Brenda Kunin
** ******* *****, ********, **., *6798 Cell: 860-***-****
Email: ***********@*****.***
EDUCATION: Mattatuck Community College – Associates Degree in Nursing, 1981
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
9/18/2014 The Kent Specialty Care:
Superviser- Day Shift
Duties: Supervise 2 units, 1 Rehab Unit and 1 Secure Unit, 2
LPN/RN/Charge Nurse and 7 CNA's.Received report from off-going supervisor, checked
for staffing needs, replaced staff callouts for next shift. Performed rounds on all units
monitoring forany safety issues, notify appropriate Dept Head to resolve issue, Monitor
bloodwork and alert MD for Abnormal Values, monitored staff for comprehensive
patient care, alerted M.D. when medical problems arose for orders or transport to
hospital, and arranged transport as needed. Pt. assessments whenever acute situations
arise, Notify MD, Send to Hospital per MD order. Admissions, Discharges, Notify MD of
and f/u with all abnornal Labs, s/s and behaviors. Admit Pt.s from the Hospital to the
facility and schedule all recommended F/U apts indicated on the Discharge Summery.
06/05/2014 Meridian Manor: Waterbury Ct.
Supervisor- Second Shift
Duties: Supervise 3 LPN's and 8 CNA's, Received report from off-
going supervisor, checked for staffing needs, replaced staff callouts for next shift.
Performed rounds on all units monitoring for continued follow through with M.D. orders
for PT’s with medical issues, assessed all units for any safety issues, monitored staff for
comprehensive patient care, alerted M.D. when medical problems arose for orders or
transport to hospital, and arranged transport as needed. Pt. assessments whenever acute
situations arise, Notify MD, Send to Hospital per MD order. Admissions, Discharges,
Notify MD of and f/u with all abnornal Labs, s/s and behaviors.
01/07/2014
Salute Homecare: Waterbury Ct.
PCN- Psychiatric Homecare
Duties: Admit to Homecare, Assess Mental Status, medication
compliance, efficacy and tolerance, mood, affect and behavior, level of depression,
suicidal or homicidal thoughts, sign and symptoms mood instability. Observe for signs
and symptoms of psychosis, and/or thought disorders like thought blocking, nonsensical
speech, etc. Transcribed M.D. orders, assessed signs and symptoms of ETOH, opiate,
benzo withdrawal and medicate as indicated. Educate pt. about illness, medication and
the effect substance abuse has on their work, health and interpersonal relationships.
10/12 – 6/13 United Health Group, Trumbull Ct.
Prior Authorization Nurse
Duties: Gather Medicare required information in order to review
requests from MD’s, vendors and members for diagnostic tests, surgery, DM Equipment,
Prosthetic’s, etc. and approve if it meets Medicare criteria. If not enough information
provided send to the Medical Director for review.
9/10 – 9/12 Highwatch Recovery Center, Kent, Ct.
Staff Nurse – Psychiatric and Addiction Services
Duties: Med Pass, evaluated efficacy and tolerance of medication
and
report side effects to M.D. Assessed for s/s detox from ETOH. Opiates,
Benzodiazepam’s, medicated PRN as indicated. Transcribed M.D. orders, reported
medical and psychiatric issues to MD and psychiatrist for follow-up. Admissions and
discharges.
5/10 – 9/10 Maxim Staffing Solutions, Hamden, CT
Staff Nurse – St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health In-Patient
Psychiatric Hospital
Duties: Shift to shift report, team report with psychiatrist and
treatment coordinator to decide discharges and discuss PT issues. One to one sessions
with PT’s to assess mood, affect and behavior, level of depression, suicidal thoughts,
level of anger or anxiety, mood instability. Observed for signs and symptoms of
psychosis; auditory, visual, tactile or sensory hallucinations. Thought disorders like
thought blocking, nonsensical speech, etc. Medication distribution, assess compliance,
efficacy and tolerance. Transcribed M.D. orders, assess signs and symptoms of ETOH,
Opiate and Benzodiazepine withdrawal and medicate as indicated. Maintain safety on the
unit at all times Educate PT on illness and medication and the effect substance abuse has
on their work, health and interpersonal relationships.
