Chiemena Carrena

Visionary healthcare leader with over a decade of progressive experience in acute care operations, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement across leading health systems. Proven record of achieving zero hospital-acquired infections, leading accreditation readiness, and building high-reliability, high-performing teams that deliver measurable quality outcomes. Adept at translating data into strategy, engaging multidisciplinary teams, and driving system wide initiatives in performance improvement, patient safety, and regulatory excellence.

Director Patient Care Services at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Clara Maass Medical Center (2024-11 – Present)

Provide strategic leadership for inpatient medical-surgical oncology operations, ensuring excellence in quality, safety, and compliance.

• Partner cross-functionally with unit leaders, Quality, Infection Control, and Physicians to attain 100% reduction in CLABSI, CAUTI, HAPI and 60% reduction in Fall within 12 months of assuming departmental leadership
• Drive system alignment with Joint Commission, CMS, and DOH standards, maintaining survey readiness at all times.
• Develop and monitor key quality indicators, translating performance data into actionable improvements in patient satisfaction, most notably in Rate Hospital Domain from 12th% to 84th % Rank within 15 months of assuming departmental leadership
• Champion a culture of safety and accountability, reinforcing High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles across all levels of staff.

Director Patient Care Services at Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley (2024-05 – 2024-11)

• Directed all inpatient unit operations with focus on regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and budget maintenance and optimization.
• Collaborated with CNO and CEO to redesign and implement strategic performance improvement initiatives, driving measurable clinical outcomes around falls and Patient satisfaction
• Led survey readiness activities and policy alignment with state and federal standards
• Executed budget and financial management to support growth and business development despite sustained low inpatient census
• Fostered an environment of collaboration with nurse leaders, department administrators and physicians

Manager Patient Care – Medicine Telemetry Oncology Overflow Unit at Northwell Health, Long Island Jewish Medical Center (2022-05 – 2024-05)

• Managed a 50+ FTE department, overseeing daily operations, staffing, and budgetary needs.
• Implemented strategic initiatives to enhance patient care outcomes, achieving zero CAUTI, zero CLABSI, zero HAPI, and a 60% fall rate reduction.
• Partnered with regulatory bodies and senior leadership to sustain Magnet designation
• Analyzed key performance data, driving improvements in clinical processes and patient satisfaction.
• Drove a Tier 1 employee engagement score with an RN turnover rate under 10%, reinforcing operational stability

Manager, Medical Surgical, Telemetry Unit at Mount Sinai West Hospital (2020-05 – 2022-01)

• Promoted to manage operations for a 37-bed medical-surgical and telemetry unit with 55 FTEs.
• Developed and enforced processes to enhance compliance with the Joint Commission standards.
• Conducted regular chart and environmental audits, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
• Led service recovery initiatives, addressing patient grievances and improving overall satisfaction.

Asst. Nurse Manager, Medical Surgical, Oncology, Hemodialysis Unit at Mount Sinai West Hospital (2020-05 – 2022-01)

• Functioned as an assistant nurse manager on a 36 oncology bed and 6 hemodialysis bed unit with 47 FTE
• Supervised all clinical functions in accordance with regulatory body standards
• Conducted patient satisfaction rounds, identifying opportunities to enhance care delivery.
• Collaborated with leadership to develop initiatives aimed at reducing patient complaints and improving service quality.
• Huddled daily with staff during shift change

Interim Assistant Nurse Manager/ Clinical Nurse I, Medical Surgical Oncology Unit at New York-Presbyterian/Queens Hospital (2019-03 – 2020-05)

• Provided care for patients with medical and surgical conditions on a 50 bed unit
• Attended Nurse leadership rounds with Nurse Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager
• Assisted Nurse Manager in organizing unit-based team building activities
• Collaborated with patient, patients' families and interdisciplinary team to develop and execute plan of care
• Engaged in teamwork with colleagues to provide world class patient care on the unit

Clinical Nurse I, Geriatric/Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit at New York-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital (2013-09 – 2019-03)

• Served as Charge Nurse on NICHE Age Friendly Unit, overseeing unit workflow, compliance, and patient safety.
• Assisted in the development of process improvements, resulting in enhanced patient outcomes.
• Provided care to patients with a variety of medical conditions on a 35-bed unit
• Collaborated with healthcare team in planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients
• Advocated for patients by assessing patient's status and informing physicians of any changes
• Administered medications and executed physician orders in a timely manner

Master of Science Degree in Nursing in Nursing – CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING (2017-01 – 2018-11)

Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in Nursing – LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF NURSING (2015-05 – 2015-05)