CAREER OBJECTIVES: Healthcare has always been my lifelong goal. I love to make people happy, and I found that I could do that by making them feel better. Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare field. My original objective was to become a Paramedic, but I changed career plans to nursing. This was a decision I have never regretted. Although I love being a nurse, I never completely lost my desire to become a paramedic. After becoming a nurse, I still regularly volunteered with a local volunteer rescue squad (Forest View Volunteer Rescue Squad, Richmond Virginia). During my EMS days, I had the opportunity to take a paramedic program. I had finally fulfilled my original dream. Adult/Pediatric Emergency nursing and volunteer EMS were my passion for 12+ years, but I was becoming burned out and knew I needed to make a change. Another area of interest was in the field of neonatology. I applied for a position in the NICU and was subsequently hired. There, I found my second love. As much as I loved the NICU, I still, at times, missed the excitement of being in the back of an ambulance as a volunteer medic. Although volunteer EMS is part of my past, I still occasionally found myself in the back of an ambulance as a member of our NICU’s Neonatal Transport Team. But (after nearly 13 years in the NICU) all good things must come to an end. Due to health problems beyond my control, and 3 months out on FMLA, it became plainly clear that I would no longer be able to work in the NICU. During my leave, I happened to be in AM Admits with a family member who was having surgery. I had no idea what the staff in AM’s did. When I was allowed to go back and visit with my dad. While there, I watched the staff work. I was very intrigued because all of the staff seemed happy and enjoyed what they were doing. I spoke with my dad’s nurse and asked her what exactly they did in AM’s. It all sounded very interesting, and this nurse encouraged me to apply, which I did. As a nurse in AM Admits, I have definitely found another love. I never thought that I would want to care for adults again, but as an AM’s nurse, I have found that this adult interaction has been a very refreshing and enjoyable change. Although I still work in AM’s, I primarily work in our Anesthesia prep area. These are mostly inpatients coming down for surgery or from the ER, but we also get patients who have come in through AM’s for surgery and need some sort of pre-operative procedure done (by anesthesia) prior to going to surgery. These pre-operative procedures could be a peripheral nerve block, arterial line insertion, placement of a spinal or epidural, or even need to be on the cardiac monitor for any number of reasons, just to name a few examples. The patients we get from upstairs or the ER are stable for the most part, but we have also had many patients who have come to us who do not fit the picture from the report we have gotten, and are significantly sicker than anticipated. As our policy states, we are not to take pts in our unit who are from the ICU or meet ICU criteria. We are not ICU nurses. But when we get a particularly sick patient, or when an AM’s patient decompensates for whatever reason, the ER nurse in me kicks in, and I jump into action. I love the acuteness of their condition, and it definitely reminds me of what I loved most about ER nursing. Although I do not have any desire to go back to the ER, or become an ICU nurse, I do particularly enjoy taking care of these patients. It makes me have to use my critical thinking skills/abilities.

EDUCATION:

Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2014

J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College

Associate Degree in Nursing, 1994

LICENSES:

Registered Nurse – VA, United States

State License Number: 000*******

Expires: November 30, 2024

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Winchester Medical Center, Winchester VA 2005-Present

2019-Present AM Admissions – staff nurse

As a staff nurse, I care for both pre- and post-operative patients. For pre-

op patients, I prepare patients for their surgery. This includes, but not

limited to reviewing pts history/meds/allergies, clip and prep, give any

ordered pre-op meds, make sure all pre-op documentation is complete.

For post-op patients, (coming from the PACU) I help the patient get ready

for discharge and discharge them. Discharge instructions are reviewed

with the patient and follow-up appointments/tests are scheduled as

needed.

I am certified in both ACLS and PALS.

2007-2019 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – staff nurse

As a nurse in the NICU, I cared for both term and preterm infants with

A variety of medical problems/issues. These problems can be related

to prematurity, delivery, development, or a combination thereof. I

have performed many roles in the NICU from mentoring high school

students in advanced study courses, nursing students during clinical

rotations, 1:1 preceptor for senior nursing students doing their

Capstone, and preceptor for new employees hired into the NICU.

I also served on many committees during my time in the NICU, such as

VAP (Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia) Committee, Total Body Cooling

Committee, and Scheduling Committee. As a nurse in the NICU, I was also

required to maintain certifications in CPR, NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation),

and STABLE (course designed to help with stabilization and preparation

for transport of a newborn infant).

2005-2007 Emergency Department – staff nurse

As a staff nurse, I worked in all areas of the ER: Triage, Resuscitation/

Trauma rooms, Critical Care, Intermediate Care, and Minor Care.

After only nine months of working in the ER, I was asked to precept, or

assist with precepting 4 new hires to the ER. I also served as mentor to

EMS students during their ER clinical rotations.

Chippenham Medical Center, Richmond VA 1990-2005

1995-2005 Emergency Department – staff nurse

As staff nurse, I functioned in all areas of the ER. This included: Triage,

Code/Trauma room, Critical Care ER, Chest Pain ER, Intermediate ER, Fast

Track ER, Pediatric ER, and Emergency Psychiatric Intake; I also filled in as

Charge nurse as needed. I was also a preceptor for new graduate RN’s,

new employees to the ER, and EMS providers in training.

1994-1995 Cardiac Telemetry Unit – Staff nurse

This was my first nursing job as a new grad. I knew I did not want to do

any type of floor nursing, but I was required to do a year of med-surg

before the ER manager would hire me. Even as a volunteer paramedic

bringing in ER patients, he still required me to wait out my year.

1990-1994 Pediatric Unit – Unit Secretary/Nursing Assistant

I worked as functioned the unit secretary and nursing assistant while I

worked my way through nursing school.

St Joseph’s Hospital, Savannah GA 1988-1990

1989-1990 Pediatric Unit – Nursing Assistant/Unit Secretary

I worked as both nursing assistant and unit secretary on a newly

opened pediatric unit, which I helped to open.

1988-1989 Oncology Unit - Nursing Assistant

This was my first job in the healthcare field. I did not like this kind of

work, but I definitely knew I wanted to be a nurse. Glad I stuck with it.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS:

Forest View Volunteer Rescue Squad, Richmond, VA 1993-Present

2003-Present Life Member

I am a non-Active riding member

1993-2003 Active Riding Member

As an active member with Forest View, I have served many functions

within the organization. I have also achieved the status of Life Member.

Forest View – Functions and Positions Held:

Emergency Driver

BLS Provider

ALS Provider

Supply Officer

Designed and taught curriculum for new member orientation classes (3RD”S Class)

Lieutenant for Monday Day Crew

Lieutenant for Night Crew #6

Captain for Day Crew

Captain for Night Crews #3 and #6

CERTIFICATIONS:

Cardiopulmonary Life Support (CPR)

ACLS (Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support)

PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION:

Association for OR Nurses (AORN)

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