Operating room circulator for general, orthopedic, and gynecological surgeries. Trainer for new staff and medical students

Successfully managed 15 Plastic Surgeons and circulated all plastic, cosmetic, wound, and special surgical procedures, while coordinating health care teams.Educated staff regarding procedures and provided constructive feedback, building team member confidence, as well as consistently demonstrated behaviors that promoted excellent patient experiences.Took initiative to review unit/departmental customer and co-worker satisfaction scores posted in the unit, and promoted measures to improve these scores, including supporting change initiatives.Utilized the nursing process to care for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients based on current standards of practice, functioning within permissible scope as defined by the Board of Nursing and Candler Hospital System.Participated in operational and capital budgeting, controlling inventory and working to eliminate waste by using resources wisely, including supplies and equipment, as well as facilitated patient flow along with scheduling.Communicated with Sales Representatives for special products, while also performing ad-hoc responsibilities and negotiating and motivating as a change agent in an effort to organizational effectiveness.

Oversaw the overall function of the OR, including patient care, scheduling, and EMR records maintenance, while ensuring quality patient outcomes and promoting collaboration among the multi-disciplinary health care teamConsulted and coordinated with health care members to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care plans, as well as served as the communication liaison to family and members of the Operating team.Initiated pre- and post-operative patient education plans as prescribed by Physicians, including teaching patients and significant others how to manage post-treatment home care needs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation.Prepared, administered, and recorded oral, subcutaneous, and IV prescribed medications, reporting adverse reactions, as well as monitored patients’ physical and emotional well-being throughout the care continuum.Promptly initiated corrective action whenever monitoring equipment showed adverse symptomatology, and responded to life-saving situations based upon nursing standards and protocol.Ensured the correct patients were being operated on and correct procedures were being performed, as well as observed, checked, and monitored all equipment used during surgery to confirm they were running smoothly.Provided support during surgical procedures by positioning and responding to patients’ comfort/safety, while ensuring accurate care and handling of specimens and enforcing strict standards of asepsis.

Multiple Concurrent Locations Provided direct clinical patient care following established standards and practices in accordance with the South Carolina Nurse Practice Act, while applying professional nursing theory to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care.Supported and supervised staff to which care was delegated, ensuring high-quality, safe, and appropriate nursing care, competency of clinical staff, and appropriate resource management related to patient care needs.Circulated and scrubbed in for general, gyn, cranial, and spinal procedures for St. Francis Hospital, as well as for retina, ocular, cataract, and ocular plastic surgical procedures at Roper St. Francis Eye Center.Scrubbed and aided orthopedic procedures including arthroscopic knee and shoulder procedures, podiatry, hand, and elbow procedures for Roper Hospital Ambulatory Surgery & Pain Management, including inserting IVs for pre-op.Effectively communicated with Physicians offices regarding scheduled procedures, served as OR Charge Nurse every other week, and updated policy and procedures as needed, as well as aided in PACU area with patient discharge.Managed all surgery center inventory, maintained adequate level of surgical implants, and decontaminated and sterilized instruments, and organized operating rooms for startup, while maintaining professional rapport with Sales Reps

2006 - 2011Ambulatory Surgery CenterCirculate and scrub orthopedic, podiatry, gynecological, general, and plastic surgeries. Circulate ENT and ophthalmic surgeries. Team leader for orthopedic and podiatry surgery. Manage all orthopedic and podiatry supplies.2003 to 2006Main operating room circulating RN. Circulate all surgical specialties with emphasis on neurology and orthopedic surgeries.Night shift charge nurse 2003 to 2004.

Operating Room. Circulate and scrub all surgical specialties including trauma and kidney transplant.

Circulate and scrub all varieties of neuro surgery.

Circulate and scrub all types of neurological surgery. A few examples are cranial aneurysm repairs, awake craniotomies for tumor, awake brain mapping for epilepsy, stereotactic brain biopsies, anterior cervical fusions, lumbar fusions, and anterior/posterior lumbar fusions. Participated with Discovery Channel during the filming of the ongoing treatment of a patient with a brain tumor.