KAREN VILLARREAL

EXPERIENCE

R N, U N I V E R S I T Y O F C O L O R A D O H E A LT H, M E D I C A L C E N T E R O F T H E

RO C K I E S, P RO G R E S S I V E C A R E U N I T M A R 2 0 1 0 - C U R R E N T !

Care for up to three patients with critical care needs. Work in collaboration with fellow employees and

management to open up Cardiovascular Intermediate Unit (now called Progressive Care Unit) and

enlarging to full 12 bed unit. Management of hemodynamic drips, insulin drips, blood and blood product

administration. Care of drains, chest tubes, arterial lines, femoral sheaths, Cpap machines, long term trach/

vent patients, and deep tissue wounds. Close monitoring of patients who are Cardiac Alerts, Respiratory

distress, DKA, and TNK. Post CABG or valve replacement, Sepsis, bowel obstructions, OD, GI bleeds, post-

op carotids and thoracotomies. Assist at bedside with moderate sedation for EGD, Colonoscopy,

Bronchoscopy, Cardioversion and PEG placement. Transport patient for off the floor tests/procedures and

providing pain management and sedation. Assisting on other units when patients shows signs of decline.

Completing Charge Nurse duties 1-3 days/week for 12 bed unit.

R N, U N I V E R S I T Y O F C O L O R A D O H E A L T H, P O U D R E VA L L E Y H O S P I T A L,

T E L E M E T RY W E S T U N I T MAR 2007- MAR 2010

Care for 4-5 patients in need of cardiac monitoring such as chest pain, post cardiac catheter procedures,

CHF, PE, DVT, new onset AFib, Bradycardia, and post-op pacer placement. Specific education in ECG

monitoring and cardiac medications.

U A, U N I V E R S I T Y O F C O L O R A D O H E A L T H, P O U D R E VA L L E Y H O S P I T A L,

SAC/PACU SEPT 2003- MAR 2007

Assist nurses in the pre-operative and post anesthesia care units. Surgical scrubs, order input, stocking,

maintenance, cleaning, patient transport, and assisting patients with needs to discharge home.

H E A LT H P R O M O T I O N C O O R D I N AT O R, U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I C H I G A N

H E A LT H S Y S T E M, M F I T H E A LT H P R O M O T I O N D I V I S I O N

APR 1996-MAR 1998

Ford-Wayne Stamping Fitness Center. Corresponded with Union and Ford representatives, provided staff

organization, meetings, management and scheduling. Developed health promotion advertising and

quarterly newsletter. Assessed company needs and expansion development. Performed yearly staff

performance plans and strengthened rapport of MFit with the Union and Ford.

F I T N E S S S P E C I A L I S T, U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I C H I G A N H E A L T H S Y S T E M,

M F I T H E A LT H P R O M O T I O N D I V I S I O N J A N 1 9 9 3 - M A R 1 9 9 6

Ford-Sterling Wellness Center. Opening of new facility. Facilitated fitness assessments, orientations and

member follow -up. Organization, fitness class instruction, design education handouts Implement incentive

and education programs.

E D U C AT I O N

O U R L A DY O F T H E L A K E U N I V E R S I T Y

MASTERS OF NURSING IN LEADERSHIP

S A N A N T O N I O, T E X A S - C U R R E N T LY E N R O L L E D

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H E R N C O L O R A D O, G R E E L E Y, C O L O R A D O

B AC H E L O R O F S C I E N C E I N N U R S I N G, D E C . 2 0 0 6

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H E R N C O L O R A D O, G R E E L E Y, C O L O R A D O

B A C H E L O R O F A R T S I N K I N E S I O L O G Y, D E C . 1 9 9 2

H A I R D Y N A M I C S, L I C E N S E D C O S M E T O L O G Y, DEC. 1989

Additional Work Experience:

- Owned and operated 2 separate personal businesses dealing with customer care.

- Home Health provided to personal family member with MS for a total of 5 years PRN. On call

for falls and health issues. Assist in bathing and personal care. Transportation to and from

appointments. Assist with medication administration. Transport to Urgent Care/ED when

needed. Monthly foot care. Monitoring wounds.

- Home Health provided by private pay to pt with stroke every Friday and Saturday evening for a

total of 1 year. Assist in feeding, bathing, medication administration, changing and placing in bed

each evening. Monitoring wounds and skin care. Applying medical braces prior to bed.

- Leadership in health promotion, exercise science, clinical education. Continuing education in

Sepsis, Fundamentals of Critical Care, National Teaching Institute attendance 2012 (Inotropes

and Vasoactive agents, Identifying clinical emergencies, shock resuscitation, coagulation cascade,

nursing law, healthcare finance and reform, patient’s perspective, Neurological emergencies),

Critical care essentials, CVRN certification, Thomas Concepts, Moderate Sedation, Pain

Management, Neuraxial Analgesia, Respiratory Assessment, CIWA, CC Cardiac, CC Pacers, CC

Hemodynamics, CC Pulmonary, CC Neurology, CC Emergency Response, CC 12 Lead ECG,

Care of the Heart Surgery Patient, CPR, and ACLS.

- Awards: Employee of the Year Nominee (MCR), Outstanding Service Award (Ford Wayne),

Quarterly R.I.S.E. award (Ford Sterling), Outstanding Performance Award (Ford Sterling)

- Corporate Support: EPIC superuser, Change Agent

I began my health care career as a unit assistant in the pre-op and recovery room of a

local top 100, Magnet hospital. This positioned served me well as I completed my nursing

education. I attended an accelerated nursing program as I previously hold a Bachelors in

Kinesiology. Upon completion of my Bachelors of Nursing, I began working on a cardiac

telemetry unit of the same hospital and later transferred to an intermediate intensive care unit.

My bachelors of Kinesiology placed me in Corporate Wellness. After having some personal

time with my children, I became a unit assistant/nurse aid, and progressed to a Registered

Nurse. As you can see, each of these career choices are service driven to assist those I meet

with making them healthier and making them feel better while giving me the opportunity to

teach them how to care for themselves. I also advanced to a leadership role in each position I

held so that I was able to teach other aids, nursing students, new grad students, and

experienced nurses alike.

The position I currently hold is a Charge Nurse in the Progressive Care Unit, which

opened June 2010 as a 6 bed unit. The staff was trained in CICU and quickly advanced to

running the PCU independently while coordinating staffing and workflow through the charge

nurse of CICU. After the first six to nine months, those who had previous charge nurse

abilities, myself included, took on the charge nurse role to facilitate workflow. All the staff

worked in conjunction to set up unit organization, smooth out workflow issues and brainstorm

ideas for our unit. It was also our responsibility to communicate closely with CICU, our direct

manager, our educator, the house supervisor, and our division supervisor. While learning the

intricate details of becoming an intermediate care nurse, I also learned how to grow a unit from

six to 12 beds, teach and learn from fellow staff members, work alongside different

communication styles and honed in on problem solving. PCU cares for a large variety of

intermediate care patients, some with no health history but most with multiple co-morbitities.

This position taught me how to look at the whole picture then make distinct decisions based on

each patients admitting diagnosis. Other than stretching my nursing knowledge, it allowed me

the opportunity to communicate with the patients and family members to help them

understand current problems, body processes and steps toward discharge.

Noticing how much leadership is involved in my current position, and that I have

always progressed to a leadership role, I now feel it would be beneficial and in my best interest

to pursue an advanced degree by completing an MSN in Leadership. Professionally, I would

like to become a driving force behind my employer along with being a support system for my

team but also keep in mind that the greatest need is to care for each and every patient.

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