Zaira Mejia
Registered Nurse
Sicklerville,NJ
Summary
Dedicated registered nurse with a decade of clinical experience, including seven years in the perioperative setting and three years in bedside care. Expertise in delivering high-quality, compassionate care while effectively managing complex cases and fostering positive patient outcomes. Strong advocate for evidence-based practice, complemented by over five years of experience in research and health fields, ensuring a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. Proven ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and adapt to dynamic healthcare environments, driving innovative solutions and enhancing nursing practice through critical thinking and ongoing education.
Overview
2
2
Languages
4
4
Certifications
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Travel Registered Nurse - Operating Room
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network
06.2026 - Current
- Coordinated intraoperative nursing care for surgical patients across diverse operating room procedures.
- Managed efficient use of operating room resources, streamlining procedures and minimizing waste.
- Streamlined perioperative processes to improve turnover readiness and case coordination.
- Adapted quickly to changing situations in the operating room, utilizing problem-solving skills under pressure.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork within the surgical suite by fostering open communication and collaboration among colleagues.
- Provided high-quality care for diverse patient populations, addressing individual needs and concerns.
- Monitored patient status during surgery and communicated critical changes to the surgical team.
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Mentored new nurses entering the profession, guiding them through their initial experiences within the operating room setting.
- Led teams in driving successful patient outcomes by prioritizing standard of care and best practices.
Operating Room Staff Registered Nurse
Inspira Medical Center Vineland
03.2026 - 05.2026
- Assessed surgical patients, verified consent, and prepared care plans aligned with procedure requirements.
- Delivered perioperative nursing care across circulating and scrub roles, maintaining sterile technique and patient safety.
- Coordinated with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical techs to support efficient operating room flow.
- Monitored instrument, sponge, and needle counts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with safety protocols.
- Documented intraoperative care, medications, and patient responses in electronic medical records.
- Enhanced patient safety by implementing strict adherence to surgical protocols and guidelines.
- Ensured timely patient flow through efficient management of OR schedules and staff assignments.
- Successfully managed high-pressure situations while maintaining composure under challenging circumstances.
- Mentored new nurses as they transitioned into the operating room setting, promoting a supportive learning environment.
- Advocated for and strived to protect health, safety, and rights of patient.
Travel Registered Nurse - Operating Room
Harlem Hospital Center
06.2022 - 02.2026
- Performing charge nurse responsibilities which included conducting monthly audits of patient charts ensuring proper and accurate documentation, booking of surgeries, obtaining and assigning appropriate team members for surgeries, daily staff assignments, ensuring the completion and accuracy of consent forms for patients, and maintaining daily communication/reporting with nursing leadership
- Assessing patients prior to OR transfer while verifying allergies, NPO status, medical and surgical history, skin assessments, and alleviating all patient concerns
- Collaborating closely with interdisciplinary team members, to ensure positive outcomes for all patients. Team members included but not limited to: Anesthesia, surgical attendings, ICU, inpatient and emergency department
- Assessed team members' workloads and pitched in to help in areas where need was most evident.
- Collaborating closely with interdisciplinary team members to ensure positive outcomes for all patients. Team members included but not limited to: Anesthesia, surgical attendings, ICU, inpatient and emergency department
- Documented all adverse events occurring in the OR using the VOICE notification system and took part in debriefings with leadership and team members.
- Enforced adherence of all operating room team members to safety standards and precautions.
- Providing translation services to patients of Spanish speaking origin
- Facility: NYCHH-Harlem Hospital Main OR
Operating Room Staff Registered Nurse
Hospital for Special Surgery
09.2019 - 06.2022
- Assessing patients prior to OR transfer while verifying allergies, NPO status, medical and surgical history, skin assessments, and alleviating all patient concerns
- Preparing all OR supplies as well as obtaining all necessary sterile trays for procedure and ensuring sterility status
- Ensured sterility of operating room and compliance among team members to maintain a safe surgical environment
- Assisting in and overseeing patient positioning to ensure safety of patient and to minimize risk of skin tears and patient injury
- Assisting and communicating with anesthesia while continuously monitoring patient vitals during procedure
- Safely prepare medications requested per procedure and pass them on to sterile feel adhering to sterile protocols
- Coordinated with sales representatives for implant orders and preparation.
