Medical Surgical Nurse Expert Witness

Education

Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore, MD    1994
Master of Business Administration

University of Maryland at Baltimore, MD    1983
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Experience

2006 – present     A Maryland Hospital, Director Cardiac and Vascular Service Line

Direct 24/7 responsibility for 18 bed med/surg intensive care unit, respiratory therapy, vascular laboratory, cardiac rehabilitation,  EKG and echocardiography services

Oversee four managers, 155 staff employees

Responsible for FMH MHCC C-Port application and waiver

Chairperson of ICU Collaborative Committee for patient safety, instrumental in numerous patient safety initiatives including:  ventilator acquired pneumonia prevention, catheter related blood stream infection prevention and medication reconciliation

Chairperson of FMH Cardiac Cath Taskforce, responsible for clinical and operational oversight of future FMH cardiac catheterization lab

1995 – 2006     Washington Hospital Center, Clinical Specialist/Nursing Education

Co-Department head of WHC Nursing Education department, supervision of eight clinical managers and approximately 150 staff RNs/year.

Direct responsibility for RN bedside clinical/didactic orientation programs (Critical Care, Emergency Room, PACU, Cardiac services, Med-Surg, Womens Services).

Expert in educational program curriculum development and implementation/evaluation.

Actively involved with recruitment of experienced and new graduate RNs, approximately 150/year.

Develop and maintain relationships with area schools of nursing.  Coordinate placement of >450 RN students/ year.  Initiate and maintain contracts.

Developed/implemented RN scholarship program.

Extensive RN interviewing and hiring experience for numerous clinical areas.  Developed standardized behavioral interview tool to assist in objective hiring decisions.

Instrumental in development and implementation of strategies to improve nurse recruitment and retention, including nurse mentorship program.  Assisted with advertising agency selection, ad copy content and review.

Extensive budgetary experience including formulation, analysis and evaluation of $3 million program.

Supervision of central nursing education activities to include:

ANCC Continuing Education provider,  successful recertification 2004

Central BLS provider

Numerous central educational programs to include: preceptor training, EKG interpretation,
nursing orientation

Identify learning needs for nursing leadership team, plan and implement annual leadership development programs.

Experienced public speaker on variety of clinical and professional development topics.

Provide clinical specialist coverage on as needed basis to a variety of clinical areas to include: SICU, Open Heart Recovery Room, PACU Intermediate care, Cardiac services, Med-surg.

Developed classroom and clinical orientation program for foreign nurses recruited to work at WHC

Developed/implemented housewide patient care technician program.

Numerous committee appointments

Chair, Recruition and Retention, Orientation/Preceptor Committee

Chair, Patient Care Technician Taskforce

Co-Chair Nursing Education Shared Governance Council

Member, Magnet Task Force

Member, Shared Governance Development Team

Member, JCAHO Organizational Education Committee

June 2004 – April 2006     Frederick Memorial Hospital, Staff Nurse II (Per-diem/Emergency Relief)

Provide patient care in med-surgery admissions area PRN

September 2005 – May 2006     Frederick Community College, Adjunct Clinical Faculty

Provide clinical instruction to RN students in Fundamentals and Med/Surg I courses

1998 – Present     Independent Legal Nurse Consultant, Nurse Expert

Provide record review to defense and plaintiff attorneys for med/surg and critical care malpractice cases.

Provide expert deposition testimony as required.

2000 – 2001     Progressive Nursing Agency, Agency Nurse

Worked PRN as agency nurse at numerous area hospitals in critical care, med-surg.

1991 – 1995     Washington Hospital Center, Clinical Manager

Responsible for firstline nursing management coverage on medical-surgical unit, Surgical Intensive Care and Cardiovascular Recovery Room.

SICU patient population: open heart surgery heart transplant, Ventricular assist device patients, major trauma, closed head injury, cerebral aneurysm repair, thoracic/vascular surgery,  and general surgery patients requiring SICU care.

Cardiovascular Recovery Room populations include:  coronary artery bypass grafts, heart valve replacements, heart transplants,  AAA and TAA repairs.

Medical Surgical patient populations include:  kidney and kidney/pancreas transplant, renal failure, general surgery, other med-surgical patients.

Provided clinical expertise to staff nurses.

Active in performance improvement/quality assurance activities.

Independently developed SICU rehabilitation program.

1985 – 1991     Washington Hospital Center, Staff Nurse

Provided nursing care to a variety of SICU patients.

1983 – 1985   National Institutes of Health  Bethesda, MD Staff Nurse

Provided nursing care to pediatric oncology population:  leukemia, lymphoma and sarcoma patients

Professional Organizations and Certifications

Member American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Past Director-at-Large for Greater Baltimore Area Chapter of AALNC
Awarded Outstanding Appreciation Department Award 2002
Current CCRN Certification

Other Professional Activities

Member Operation Heartbeat, open heart surgical team, travel to Philippines and China 1990/94
Featured as cover story for International Nurse Program, Nursing Spectrum