SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Screening, reviewing and analyzing medical records; conducting literature research, integrating reports with standards of care into case analysis, and more.
• 24 years of nursing experience in ambulatory care, outpatient surgery and procedures, pediatrics, critical care transport, surgical/trauma/neurosurgery intensive care, home health, medical-surgical care, cardiology and consulting.
• Team leader in post-anesthesia care, critical care transport, and medical-surgical units.
• Assistant Manager for Cardiac Catheterization Lab and VA Transfer Coordinator.
• Managed care of patients in all age groups, from infants to the elderly.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2007-now        Legal Nurse Consulting

• Screening cases for merit.
• Reviewing medical records and producing appropriate reports.
• Performing research as indicated.
• Defining applicable standards of care, including deviations from and adherences to standards of care.
• Assessing alleged damages and/or injuries, identifying factors that caused or contributed to alleged injury, and more.
• Identify and review relevant medical records, hospital policies and procedures, other essential documents and tangible items.
• Consult with healthcare providers.

2008-now        Home Health Nurse, Case Manager, Redlands Community Hospital

• Perform assessment of patients in the home environment.
• Obtain blood draws as required.
• Contact physician regarding status of patient, providing appropriate intervention as needed, with follow up care.
• Facilitated transport to emergency room as needed.
• Appropriate documentation of care, assessment, and intervention.
• Patient teaching for medications, disease processes and safety.

2005-2007       Loma Linda Outpatient Surgery Center, Staff Nurse, Team Leader, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Loma Linda, CA

• Responsible for facilitating pre-operative assessment and preparation of patients (IV starts, coordinating test results review).
• Responsible for quality care and patient, physician and staff satisfaction for the outpatient surgery unit, ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) Clinic and Pain Clinic. Included Post-anesthesia Care.
• Provided critical intervention for children and adults in emergency situations and facilitated admission to hospital as needed.
• Provided discharge teaching, follow up calls and appropriate intervention.

2002-2006       Loma Linda Pediatric Observation Unit, Staff Nurse, Loma Linda Children's Hospital Outpatient Unit, Loma Linda, CA

• Responsible for assessment and preparation of pediatric patients prior to surgery and procedures (IV starts, drawing labs, reviewing results).
• Assisted physicians with treatments and procedures.
• Monitored patients during and after procedures.
• Facilitated follow up care, appointments, referrals, and emergency intervention as needed.
• Interacting with physicians, residents and patient's parents.
• Conducted chart audits.

2000-2002       Loma Linda Critical Care Transport Team, Staff Nurse/Team Leader for in-house patient transports, Loma Linda University Medical Center

• Responsible for responding to Trauma Calls in a Level 1 Trauma Center to assist with initial care and transport of adult and pediatric patients to diagnostic areas, operating room, or admitting unit.
• Responsible for facilitating and expediting diagnostic studies and procedures for acute care and ICU patients.
• Responsible for assessing pediatric patients for airway status and appropriate sedation orders as needed for diagnostic studies.
• Responsible for monitoring adult and pediatric patients while administering sedation and paralyzing agents during procedures, and provided emergency intervention as needed.
• Participated in staff, patient and family education in-services.

1997-2000       Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center; Assistant Manager for Diagnostic Cardiac Catheter Lab and Transfer Coordinator's Office, Loma Linda, CA

• Responsible for screening, preparing, and monitoring cardiac patients for procedures, with appropriate intervention as needed.
• Provided surgical assistance with various procedures and pacemaker insertions in a sterile setting.
• Provided case management, referrals, follow up calls and triage.
• Coordinated and managed patient transports between hospital facilities. Hospital wide support as needed.
• Provided monitoring and assessment of patients during transport.
• Reviewed medical records for continuum of care prior to patient transfer.
• Responsible for facilitating patient referrals for specialty services.

1990-1997       Surgical/Trauma/Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit, Staff Nurse, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA

• Responsible for various types of patients in a critical care setting. Trauma, vascular, neurosurgery, ENT, genitourinary, plastic surgery, orthopedics, spinal, GYN, and abdominal surgeries included.
• Interfaced with physicians and residents regarding treatment, transport, and ancillary cares.
• Facilitated emergency interventions, life support as needed.
• Followed up on diagnostic study and lab results.
• Resource nurse for new nursing staff and student nurses.
• Performed chart audits.

1985-1990       General Surgery Unit, Staff Nurse, Shift Coordinator, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA

• Managed surgical patients received from recovery room, ICU transfers and admissions from emergency room.
• Responsible for overflow trauma, medical, and pediatric patients.
• Shift Coordinator for unit. Assisted with patient placement and staff assignments.
• Responsible for patients under the care of an LVN.  

EDUCATION

• Registered Nurse, Pacific Union College, Angwin, CA
• Medical Secretary, Pacific Union college, Angwin, CA

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Legal Nurse Consultant - CLNC Certification Program, Vickie Milazzo Institute.
• Registered Nurse, California State Board of Nursing.

AFFILITATIONS

Critical Care Registered Nurse - American Association of Critical Care Nurses.