Wendy Walecka
Summary
Seasoned nursing professional offering proven clinical knowledge, natural interpersonal strengths and technical abilities. Knowledgeable about EMR charting, medication administration and interdisciplinary collaboration focused on optimizing patient care and support. Quality-focused and efficiency-driven leader.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Home Health RN Case Manager
Aveanna Healthcare
11.2022 - 07.2023
- Educated patients and families on disease processes, medications and treatments.
- Provided physical assessments, medication, and chronic disease management to home health patients.
- Worked with multidisciplinary team to carry out successful treatment plans for diverse acute and chronic conditions.
- Provided emotional support and kind companionship to patients and families to increase overall wellness.
- Documented treatments delivered, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
- Administered medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians.
- Developed and implemented discharge plans to promote continued care after discharge.
- Educated family members and caregivers on patient care instructions.
- Followed all personal and health data procedures to effectively comply with HIPAA laws and prevent information breaches.
Nursing Informatics Specialist
Door County Medical Center
09.2020 - 07.2022
- Integrated decision support, clinical pathways and best practices into health information technology to enhance delivery of care and workflows.
- Influenced care outcomes by implementing improvements and optimizing health information technology.
- Served as liaison between end-users and health IT team.
- Worked closely with subject matter experts to develop solutions and improvements for clinical systems.
- Researched and validated clinical data.
- Incorporated quality improvement and safety-enhancing methodologies and tools to improve workflow processes including MIPS/MACRA, Promoting Interoperability and other quality measures.
- Worked with product engineering team to define clinical requirements and assist with testing.
- Led, facilitated and attended focus groups and meetings to strategize workflow issues among stakeholders for Diagnostic Imaging, Sleep Lab, Outpatient Rehabilitation and Health Information Management.
- Implemented healthcare systems for patient status monitoring, quality tracking and home care management.
Clinical Informatics Specialist
Ascension
12.2015 - 08.2019
- Standardized clinical documentation by implementing local, regional and national documentation protocols and order sets
- Researched and validated clinical data
- Supported emergency department information system prior to implementation of new integrated clinical documentation system
- Worked closely with subject matter experts to develop solutions and improvements for clinical systems.
- Ran quality metrics reports to maintain high standards of virtual care
- Led change management team within Agile framework to deliver clinical information system changes within tightly managed sprint timelines resulting in reduction of change request backlog
- Served on regional pharmacy and therapeutics team serving as nursing subject matter expert and collaborated on strategic planning, decision making, goal setting, and operational changes to align multiple pharmacy teams to one statewide team
- Liaised between providers and IT team to inform management and facilitate project completion.
- Influenced care outcomes by implementing improvements and optimizing health information technology.
Sr. Clinical Systems Analyst
Ascension Information Systems
08.2005 - 12.2015
- Led ambulatory electronic health record project team for 6 clinics requiring close cooperation among members to share information and develop solutions to meet broad array of deliverables.
- Conducted provider and staff training and change management processes to improve operations.
- Assisted with quality assurance including on site evaluations, internal audits reports and documentation review as requested by performance improvement and administration.
- Collected requirements from end-customers and business partners for product upgrades, added features and new product development.
- Ensured appropriate provisioning configuration for customers to perform their jobs not exceed security limits by role.
- Obtained and archived quality documentation and reports as requested for internal and external quality audits.
- Worked across multiple clinical disciplines to understand requirements and provide exceptional electronic medical record customer service.
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Valley Health System
09.1998 - 06.2005
- Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity.
- Provided direct patient care, stabilized patients, and determined next course of action on 8-bed intensive care and step-down unit, managing up to 4 patients.
- Delegated nursing assignments and supervised team comprised of nurses, ancillary team members and technicians.
- Managed care from admission to discharge evaluating healthcare needs, goals for treatment, and available resources of each patient and connecting to optimal providers and care.
- Implemented interventions for medical and post-surgical patients including medication administration, IV therapy, catheter insertion, minor procedures and airway management including ventilator and arterial line management.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities to prevent further disability.
- Collected blood, tissue and other laboratory specimens and prepared for lab testing.
- Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, including treatment, medications and IVs administered, discharge instructions and follow-up care.
- Prepared patients for surgery, educating patients and family members on surgical procedures such as Endoscopy, General Surgery and Coronary Bypass Grafting.
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Reviewed post-operative orders and continuously monitored patients' post-operative vitals, set up PCA and fluids and oriented patients to unit to achieve optimal outcome.
- Leveraged feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment regarding medication management
- Educated patients, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process and management and lifestyle options
- Promoted professional development opportunities to encourage nurses to pursue continuous training including development of computer based competency testing in unit
- Participated in medication management policy quality improvement initiatives to achieve higher standard of patient care
- Participated in education activities such as computer-based unit-specific competency development and including evidence-based practice project implementation
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Bellin College
Green Bay, WIMaster of Science - Nursing Informatics
University of Maryland - Baltimore
Baltimore, MD05.2005
Skills
- Compact licensed RN
- Heartsaver CPR and AED
- Electronic medical records usage, information system expertise (Meditech, Meditech Expanse, Centricity Perinatal, Medhost, GE Centricity EMR), regulatory compliance, interoperability standards, health information exchange, and performance metrics
- Data analysis and data visualization with PowerBI, Microsoft SQL and Excel, team collaboration, problem solving, and quality improvement
- Agile Methodologies
- Documentation Standards, clinical and nursing informatics, and attention to detail
- Acute care expertise in cardiology, surgical telemetry, orthopedics, intensive care and step-down, and home care, critical thinking, team collaboration, medication and IV administration, blood draw and sample collection, quality improvement, organizational skills, clinical judgement, adaptability, and compassionate care
- Geriatric nursing experience, needs assessment, chronic disease management, wound care management, patient and family education, intake and discharge
- Staff training and education, Microsoft Office, G-Suite,
Additional Information
- CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AWARDS
- Registered Nurse in WI with Compact license
- BLS American Heart Association Provider CPR and AED
Timeline
Home Health RN Case Manager
Aveanna Healthcare
11.2022 - 07.2023
Nursing Informatics Specialist
Door County Medical Center
09.2020 - 07.2022
Clinical Informatics Specialist
Ascension
12.2015 - 08.2019
Sr. Clinical Systems Analyst
Ascension Information Systems
08.2005 - 12.2015
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Valley Health System
09.1998 - 06.2005
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Bellin College
Master of Science - Nursing Informatics
University of Maryland - Baltimore
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