Brenda Boyd

Geriatric-certified Nurse Practitioner with expertise in primary and palliative care. Proficient in patient and family education regarding the management of acute and chronic health conditions. Self-directed professional with skills in problem-solving, integrative and lifestyle modification, and communication. Successful in prioritizing tasks and organizing projects to improve the quality of patient care. Passionate about patient-centered quality care.

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner - Ascension St. Vincent - Indianapolis, IN

(2025-11)

• Assist in complex medical decision making in context of multiple comorbidities and disease states.
• Build trust and rapport with patients/families by listening to concerns, advocating for wellness and educating on acute and chronic health issues.
• Obtained and documented complete health and psychosocial histories for palliative care patients.
• Corroborate with physicians, social workers, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate and deliver comprehensive care for patients with complex medical conditions.
• Provide education to patients/families on Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care tailored to their individual status and complexities.
• Provide psychosocial support, symptom management, and assistance with discharge planning.
• Respect patients' dignity with each care action and maintain strict confidentiality.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Centerwell Senior Primary Care - Indianapolis, IN

(2024-03 - 2025-11)

• Delivered primary care for senior patients and handled complex diagnoses, treatment, referral for consultation or specialty services, and follow-up care.
• Sole provider for new clinic June through August of 2024
• Actively contributed to the development of a 220-patient panel over the past eight months.
• Achieved 96.6% NPS score
• Maintained patient records and verified patient privacy and clinical compliance to minimize data breaches.
• Ordered lab tests and interpreted test results and maintained patient records.
• Examined patients and studied symptoms to diagnose conditions.
• Filled prescriptions and scheduled follow-up visits, as appropriate.
• Performed physical exams, ordering and evaluating lab tests as well as medications.
• Built trust and rapport with patients by listening to concerns, advocating for wellness and educating on acute and chronic health issues.
• Managed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of various disorders and diseases.
• Made patients and families comfortable during stressful times, aiding recovery and reducing compliance issues.
• Promoted health by advising patients about diet, hygiene and methods for prevention of disease.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Optum, UnitedHealth Group - Indianapolis, IN

(2022-06 - 2024-03)

• Maintained patient records and verified patient privacy and clinical compliance to minimize data breaches.
• Examined patients and studied symptoms to diagnose conditions.
• Visited approximately 7 patients at home each day, performed physical exams and took health histories.
• Suggested physical therapy, inhalers, nebulizers and other treatments to relieve chronic health conditions.
• Built trust and rapport with patients by listening to concerns, advocating for wellness and educating on acute and chronic health issues.
• Administered POC testing, screenings for PVD, and coordinated with healthcare team to establish, enact and evaluate patient care plans.
• Promoted health by advising patients about diet, hygiene and methods for prevention of disease.
• Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
• Collected and documented vital signs to track current patient conditions.

Internal Medicine Primary Care Provider - Franciscan Physician Network - Indianapolis, IN

(2021-01 - 2022-06)

• Delivered primary care for patients and handled diagnosis, treatment, referral for consultation or specialty services, and follow-up care.
• Maintained patient records and verified patient privacy and clinical compliance to minimize data breaches.
• Ordered lab tests and interpreted test results and maintained patient records.
• Modified treatment and care plans, as necessary.
• Examined patients and studied symptoms to diagnose conditions.
• Filled prescriptions and scheduled follow-up visits, as appropriate.
• Performed physical exams, ordering and evaluating lab test as well as medications.
• Built trust and rapport with patients by listening to concerns, advocating for wellness and educating on acute and chronic health issues.
• Managed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of various disorders and diseases.
• Assisted patients and their families in feeling at ease during difficult and stressful circumstances, thereby aiding in recovery and minimizing compliance issues.
• Promoted health by advising patients about diet, hygiene and methods for prevention of disease.

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner - Franciscan Physician Network - Indianapolis, IN

(2019-09 - 2021-01)

• Delivered primary care for patients and handled diagnosis, treatment, referral for consultation or specialty services, and follow-up care.
• Maintained patient records and verified patient privacy and clinical compliance to minimize data breaches.
• Ordered lab tests and interpreted test results and maintained patient records.
• Modified treatment and care plans, as necessary.
• Examined patients and studied symptoms to diagnose conditions.
• Filled prescriptions and scheduled follow-up visits, as appropriate.
• Performed physical exams, ordering and evaluating lab tests as well as medications.
• Built trust and rapport with patients by listening to concerns, advocating for wellness and educating on acute and chronic health issues.
• Managed pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of various disorders and diseases.
• Assisted patients and their families in feeling at ease during difficult and stressful circumstances, thereby aiding in recovery and minimizing compliance issues.
• Promoted health by advising patients about diet, hygiene and methods for prevention of disease.

Registered Nurse, Hem-Onc/Palliative Care Nurse - Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - Indianapolis, IN

(2018-07 - 2019-12)

• Provide hematology/oncology patient care through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation provided by evidence based best practice models and guidelines defined by the ANA.
• Provide patient and family education regarding treatment, medications, disease processes and end of life issues, explained treatment procedures, medication risks, special diets and physician instructions to patients.
• Implemented strategic objectives aimed at enhancing patient satisfaction and improving outcomes by providing compassionate, precise, and high-quality care throughout the healthcare system.
• Assist patients with healing and recovery, remain alert to conditions interfering with the safety and well-being of patients, acted as patient advocate and implement total patient care through a team nursing process for hem/onc, palliative and hospice care patients.
• Precept nursing students on practices to drive patient outcome goals, delegate work assignments appropriately to MA/Health techs, deliver high-quality and compassionate treatment, and perform all facets of nursing care with a patient-centered focus while identifying opportunities for improvement across the processes and treatments.
• Administered IV therapy, medications, and wound care, provided quality nursing care to patients in alignment with care policies and procedures, assessed patients, documented vitals and reviewed patient charts to determine care needs.
• Instructed patients, families and caregivers on diagnoses, chronic disease management and prevention and medication self-management to maintain continuum of care.
• Developed and presented in-service training for Inpatient Delirium Risk and Identification.

Registered Nurse, Primary Care Case Manager - Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - Indianapolis, IN

(2016-05 - 2018-07)

• Acted as patient advocate and implemented patient care as part of a patient-aligned care team (PACT) covering 8-10 high acuity patients per shift.
• Provided nursing diagnoses and created complex care plans for patients with chronic and acute health problems, including HTN, MI, arrhythmias, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, DM, CHF, gout, arthralgias, myalgias, syncope, vertigo, and psychological disturbances.
• Developed and implemented group pain management teaching sessions for Veterans receiving opioid and narcotic medications in conjunction with physician consent and contract signing session.
• Managed Unit Huddle Board and ran weekly meetings for updates in patient care improvement, Unit information, hosted experts for systems redesign, and documentation template changes.
• Chaired the Unit Practice Committee, providing support and advancement opportunities for nursing and support staff within the ambulatory care setting.

Registered Nurse Mobile Ambulatory Clinic Team - Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - Indianapolis, IN

(2015-03 - 2016-05)

• Conducted assessments and provided care for patients with chronic and acute health conditions, including myocardial infarctions, arrhythmias, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, renal disease, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatology and urology disorders, and dermatology conditions.
• Assisted with dermatologic procedures including biopsies, UA/UVB therapies, and photo dynamic therapy.
• Assisted with prostate biopsies, vasectomies, cystoscopies, placed and maintained chronic Foley catheters, replaced suprapubic catheters, and administered intravesical immunotherapy Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, for bladder cancer.
• Volunteered to fill gaps for specialty clinics when necessary.
• Volunteered and provided inexperienced staff with orientation, training, support and direction.

Medical ICU Registered Nurse - Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - Indianapolis, IN

(2011-08 - 2015-03)

• Provided quality nursing care to patients in alignment with care policies and procedures and assessed patients, documented vitals, and reviewed patient charts to determine care needs.
• Performed all facets of advanced nursing care with a patient-centered focus while identifying opportunities for improvement across processes and treatments.
• Assessed patients for wounds and conditions and followed the appropriate treatment protocol.
• Prioritized patient care assignments based on patient condition, responding to unanticipated interruptions while delegating care to achieve optimal, safe, and effective outcomes.
• Reviewed physician orders and implemented therapies, treatments, and medications.
• Instructed patients, families and caregivers on diagnoses, chronic disease management and prevention and medication self-management to maintain continuum of care.
• Mentored new nurses on practices, & procedures to drive patient outcome goals, and used individualized instruction techniques to educate students on patient observation, assessment, decision-making and health teaching.
• Precept capstone nursing students as WGU adjunct faculty.
• Mentor staff through the VHA Core Coach/Mentor program.
• Complied with all hospital policies and procedures to ensure every patient's safety and performed all tasks with a patient-centered focus while seeking opportunities for improvement of processes and treatments.
• Treated patients with strokes, head traumas, comas, and intracranial hematomas.

Adjunct Faculty Instructor/Clinical Instructor - Western Governors University - Indianapolis, IN

(2013-01 - 2014-05)

• Clinical preceptor for nursing students working towards their BSN.
• Assisted in the fundamentals of nursing documentation and taught therapeutic communication techniques.
• Instructed nursing students in the hospital setting on the Medical Intensive Care and Medical Step-Down units.
• Instructed students on the sensitivities and nuances of working with the Veteran population.
• Educated and mentored students to help individuals surmount academic obstacles and personal difficulties.
• Used individualized instruction techniques to educate students on patient observation, assessment, decision-making and health teaching.
• Communicated students' individual performance to lead faculty.
• Instructed students in medical emergency interventions and performing comprehensive head to toe assessments.
• Delegated patient assignments to students based on individual learning needs and patient assessments.
• Delivered feedback regarding the effectiveness of clinical settings in facilitating students' achievement of course and program objectives.
• Improved nursing programs through collaboration with department heads, faculty and staff.

Staff Registered Nurse, Hem-Onc - University Health, Simon Cancer Center - Indianapolis, IN

(2011-01 - 2011-08)

• Provide hematology/oncology patient care through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation provided by evidence based best practice models and guidelines defined by the ANA.
• Provide patient and family education regarding treatment, medications, disease processes and end of life issues, explained treatment procedures, medication risks, special diets and physician instructions to patients.
• Promoted a kind, compassionate environment, utilizing active listening and effective communication skills for cancer patients receiving treatment.

Master of Science - Adult Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner - Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (2019-05)

Bachelor of Science - Nursing - Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (2010-12)

Bachelor of Science - Science, Technology, And Society - Butler University (2008-05)