Shari Caswick

Experienced nursing professional with over 24 years in hospital settings, specializing in surgical and endoscopy nursing, risk management, and IV therapy. Skilled in patient care coordination, intraoperative support, and staff training, with expertise in legal risk education and advanced monitoring techniques.

Nurse Surgery (OR), and Pre-op at Rush Medical Center (2022-01 – Present)

• Assisted physicians during surgical procedures as a scrub nurse
• Administered all pre-operative medications as ordered
• Ensured all surgical equipment and instruments were functioning properly, ready, and available
• Documented all pertinent patient information in the Epic system, including surgical procedures and administered medications
• Collected comprehensive patient histories including all relevant information
• Ensured complete and accurate completion of pre-operative consent forms
• Prepared instrument trays for surgical procedures and ensured all trays contained the proper instruments accounted for
• Implemented sterile technique protocols that reduced surgical site contamination risks during operations
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate patient flow and optimize operating room scheduling efficiency

Staff Nurse: Endoscopy at Hinsdale Hospital (2017-01 – 2021-12)

• Assist physician with all endoscopy procedures including Egd, Colonsoscopy, EUS, ERCP'S, and Bronchoscopy and Motility Studies, Food Bolus, GI bleeding
• Worked with physicians in many disciplines including GI, Pulmonary, Pediatrics, Surgery and Anesthesia
• Problem solve equipment, scheduling and staffing issues
• Managed patient care including pre admission, intra-op procedure and post discharge
• Coordinated with physicians, patient teaching post op and with all Esophageal manometry and Bravo studies
• Liaison between physicians and staff

Agency Nurse: Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit and Endoscopy Nurse at Weiss Memorial Hospital (2013-01 – 2017-12)

• Monitor and recovered patients from phase 1 to phase 2 post op surgical procedures
• Monitor and administer medications including post op pain management
• Provide education and discharge instructions to all phase 2 recovery patients
• Implemented enhanced patient assessment protocols to identify early signs of post-anesthesia complications, reducing adverse events
• Trained new nursing staff on specialized post-anesthesia care techniques, increasing unit competency and adherence to clinical guidelines
• Managed documentation and compliance with regulatory standards for post-anesthesia care, ensuring audit readiness and quality assurance

Staff Nurse: Float Pool, IV Therapy, Same Day Surgery at Rush University Medical Center (2007-01 – 2013-12)

• Admitted and prepped patients for surgery, assisted with procedures such as epidural blocks
• Monitored and recovered patients post op
• Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to streamline patient flow in Same Day Surgery, reducing wait times by 70%
• Implemented evidence-based protocols for IV therapy that enhanced patient safety and minimized complications
• Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify patient-specific needs and tailored care plans accordingly
• Collaborated with pharmacy and infection control to optimize antimicrobial administration and adherence
• Utilized electronic health record systems to document and track IV therapy administration, enhancing accuracy and compliance
• Streamlined inventory management for IV therapy supplies, reducing waste and ensuring availability for high-demand procedures
• Analyzed patient feedback to develop targeted communication strategies that improved understanding of postoperative care instructions

Staff Nurse: ICU, Float Pool Registry at Christ Hospital (1998-01 – 2010-12)

• Enhanced early detection of critical changes in ICU patients by implementing advanced patient monitoring techniques
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans that improved patient recovery trajectories
• Mentored and trained new float pool nurses on nursing protocols, enhancing team readiness and competency
• Utilized electronic health record systems to streamline documentation and improve accuracy of patient data
• Conducted comprehensive assessments of ventilated patients to optimize respiratory support and minimize complications
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans improving patient recovery trajectories

Endoscopy Nurse at UIC Health Systems (2017-02 – 2020-01)

• Monitored patient responses during sedation using specialized monitoring tools, ensuring timely intervention and stable vitals
• Trained new nursing staff on endoscopy suite best practices, elevating overall team competency and care quality
• Facilitated patient education sessions on pre- and post-endoscopy care, enhancing compliance and reducing readmission rates
• Led quality improvement initiatives targeting sedation protocols, resulting in enhanced patient comfort and reduced adverse events

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Trinity Christian College (1998-01)