Chandra Cousin

Dedicated and meticulous Registered Nurse with over 20 years of healthcare experience, specializing in Patient Safety, Quality Management, and Clinical Regulatory Compliance. Proven track record of developing organizational safety policies, conducting Root Cause Analyses (RCA/HFMEA), managing event reporting systems, and driving performance improvements across large healthcare networks and federal/military health systems.

Registered Nurse – Patient Safety & Quality Management Nurse - Emory Healthcare - Atlanta, GA

(2017-04)

• Patient Safety Leadership & Policy: Partnered with executive and entity leaders to establish and implement system-wide patient safety programs, promoting a robust culture of safety and "Just Culture" principles.
• Event Analysis & Risk Reduction: Investigated complex patient safety issues using advanced event analysis methodologies, including Root Cause Analyses (RCAs), Aggregate Cause Analyses (ACAs), and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs)
• Data Monitoring & Reporting: Monitored and analyzed organizational outcome data via reporting safety systems (SAFE) to identify trends, prioritize problem areas, and apprise leadership of corrective action plans.
• Quality & Compliance Monitoring: Manage data collection, abstraction, and outcome evaluation for CMS and The Joint Commission regulatory requirements, directly linking core measure data to quality and safety outcomes.
• EMR & Platform Proficiency: Leverage advanced expertise in electronic medical record systems and data platforms—including Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, McKesson, and Medisolv—to evaluate clinical care delivery and support quality improvement initiatives
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Served as a functional liaison to Risk Management and multidisciplinary committees, disseminating lessons learned and safety improvements across the healthcare system.

Registered Nurse – Quality Ambulatory Nurse / Patient Safety Consultant - Defense Health Agency - DiLorenzo Clinic - Arlington, VA

(2016-11 - 2017-03)

• Military Health System Support (DHA Alignment): Provided specialized consultation on HQ-level patient safety policies, analysis of clinical outcome data, and healthcare quality support for military treatment facilities.
• HIT System Alerts & EHR Modernization: Implemented and managed standardized processes for handling Health Information Technology (HIT) system alerts related to patient safety; coordinated planning and implementation efforts regarding Electronic Health Record (EHR) modernization.
• Staff Consultation & Training: Delivered consultation, coaching, mentoring, and education to field staff regarding Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) processes and patient safety standards.
• Regulatory Readiness: Facilitated quality assurance committees governing infection control and patient safety, preparing the facility for The Joint Commission (TJC) readiness and executing sentinel event reviews.

Registered Nurse – Patient Safety Manager / Acting Director of Patient Safety - Washington DC VA Medical Center - Washington, DC

(2015-03 - 2016-11)

• Leadership & Program Management: Selected to serve as Acting Director of Patient Safety, overseeing institutional patient safety programs and coordinating policies aligned with national goals
• Incident Analysis & Training: Facilitated RCAs and HFMEAs, collecting and aggregating safety data (medication events, falls) to implement targeted process improvements
• Cross-Functional Education: Educated front-line staff, supervisors, and executive leadership on VHA, National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS), and TJC standards

Registered Nurse – Ambulatory Care & Charge Nurse - W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center - Salisbury, NC

(2012-11 - 2015-03)

Registered Nurse – Acute Care: Medical-Surgical / Telemetry - Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center - Richmond, VA

(2012-01 - 2012-11)

Registered Nurse – Acute Care: Med-Surgical / Telemetry per diem & Travel Nurse - Favorite Healthcare Staffing / Travel - Charlotte, NC

(2004-07 - 2012-01)

Registered Nurse – Acute Care: Vascular Step-Down Telemetry Unit - Sentara Norfolk General Hospital - Norfolk, VA

(2010-02 - 2011-06)

Licensed Practical Nurse - Various Healthcare Facilities

(2002 - 2010)

Experienced in Long term care, Home Health and Pediatrics

Master of Science in Nursing Administration - Nursing Administration - Liberty University (2015 - 2018)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Norfolk State University (2005 - 2009)

Licensed Practical Nurse - Nursing - Norfolk Technical Vocational School (2000 - 2002)