Whitney Penrod
Columbia
Summary
Detail-oriented Registered Nurse with expertise in quality improvement, clinical protocol implementation, and operational efficiency. Proven success in enhancing patient and staff education, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and improving supply and resource management. Committed to advancing patient care, staff development, and organizational goals.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Nurse Navigator - ENT & Endocrinology
Ellis Fischel - MU Healthcare
Columbia, MO
08.2021 - Current
- Partnered with a multidisciplinary care team to develop and coordinate individualized treatment plans, integrating chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical interventions, pain management, outpatient rehab, and palliative care for patients with complex oncologic conditions.
- Directed patient referral workflows, ensuring prompt coordination and management, while adjusting provider clinic schedules to enhance patient care efficiency, and provider utilization.
- Directed and coordinated all aspects of durable medical equipment (DME) management, including patient education, prescription processing, renewals, and home delivery logistics.
- Identified unbilled supply charges and inefficiencies in patient payment processes; developed and implemented a plan to establish billable charge codes in PowerChart, improving revenue accuracy.
- Oversaw inventory operations by assessing stock levels, determining supply needs, and initiating timely orders to ensure uninterrupted workflow.
- Designed, implemented and managed interdisciplinary protocols to standardize procedures and ensure safety across patient care in ambulatory clinics, hospital, and laboratory environments.
- Provided educational sessions for clinic and inpatient staff on specialized topics, including tracheostomy care, laryngectomy postoperative management, free flap postoperative care, and thyroid cancer.
Nurse Clinician - Cardiology Research Coordinator
MU School of Medicine
Columbia, MO
08.2019 - 07.2021
- Facilitated clinical trial activities, communication and collaboration between research teams, sponsors, local institutional review boards, and regulatory agencies.
- Designed and implemented study protocols and data collection instruments in alignment with institutional policies and regulatory requirements to ensure research compliance and data integrity.
- Trained new staff on laboratory processes and equipment usage.
- Oversaw laboratory equipment functionality, conducting performance assessments, and coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance activities.
Cardiac ICU Staff Nurse - Charge Nurse
MU Health Care
Columbia, MO
07.2015 - 08.2019
- Served as a preceptor for new nurses by providing orientation to unit policies and procedures, coaching on clinical skills, and mentoring on professional development issues.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives to ensure best practice standards were met within the unit setting.
- Delegated tasks appropriately among staff members according to their qualifications.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide complex care to critically ill patients.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
St Louis, MO06-2015
Skills
- Quality improvement
- Regulatory compliance
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Process improvement
- Care coordination
- Inventory management
- Patient & Staff education
Affiliations
- Laryngectomy Support Group Facilitator 2022 - Current
- Head and Neck Cancer Support Group Facilitator 2022 - Current
- Mid-Missouri Laryngectomy Symposium Planning Committee 2024 - Current
- Tracheostomy Patient Education Work Group 2022 - 2025
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Symposium Planning Committee 2021 - Current
- CICU Shared Leadership Co-Chair 2018 - 2019
- Patient Education Representative 2017 - 2019
- Tiger Team Member 2016 - 2019
Accomplishments
- Great Catch Award Nominee 2025
- Great Catch Award Winner 2023
- Daisy Award Nominee 2019
- Role Model Recipient 2019
- Guardian Angel Award Recipient 2018
Timeline
Nurse Navigator - ENT & Endocrinology
Ellis Fischel - MU Healthcare
08.2021 - Current
Nurse Clinician - Cardiology Research Coordinator
MU School of Medicine
08.2019 - 07.2021
Cardiac ICU Staff Nurse - Charge Nurse
MU Health Care
07.2015 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing