Jennifer Gerlitz

I am a skilled and highly motivated nursing professional with 20 years of experience and extensive knowledge as a registered nurse in Infection Prevention and Control, acute critical care in an emergency department, day surgery/day medical, occupational health nurse, immunizer and as a as a Clinical Nurse Educator. I have exceptional command over communicating with all interdisciplinary teams as well as assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care with superior emphasis on prioritizing patient care based on resource availability.

Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner at Covenant Health — Misericordia Hospital (2023-08 – Present)

As an Infection Prevention and Control practitioner I manage a portfolio within MCH where I am responsible for ongoing prevention and surveillance of healthcare associated infections. Independently and in collaboration with stakeholders my role is to assess, implement and evaluate infection control measures to reduce transmission of healthcare acquired infections within the site. I consult with staff, patients, and stakeholders in ways to reduce healthcare acquired infection and transmission rates and to provide early detection and follow up via contact tracing for communicable diseases and outbreaks.

In collaboration with partners, I take an active role in construction planning and walkthroughs to ensure all CSA standards are being met and patient safety during all construction projects is maintained. I provide education to staff, patients and stakeholders on Infection Prevention and Control policy and process.

Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner at Interior Health — Kelowna General Hospital (2022-10 – 2023-07)

Full time relief position. As an Infection Prevention and Control practitioner I manage a portfolio within MCH where I am responsible for ongoing prevention and surveillance of healthcare associated infections. Independently and in collaboration with stakeholders my role is to assess, implement and evaluate infection control measures to reduce transmission of healthcare acquired infections within the site.

I consult with staff, patients, and stakeholders in ways to reduce healthcare acquired infection and transmission rates and to provide early detection and follow up via contact tracing for communicable diseases and outbreaks. In collaboration with partners, I take an active role in construction planning and walkthroughs to ensure all CSA standards are being met and patient safety during all construction projects is maintained. I provide education to staff, patients and stakeholders on Infection Prevention and Control policy and process.

Day Care Surgery at Interior Health — Kelowna General Hospital (2022-03 – 2022-10)

Full time position. As a staff nurse, responsibilities include preparing and recovering patients both pre-operatively and post operatively from surgical procedures.

Surgeries include: vascular, GI, GU, Gynecological, orthopedic, ENT, pacemaker procedures and angiograms.

Responsibilities also include providing pre and post care to patients who require Day Medical services and such as regular Intravenous infusions, diagnostic imaging tests or biopsies.

Clinical Staff Nurse at Interior Health — Kelowna General Hospital (2021-04 – 2022)

Emergency Department. Full time position. As a clinical staff nurse, responsibilities include managing day-to-day functions of a busy, highly acute emergency department. Role responsibilities and duties of triage nurse involve applying extensive knowledge and assessment skills to sort and prioritize the care of acutely ill patients on arrival to the emergency department.

Role responsibilities of staff nurse include using the nursing care model daily to care and manage all different demographics of patients. Collaborating with physicians to provide quality patient care and assisting physicians during treatments and procedures.

Clinical Nurse Educator at Covenant Health — Grey Nuns Hospital (2019-12 – 2021-04)

Surgery Program. As a Clinical Nurse Educator, my role included reporting to the Patient Care Manager of Surgical Program. I was responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of educational activities within the Surgical Program.

As a Clinical Nurse Educator, I was involved in the in the development and ongoing maintenance of provincial zone and site educational programs, practice support documents and policy. I was involved with development and implementation of applicable zone COVID-19 policy, procedure and public health measures within the surgery program and providing up to date education to staff and stakeholders. I utilized adult learning principles to educate, train and support all professional and non-professional staff to meet program specific educational goals.

My role included coordinating and the implementation of educational initiatives for orientation, mandatory education and in-service/continuing education for staff. Other duties included promoting the clinical competence of staff through changes in policy, procedures, protocols and technology. I collaborated with management and internal partners to promote standards of clinical, educational and evidence informed practice.

Charge Nurse/Clinical Staff Nurse at Covenant Health — Grey Nuns Hospital (2016 – 2021)

Day Surgery and Extended Day Care. As a staff nurse, responsibilities include preparing and recovering patients both pre-operatively and post operatively from surgical procedures.

Surgeries include: vascular, GI, GU, Gynecological, orthopedic, ENT, pacemaker procedures and angiograms.

Responsibilities also include providing pre and post care to patients who require Day Medical services and such as regular Intravenous infusions, diagnostic imaging tests or biopsies.

Occupational Health Nurse at Covenant Health (2016 – 2017)

Occupational Health and Safety Nurse.

Occupational Health

Nurse temporary position for 1 year. As occupational health nurse I was responsible for parts of the immunization program for all Covenant Health employees.

Responsibilities included assessing the immunization status of all new and existing employees to determine if they met required immunizations for their job role. I would provide all employees with required immunizations at different sites within Covenant Health. I was responsible for interviewing employees, transporting vaccines and maintaining cold chain procedures and administering immunization to employees as well as all documentation and record keeping required.

Charge Nurse/Triage Nurse/Clinical Staff Nurse at Covenant Health — Grey Nuns Hospital (2007 – 2017)

Emergency Department. As acting charge nurse, responsibilities include managing day-to-day functions of a busy, highly acute emergency department. Charge nurse role responsibility also includes leading and supporting all staff including LPN’s and other emergency department and hospital support staff.

Role responsibilities and duties of triage nurse involved applying extensive knowledge and assessment skills to sort and prioritize the care of acutely ill patients on arrival to the emergency department. Coordinating with all multidisciplinary colleague as part of managing flow of the department was a key daily priorate as a charge nurse. Role responsibilities of staff nurse included using the nursing care model daily to care for and manage all different demographics of patients.

Collaborating with physicians to provide quality patient care and assisting physicians during treatments and procedures.

Immunizer at Alberta Health Services (2014 – 2014)

Influenza Immunization Program. As an immunizer, responsibilities include using the fit to immunize screening criteria to assess the appropriateness of adults, seniors, children and infants for the influenza immunization. Duties also included preparing, administering and the documentation of influenza immunization.

Clinical Staff Nurse at Covenant Health — Grey Nuns Hospital (2011 – 2012)

Postpartum Unit. As clinical staff nurse I was responsible for the assessment and the care of postpartum women who had either natural or caesarean deliveries; assessment and care of premature and full-term newborns. Educating families about self and newborn care as well as discharge teaching and planning.

Clinical Staff Nurse at Covenant Health — Grey Nuns Hospital (2006 – 2007)

General Surgery Unit. Responsible for the assessment and care of post-surgical GI, GU, gynecological and orthopedic patients. Providing patients with discharge teaching and planning.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in Nursing – Athabasca University (2009 – 2013)

Accelerated Registered Nurse Diploma Program – Grant MacEwan University (2004 – 2006)