RN Clinical Care Coordinator - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, TX
(2020-07 - 2026-05)
Integrated nursing expertise within the VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care for improved veteran outcomes.
- Streamlined care coordination processes through adept triaging and timely service direction.
- Demonstrated exceptional decision-making and critical thinking in clinical practice.
- Leveraged comprehensive understanding of referral care, documentation, and management standards.
- Facilitated veteran navigation through care options using nursing knowledge and systems theory.
- Served as liaison to internal and community providers, managing veteran consultations effectively.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to influence positive care outcomes.
- Supported VA-mandated processes for effective care coordination and documentation tracking.
RNTTP Nurse Residency Program Director - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, TX
(2018-02 - 2020-07)
- Guided novice nurses to become competent professionals within nursing residency program, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence.
- Achieved 100% retention rate for all cohorts since June 2017.
- Designed program curriculum incorporating simulation activities to promote patient safety culture.
- Developed and implemented patient safety policies aligned with national center standards.
RNTTP Nurse Residency Program Coordinator - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas
(2016-11 - 2018-02)
- Designated by clinical practice office senior leadership to deliver comprehensive instruction for clinicians, support staff, patients, families, and the community.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate RN Transition to Practice (RNTTP) program effectiveness.
- Coordinated all aspects of the preceptor program within the RNTTP framework.
- Facilitated nurse resident transitions from novice to competent professional levels.
- Led planning and delivery of educational opportunities for post-graduate RN preceptors and transition-to-practice teams, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
- Developed and delivered education programs focused on enhancing patient care services and supporting RN nurse transition to practice.
- Served as clinical instructor while overseeing designated clinical education activities.
- Participated actively in workshops and classroom teaching environments to advance career education.
Clinical Nursing Simulation Lab Instructor - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas
(2015-01 - 2016-11)
- Demonstrated leadership in applying SimLearn to enhance staff competence and patient care outcomes.
- Guided simulation training and debriefing processes for various scenarios, including CIWA awareness and mock codes.
- Coordinated simulation events for residents and physicians, improving hands-on training and preparedness in clinical settings.
- Designed simulation scenarios tailored to diverse disciplines, ensuring alignment with scope of practice.
- Led ethical simulations during National Ethics Week for 91 disciplines, including nurses and physicians.
- Fostered therapeutic learning environment through constructive feedback during debriefing sessions, promoting reflective practice and skill development.
- Collaborated with associate chief of nursing research to implement dysphagia screening tools, enhancing assessment capabilities for emergency room staff.
- Worked with care line executives to plan simulations for licensed and unlicensed staff across multiple levels.
- Partnered with clinical staff council to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in care delivery, resulting in better patient outcomes.
- Assessed and addressed developmental needs of nurses, fostering timely professional growth and enhancing overall team capability.
- Conducted just-in-time training to support root cause analysis processes.
- Maintained effective working relationships to align with organizational goals across departments.
Perianesthesia Nurse-Operative Care Line - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas
(2010-09 - 2015-01)
- Chaired unit council in PACU, driving initiatives to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency.
- Managed staff scheduling to maintain optimal unit operations and patient care standards and facilitated in-services to maintain staff competency at all times.
- Resolved issues related to staff scheduling and adherence to PACU protocols.
- Conducted monthly unit council meetings to apply evidence-based practices for improved patient care.
- Encouraged staff participation in performance improvement and lean management initiatives.
- Communicated vital information on patient care documentation and policies to all staff.
- Created, developed, and initiated a pain management protocol and policy guidelines in collaboration with the Chief of Anesthesia for PACU staff to follow based on evidence-based practice for post-operative pain management for surgical patients in Phase I and Phase II recovery.
- Created, developed, and initiated standard of practice guidelines in collaboration with the anesthesia department for post anesthesia care nurses to follow when monitoring end tidal CO2 in PACU.
- Member of the Root Cause Analysis Fall Aggregate Team in 2010 and 2013: Utilized an interdisciplinary approach to review falls within the organization and developed a plan to reduce falls as well as ensure accurate documentation by nursing staff was being placed regarding types of patient falls.
Acute Care Registered Nurse - Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas
(2008-02 - 2010-09)
- Acquired clinical skills to deliver high-quality care for pre-operative and post-operative patients.
- Assessed patient status, notifying physicians of critical clinical changes.
- Collaborated with healthcare team members to evaluate anticipated patient discharges.
- Educated patients and families on care options and encouraged their involvement in decision-making.
- Maintained confidential patient charts and files while ensuring compliance with Joint Commission standards.
- Developed systematic processes for documenting patient education and monitoring PRN effectiveness.
- Facilitated daily huddles to optimize patient flow and placement in operative care.
- Scheduled in-services for nursing staff to enhance clinical skills and ensure safety practices.
