Karen Vest

Compassionate and experienced Registered Nurse with 20+ years of clinical nursing experience, including hospice, home health, skilled nursing, pediatrics, acute care, leadership, and clinical informatics. Skilled in managing complex hospice caseloads while providing expert symptom management, compassionate end-of-life care, and comprehensive patient and family education. Known for exceptional clinical judgment, regulatory-compliant documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to preserving patient dignity and improving quality of life.

Dedicated to building trusting relationships with patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams through empathy, professionalism, and patient-centered care.

Pediatric Home Health Registered Nurse (PRN) - PediCare Home Health - Brookhaven, MS

(2025-09)

• Provide one-on-one skilled nursing care during 12-hour in-home shifts for medically complex pediatric patients.
• Care for children with ventilator dependence, enteral tube feedings, colostomies, neurological disorders, and other complex medical conditions.
• Perform ongoing assessments, monitor vital signs, administer medications and treatments, and promptly recognize changes in patient condition.
• Educate family members and caregivers regarding disease management, medical equipment, and individualized care plans.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation while promoting patient safety, comfort, and quality of care.

Hospice Registered Nurse (Field RN) - Dignity Hospice - Brookhaven, MS

(2026-01 - 2026-06)

• Managed a weekly caseload of approximately 20 hospice patients, providing comprehensive end-of-life nursing care in the home setting.
• Performed skilled head-to-toe assessments, monitored vital signs, evaluated symptom progression, and developed individualized plans of care.
• Managed pain and symptom control through medication administration, wound care, and ongoing clinical assessment.
• Coordinated care with physicians, the interdisciplinary hospice team, pharmacies, and durable medical equipment providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Ordered medications, medical supplies, and equipment necessary to meet patient needs.
• Educated patients and families regarding disease progression, symptom management, medication administration, and end-of-life expectations.
• Served as the primary clinical liaison for patients and families, providing compassionate support while maintaining accurate and timely hospice documentation.

Registered Nurse - DiversaCare - Brookhaven, MS

(2025-09 - 2026-01)

• Provided skilled nursing care for a 20–30 patient assignment in a long-term care and rehabilitation setting.
• Administered medications and treatments while monitoring patient response and overall clinical status.
• Performed comprehensive nursing assessments and identified changes in condition requiring physician notification or hospital transfer.
• Supervised and delegated responsibilities to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to ensure quality patient care.
• Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary team members to implement individualized care plans.
• Maintained accurate documentation and ensured compliance with state and facility regulations.

Family Caregiver - Primary Nurse and Care Coordinator for Elderly Parent - Primary Care (Self) - McKinney, TX

(2024-01 - 2025-12)

• Delivered full-time skilled nursing care including medication management, wound care, and chronic disease monitoring (hypertension, diabetes, mobility issues).
• Coordinated care plans, medical appointments, and transitions of care across multiple providers and specialists.
• Managed daily living support (ADLs) with a focus on safety, dignity, and quality of life.
• Advocated for patient needs during provider visits, ensuring continuity of care and compliance with treatment plans.

Clinical Informatics Contractor - TekSystems - Dallas, TX

(2023-01 - 2023-12)

• Troubleshot EMR and interface issues and collaborated with IT to validate new modules for Women's Services, maintaining uninterrupted clinical workflows.
• Shadowed units to map current-state workflows and recommend improvements aligned to end-user needs and compliance standards.
• Designed concise training guides for nursing staff to increase adoption and accuracy with new interfaces.

Pediatric Home Health Registered Nurse - MGA Healthcare - Dallas, TX

(2020-01 - 2022-12)

• Provided comprehensive nursing care to chronically ill pediatric patients as primary RN; developed individualized plans of care and taught families and caregivers.
• Coordinated therapies and communicated with external providers to ensure continuity, safety, and goal alignment.
• Administered medications and treatments; reinforced infection control and documentation best practices in the home setting.

Information Systems Clinical Analyst and Labor and Delivery RN - Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Frisco - Frisco, TX

(2008-01 - 2019-12)

• Supervised and trained clinical end users; implemented upgrades and optimized EMR workflows to strengthen documentation accuracy and survey readiness.
• Served on Forms and Policy Committee; aligned documentation with regulatory requirements and organizational standards.
• Managed CPN system (forms, chart templates, print templates, access control), ensuring secure cross-system data flow.
• Built computed items to streamline documentation, support acuity assessment, and cue appropriate interventions for nursing staff.
• Developed dashboards and reports and delivered monthly statistics to leadership; partnered with management to validate data integrity.
• Championed physician super users and delivered targeted education and remediation for nursing staff to improve compliance and legal documentation quality.
• Recognitions: CPN System Manager of the Year (2016); President, CPN User Group (2015–2018).

Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse - Medical City Plano - Plano, TX

(2004-01 - 2007-12)

• Delivered triage, antepartum, intrapartum, surgical, and postpartum care; monitored FHR and maternal status and initiated timely interventions.
• Collaborated with physicians and OR teams; supported safe transition of mother and infant to postpartum care.

Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse - Parkland Hospital and Health Systems - Dallas, TX

(2003-01 - 2004-12)

• Completed L&D residency; provided comprehensive care from triage through post-delivery with a focus on safety and patient education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Baylor University (2003-05)