Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Wendy Falk

Myerstown,PA

Summary

Compassionate behavioral health nurse with 37 years of nursing practice, experience including Med. Surge, OR, Mental health, Drug and alcohol treatment, and Overdose and chemical exposure management. Well organized and eager to work diligently to assist in building a strong cohesive medical team. Extensive clinical knowledge and excellent mentoring skills, with a long history of instructing newly hired staff in policies and procedures, EMR documentation, medication management and patient care. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader passionate about sharing knowledge as well as gaining knowledge. Detail-Oriented and Computer literate clinical nurse with extensive understanding of D&A treatment and experience with interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and success. Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) with progressive career history in direct patient care, triage and care coordination in fast-paced environment. Proven to remain calm under pressure and skillfully handle difficult patients and high-stress situations. Consistently developing strong relationships with patients and families through empathetic communication, respectful attitude and excellent customer service.

Overview

40
40
years of professional experience

Work History

Registered Nurse

Haven Behavioral Hospital
Reading, Pennsylvania
04.2022 - Current
  • Coordinated and monitored nursing care on 28 bed unit through staff assignments, assisting and rounding with physicians, monitoring and implementing patient orders and communicating with ancillary departments.
  • Managed patient care from admission to discharge.
  • Administered medications and treatments monitoring responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans accordingly.
  • Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols.
  • Collaborated with physicians to quickly assess patients and deliver appropriate treatment while managing rapidly changing conditions.
  • Implemented quality patient care techniques to align with safety, health and organizational regulations.

Staff Nurse

LVAMC RRTP & Inpatient Psych. Level 2 Step 10
Lebanon, PA
02.2020 - 11.2021
  • Identified patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with patients and families.
  • Managed elements of patient care, from admission to discharge or transfer. Using nursing expertise to conduct assessments, administer medications, initiate nursing and emergency interventions, contribute to care plan development and education of patients.
  • Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical ability, appearance and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
  • Identified learning needs of patients and families and responded with advocacy and health education.
  • Worked diligently to develop easy to follow guidelines for unit polices and procedures increasing proficiency and productivity.

Registered Nurse, Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Caron Treatment Center, 32 Hours/Week.
Wernersville, PA
03.2004 - 06.2019
  • Managed drug and alcohol treatment care from admission to discharge, including patient assessments, care planning and health education to provide comprehensive care to over 25 patients daily
  • Administered medications and skilled care to patients in acute withdrawal, while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans
  • Secured controlled narcotics and distributed medication on schedule to safely meet patient needs
  • Trained new nurses in proper techniques, care standards, operational procedures and safety protocols to optimize performance and safety
  • Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations
  • Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities

RN Adult Psychiatric Mental Health

Philhaven Hospital, Occasional Hours.
Lebanon, PA
01.2004 - 01.2005
  • Administered oral medication and injections according to prescribing physicians' recommendations, assessed clients and recommended clinical interventions when needed
  • Educated patients in coping methods useful to relieve depression and anxiety, including meditation and yoga
  • Utilized Therapeutic Crisis Intervention with quarterly training based on Cornell University TCI model

Registered Nurse, Poison Information Specialist

Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 24hours/week.
Hershey, PA
07.1998 - 11.2003
    • Certification as Poison Information specialist. Served as liaison between ER physicians and Medical Center Toxicologists
    • Monitored patient reactions to recommended treatment with careful documentation of progress
    • Monitored phone calls from ER's as well as calls from general public, supplying protocols developed by Central PA Poison Control Center

Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit and OR

The Good Samaritan Hospital, 40 Hours/week
Lebanon, PA
08.1985 - 05.1998
  • Prepared OR by ensuring it met asepsis standards, as well as setting up, organizing and counting all tools and equipment necessary for each procedure
  • Managed surgical team as well as managing some uniquely difficult personalities in order to safely care for clients
  • Took Call on assigned weekends for 48hours
  • Worked as Med. Surge. Nurse for 5 years as LPN and 3 years as RN

Education

Bachelor of Nursing - Nursing

Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
04.2005

Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing

Alvernia University
Reading, PA
04.1990

LPN - Nursing

Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
Lebanon, PA
03.1985

Skills

  • 37 years of nursing practice
  • Charge nurse of 12 bed detox unit / Campus Charge for 120 to 150 patients
  • Case management, care planning /implementation of 25 bed unit
  • Narcotic administration and accountability
  • Charge nurse for 28 bed acute psychiatric care unit
  • Well organized and thorough training of new staff
  • Chronic disease management and Poison information specialist
  • Care And Treatment Education
  • Treatment Planning And Execution
  • Patient Assessment And Treatment

Timeline

Registered Nurse

Haven Behavioral Hospital
04.2022 - Current

Staff Nurse

LVAMC RRTP & Inpatient Psych. Level 2 Step 10
02.2020 - 11.2021

Registered Nurse, Drug and Alcohol Treatment

Caron Treatment Center, 32 Hours/Week.
03.2004 - 06.2019

RN Adult Psychiatric Mental Health

Philhaven Hospital, Occasional Hours.
01.2004 - 01.2005

Registered Nurse, Poison Information Specialist

Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 24hours/week.
07.1998 - 11.2003

Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit and OR

The Good Samaritan Hospital, 40 Hours/week
08.1985 - 05.1998

Bachelor of Nursing - Nursing

Immaculata University

Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing

Alvernia University

LPN - Nursing

Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
Wendy Falk