Vanessa Cardenas
Stickney,IL
Summary
BSN-prepared Registered Nurse with 4+ years of high-acuity critical care experience and a strong background in clinical documentation, patient safety, quality-focused nursing practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staff education. Experienced in evaluating complex clinical information, recognizing changes in patient condition, coordinating care, and maintaining accurate documentation in fast-paced environments. Additional leadership experience as Charge Nurse, Rapid Response Team member, unit-based wound care nurse, vascular access nurse, and ICU preceptor. Seeking to apply strong clinical judgment and attention to detail to clinical documentation, quality measures, performance improvement, and patient safety at University of Chicago Medicine.
Overview
1
1
Certification
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Insight Hospital
Chicago, IL
2026 - Current
- Medical intensive care unit with 10 beds and 2:1 ratio. Experience with patients in DKA, multiorgan failure, cardiac arrest, CVA, and post surgical patients.
- Served as a preceptor for new nurses entering the critical care field, sharing knowledge and expertise to facilitate successful integration into the team.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans.
- Utilized advanced monitoring equipment to assess and manage patients' vital signs effectively.
- Actively participated in continuing education opportunities to remain current with best practices in the rapidly evolving field of critical care nursing.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to clarify clinical information and ensure completeness.
Critical Care Registered Nurse
West Suburban Medical Center
Oak Park, IL
01.2021 - 03.2026
- Deliver high-acuity care in a 24-bed MICU with a 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio, managing sepsis, respiratory failure, DKA, heart failure, CVA, and postoperative emergencies.
- Perform detailed clinical assessments and evaluate vital signs, laboratory data, diagnostic findings, medications, interventions, and response to treatment to identify changes in clinical status.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive electronic health record documentation to support continuity of care, clinical communication, patient safety, and quality-focused practice.
- Serve as Charge Nurse, coordinating admissions, discharges, transfers, staffing, and patient flow while supporting safe, efficient unit operations.
- Respond as a Rapid Response Team member, recognizing clinical deterioration, facilitating timely intervention, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
- Serve as unit-based wound care nurse, assessing and staging wounds, implementing appropriate treatments, and collaborating with the wound care team to optimize outcomes.
- Participate in pressure injury prevention and other quality-focused initiatives through risk identification, evidence-based interventions, and staff education.
- Precept and mentor new nurses while providing patient and family education on disease processes, treatment plans, and discharge needs.
Registered Nurse
RML Specialty Hospital
Hinsdale, IL
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Provided care for long-term acute care patients in a 184-bed specialty facility with a 1:6 ratio, including tracheostomy care, ventilator support, IV therapy, blood transfusions, and complex wound management.
- Monitored patients closely for early signs of deterioration and supported sterile bedside procedures while maintaining patient safety and infection-prevention standards.
- Educated patients and families regarding disease processes and ventilator weaning to improve engagement and adherence.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, provided frontline COVID-19 care, mentored new nurses, and supported quality and staffing initiatives.
Registered Nurse
Aperion Care
Forest Park, IL
01.2019 - 01.2019
- Monitored vital signs, blood glucose levels, and medication administration for 30 residents in a 90-bed long-term care facility.
- Delegated care tasks to CNAs and LPNs to support efficient workflow and high-quality care delivery.
- Collaborated with providers during rounds, delivering concise patient updates to support clinical decision-making.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Benedictine University
Lisle, IL01.2020
Associate of Science - Nursing
Morton College
Cicero, IL01.2019
Skills
- Clinical Documentation Review & Analysis
- Clinical Record Review
- Quality Improvement
- Patient Safety
- Clinical Data Analysis
- Quality Measures
- Documentation Accuracy
- Performance Improvement
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Staff & Provider Education
- Wound Assessment & Staging
- Pressure Injury Prevention
- Critical Care
- Rapid Response
- Charge Nurse Leadership
Certification
Registered Nurse (RN) — State of Illinois | License expires 05/31/2028, ACLS — American Heart Association | Expires August 2027, BLS — American Heart Association | Renewal status should be updated before submission, NIHSS — Renewal status should be updated before submission
Personal Information
Title: CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT | CRITICAL CARE
Timeline
Critical Care Registered Nurse
West Suburban Medical Center
01.2021 - 03.2026
Registered Nurse
RML Specialty Hospital
01.2020 - 01.2023
Registered Nurse
Aperion Care
01.2019 - 01.2019
Associate of Science - Nursing
Morton College
Critical Care Registered Nurse
Insight Hospital
2026 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Benedictine University