5/02 – 2/09 St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury, CT
Staff Nurse – Behavioral Health, In-Patient Unit
Duties: Received reports from night shift and evaluated follow-up
needed for the day which includes the following: Provide safety to all on Unit. Meet one
to one with each PT to assess mental status, med compliance, efficacy and tolerance. I
also assess PT diet, hydration, ADL’s and sleep patterns, mood, affect and behavior, level
of depression, anxiety, anger, presence and or severity of mood swings. Monitored for
symptoms of suicidality, homicidality, hallucinations, signs and symptoms of withdrawal
from ETOH, Opiate and Benzodiazepine. Report to multi-disciplinary team members my
findings for further MD orders and intended discharge plans, reported need for medical
consults and arrange them. Passed meds, transcribed orders, spoke with family members
for collateral information and passed information to MD. Educated PT about patient’s
illness and medication, addiction and the effect it had on health, interpersonal
relationships, and the ramifications for them with the legal system and employment.
Assigned daily duties to one RN, one MHW and delegated other duties as they came up.
Reported new PT status to oncoming shift
2/01 – 3/02 Park Manor Convalescents Home, Waterbury, CT
Supervisor – Evening Shift, 120-bed facility
Duties: Received report from off-going supervisor, checked for
staffing needs, replaced staff callouts for next shift. Performed rounds on all units
monitoring for continued follow through with M.D. orders for PT’s with medical issues,
assessed all units for any safety issues, monitored staff for comprehensive patient care,
alerted M.D. when medical problems arose for orders or transport to hospital, and
arranged transport as needed.
6/00 – 2/01 Crescent Manor, Waterbury, CT
Supervisor – Evening Shift, 90 bed facility
Duties: Received report from off-going supervisor, checked for
staffing needs, replaced staff callouts for next shift. Performed rounds on all units
monitoring for continued follow through with M.D. orders for PT’s with medical issues,
assessed all units for any safety issues, monitored staff for comprehensive patient care,
alerted M.D. when medical problems arose for orders or transport to hospital, and
arranged transport as needed Same as above plus monthly charts audits.
2/99 – 5/00 Cheshire Convalescent Center, Cheshire, CT
Supervisor – Day Shift, approximate 240-bed facility
Duties: Checked staffing needs, if necessary continued to make
attempts to fill needs. Attended multi-disciplinary team meeting to discuss the needs on
each unit to form a plan of care to meet those needs, and then go to each unit to address
these needs and see to their follow up. Set up IV’s to make sure they were running in
time, checked for signs and symptoms of infection or infiltration. Performed 24 hour
equipment checks, reordered supplies when indicated. Performed annual staff evaluations
and disciplinary actions when indicated. Participated in the process of state and JACO
accreditation.
1992 –1999 Staffing Agencies: Cinda Care, Nurse Network and Key
Personnel
Staff Nurse/Supervisor in convalescent homes, Charge Nurse in
group homes, Clinical Nurse in Correction facilities, both in the
infirmary and on the block.
1991 – 1992 Interim Personnel (Home Care)
Duties: Intakes for the company, evaluated PT needs for Physical
Therapy, Occupational Therapy, RN visits, CNA's, Companions and Housekeeping.
Went to the patient home to provide diabetic teaching and performed accuchecks to
ascertain diabetic status with contact to PT and M.D., whenever indicated. Performed
wound care when ordered.
1981 – 1988 Fairfield Hills Psychiatric Hospital, Newtown, CT
Head Nurse (1983 to 1988)
CVH Psychiatric Hospital
Clinical Nurse II (1982 to 1983)
Altobello Youth Hospital
Clinical Nurse II (1982 to 1982)