within interdisciplinary health care team to develop, implement and make adjustments to patient care plans, individualizing strategies and methods to improve health and meet recovery goals.
- Orchestrated quality-driven, cost-effective care in high-volume trauma center setting.
- Minimized hospital stays with recovery-centered approaches, reducing average in-patient stay length.
- Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes.
- Contributed substantially to successful department JCAHO accreditation by consistently operating to highest standards of care.
- Managed care from admission to discharge.
- Organized and managed care of patients undergoing various therapies and procedures.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients and determined next course of action.
- Audited charts and reviewed clinical documents to verify accuracy.
- Advocated for patients by communicating care preferences to practitioners, verifying interventions met treatment goals and identifying insurance coverage limitations.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing And Psychology
Skills
Staff Education and Supervision
Assessments and Triage
Patient and Family Advocate
Patient Monitoring and Care
Mental Health Care and Emotional Intuition
Patient Counseling
Patient and Family Education
Strong Clinical Judgment
Audits in Medical Record
Timeline
BSN, RN Behavioral Health
Lebanon VA Medical Center
10.2023 - CurrentRead More
Expert RN Witness, Legal Nurse Consultant
Lincoln Derr Law Firm
06.2023 - 08.2023Read More
RN, BSN
Tower Behavioral Health (Full Time)
08.2021 - 01.2022Read More
RN, BSN
Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital (Full Time)
08.2020 - 08.2021Read More
RN, BSN
Eagleville Hospital (Maxim Travel) (Full Time)
07.2020 - 08.2020Read More
RN, BSN
Geisinger Holy Spirit (Maxim Travel)(Full Time)
04.2020 - 06.2020Read More
RN, BSN
LewisGale Medical Center (Maxim Travel) Full Time
02.2020 - 03.2020Read More
RN, BSN
WellSpan Philhaven (Maxim Travel) (Full Time)
01.2019 - 10.2019Read More
RN, BSN
Sheppard Pratt (Maxim Travel) (Full Time)
09.2018 - 12.2018Read More
RN, BSN
Presbyterian Novant Health Med Center(Full Time)
03.1986 - 08.2018Read More
RN, BSN
Western Psychiatric Institute (Full Time)
06.1982 - 06.1984Read More
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Bachelor of Science from Nursing And Psychology
Read More