- Upon the opening of any implants, confirm with surgeon and surgical technician the correct implant is being opened for the correct surgical site, laterality, and the absence of any contraindication with the chosen implant (i.e. nickel allergy)
- Troubleshot malfunctioning equipment and coordinated with materials management to service and replace faulty items, ensuring readiness for future procedures
- Enforce all team members to adhere to all safety standards and precautions inside of the Operating Room
- Joint Replacement/Spine/Trauma Ortho/Pediatric Ortho/Sports services
Registered Nurse
Hospital for Special Surgery
09.2016 - 09.2019
- Monitored post-operative patients recovering from hip/knee, spine, ortho-trauma, and sports surgeries.
- Monitored patient recovery progress to ensure effective treatment outcomes.
- Administering peritoneal dialysis and close monitoring of patients with compromised renal function.
- Close monitoring of chronic pain patients including those receiving pain medication through epidurals, infra-clavicular, or intravenous catheters.
- Monitored chronic pain patients receiving pain medication through epidurals, infra-clavicular, or intravenous catheters.
- Maintaining open communication with all healthcare personnel directly involved in patient care including health providers from New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell.
- Promoted employee engagement through Gallup Champion role on 10 East-Nights unit
- Precepted newly hired nurses, including experienced and new graduates, in the HSS Nurse residency program.
- Earned Preceptorship Award for exemplary guidance of new nurses on Nights
- Participated in vital committees and councils that influence the HSS nursing community, including the Recruitment and Retention committee, Informatics council, and Night Shift RN Journal Club.
Regulatory Compliance Coordinator
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
08.2012 - 08.2016
- Managed more than 40 ongoing clinical trial studies.
- Composed and prepared regulatory submissions to Mount Sinai IRB, Grants and Contracts Office, and General Clinical Research Unit, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards
- Arrange, complete and monitor all sponsor-related regulatory documents.
- Work with research coordinators to ensure correct submission of protocol deviations and memos to the IRB
- Generated and submitted over 20 new clinical trial applications to the IRB across the therapeutic areas of Liver Diseases, Hematology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary Diseases, Nephrology, and Endocrinology.
- Work with investigators and administrators to oversee clinical trials feasibility, enrollment, practical conduct of the trials, and compliance
- Served as liaison to investigators, sponsors, and Mount Sinai Hospital for pharmaceutical and MSSM trials, facilitating communication and compliance
- Collaborate with pharmaceutical companies
- Managed over 30 research studies within one year, overseeing regulatory adherence and study execution
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ11.2023
MBA - Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ11.2023
Perioperative 101 Nurse Fellowship Program - Main OR
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, NY07.2020
New Graduate Nurse Residency Program - Inpatient
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, NY09.2016
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY05.2016
Skills
Vital signs assessment
Vital signs monitoring
Infection control
Anesthesia management
Blood administration
Patient care
Patient safety protocols
Problem-solving abilities
Strong clinical judgment
Problem-solving
Task prioritization
Clinical judgment
Organizational management
Active listening
Certification
Registered Nurse: New Jersey (Multi-State) State Board of Nursing, License #26NR27567000
Timeline
Travel Registered Nurse - Operating Room
Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network
06.2026 - Current
Operating Room Staff Registered Nurse
Inspira Medical Center Vineland
03.2026 - 05.2026
Travel Registered Nurse - Operating Room
Harlem Hospital Center
06.2022 - 02.2026
Operating Room Staff Registered Nurse
Hospital for Special Surgery
09.2019 - 06.2022
Registered Nurse
Hospital for Special Surgery
09.2016 - 09.2019
Regulatory Compliance Coordinator
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
08.2012 - 08.2016
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
Adelphi University
New Graduate Nurse Residency Program - Inpatient
Hospital for Special Surgery
Perioperative 101 Nurse Fellowship Program - Main OR
Hospital for Special Surgery
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Grand Canyon University
MBA - Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Grand Canyon University