Lynda Khisa

Registered Nurse with 10 years of diverse clinical experience, including 6 years in Medical-Surgical Nursing and 2 years in Psychiatric/Behavioral Health Nursing. Experienced in providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals with complex medical and behavioral health needs in fast-paced inpatient settings. Skilled in patient assessment, medication administration, care planning, crisis intervention, behavioral management, therapeutic communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Psychiatric nursing experience includes caring for patients with acute and chronic mental health conditions, managing behavioral crises, conducting safety and suicide-risk assessments, and utilizing de-escalation techniques. Strong clinical judgment, communication, and leadership skills with a commitment to patient safety, advocacy, and high-quality nursing care.

Willing to relocate: Anywhere

Registered Nurse (RN) - Connections Health Solutions - Kirkland, WA

(2025-08)

• Perform comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health assessments.
• Assess and monitor patients for suicidal ideation (SI), homicidal ideation (HI), self-harm, aggression, and other safety risks.
• Conduct ongoing mental status examinations and document changes in mood, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
• Provide nursing care to patients with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance use disorders, and other psychiatric conditions.
• Administer psychiatric medications and monitor therapeutic effects, adverse reactions, and medication compliance.
• Utilize therapeutic communication, crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, and trauma-informed care techniques.
• Manage acute behavioral crises while maintaining patient and staff safety.
• Monitor patients experiencing alcohol and substance withdrawal using assessment tools such as CIWA and COWS.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans.
• Maintain appropriate observation and safety precautions based on patient risk level.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, psychiatric providers, social workers, therapists, case managers, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Provide patient education regarding medications, diagnoses, coping strategies, treatment plans, and discharge recommendations.
• Coordinate admissions, transfers, and discharges within behavioral health settings.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and legally appropriate nursing documentation.
• Establish therapeutic boundaries while promoting patient dignity, autonomy, and recovery.
• Serve in charge and leadership responsibilities, including coordinating patient care, supporting nursing staff, and responding to clinical or behavioral emergencies.

Registered Nurse - Telecare Corporation - Stanwood, WA

(2023-03 - 2025-07)

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric nursing assessments and mental status examinations.
• Assess patients for suicide, self-harm, violence, elopement, and other safety risks.
• Provide direct nursing care to patients experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric conditions.
• Administer psychotropic medications and monitor effectiveness, side effects, and adverse reactions.
• Utilize therapeutic communication and establish professional therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Provide crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation during behavioral emergencies.
• Implement suicide, self-harm, assault, fall, and elopement precautions as indicated.
• Monitor and manage patients experiencing alcohol and substance withdrawal using CIWA and COWS protocols.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to changes in psychiatric and medical status.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans.
• Participate in behavioral emergency responses, including seclusion and restraint procedures when clinically indicated and consistent with policy.
• Provide trauma-informed and patient-centered psychiatric care.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, psychiatric providers, social workers, therapists, case managers, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, coping skills, treatment plans, and discharge care.
• Complete admissions, transfers, discharges, and ongoing psychiatric nursing documentation.
• Maintain therapeutic boundaries and a safe, structured treatment environment.
• Advocate for patients’ rights, dignity, safety, and least-restrictive treatment.
• Perform charge nurse responsibilities, including coordinating unit activities, delegating assignments, supporting staff, and responding to emergencies.

Registered Nurse (RN, BSN) - EvergreenHealth - Kirkland, WA

(2022-08 - 2023-03)

• Perform comprehensive head-to-toe and focused assessments for patients with complex, multisystem medical conditions, identifying subtle changes in clinical status and escalating care appropriately.
• Manage patients with acute respiratory compromise and chronic respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy care, mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, CPAP/BiPAP, airway clearance, and continuous respiratory monitoring.
• Provide advanced tracheostomy care, including sterile suctioning, airway assessment, secretion management, site care, dressing changes, and emergency response to airway obstruction or accidental decannulation.
• Manage ventilator-dependent patients by monitoring respiratory status, ventilator settings, alarms, oxygen saturation, work of breathing, and patient-ventilator tolerance while collaborating with respiratory therapy and medical providers.
• Manage complex enteral nutrition through G-tube/PEG access, including medication administration, feeding management, tube maintenance, aspiration precautions, and assessment for feeding-related complications.
• Administer and monitor oral, enteral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications while evaluating therapeutic response, adverse reactions, interactions, and changes in clinical condition.
• Perform IV insertion, venipuncture, specimen collection, wound assessment and treatment, infection prevention, and other skilled nursing procedures.
• Recognize and respond rapidly to acute deterioration, including hypoxia, respiratory distress, altered mental status, hemodynamic changes, aspiration, infection, airway obstruction, and other medical emergencies.
• Interpret clinical trends including vital signs, oxygen saturation, respiratory status, neurological findings, intake and output, laboratory results, and response to treatment to guide nursing interventions.
• Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate individualized care plans for patients with multiple diagnoses, medical comorbidities, and complex treatment regimens.
• Coordinate care with physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, rehabilitation professionals, specialists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Implement fall, aspiration, infection, pressure-injury, and other patient-specific safety precautions based on ongoing risk assessment.
• Provide patient and family education regarding medications, respiratory equipment, tracheostomy care, enteral feeding, disease management, warning signs, and emergency preparedness.
• Maintain accurate, detailed, and timely documentation of assessments, interventions, medication administration, procedures, clinical changes, provider notifications, and patient responses.
• Prioritize competing clinical needs while maintaining patient safety, continuity of care, and effective communication in fast-paced, high-acuity environments.

Registered Nurse (RN) - THE NAIROBI HOSPITAL - Nairobi

(2015-02 - 2019-07)

• Provided direct patient care, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting with daily activities
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare team to develop and implement individualized care plans for patients
• Assessed patient conditions and communicated changes to physicians, ensuring timely interventions
• Performed various diagnostic tests and procedures, such as blood draws, IV insertions, and wound dressings
• Maintained accurate medical records and documentation of patient assessments, treatments, and outcomes
• Educated patients and their families on disease management strategies, medication administration, and post-discharge care instructions
• Managed multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail

Bachelor of Science - Nursing (BSN) - Grand Canyon University

Diploma - Kenya Registered Nursing - Cicely McDonnell School of Nursing

University degree - Nursing - Nairobi University (2017-03 - 2018-09)

College - Nursing - Nairobi Hospital (2012-03 - 2015-02)

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Associate Degree in Nursing