Orthopedics Rehabilitation Registered Nurse Expert Witness

Professional Summary

Registered Nurse, (Certified in Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation)

•Career professional with extensive Orthopaedic, Post-Surgical and Rehabilitation background, interested in nursing opportunities that encompass research, patient education, or quality improvement in the areas of Surgery, Orthopaedics or Rehabilitation

•Nursing career encompasses 28 years of practical experience in acute care, operating room, rehabilitation, and home health environments.  Advanced practice experience includes patient & staff education, research, and performance improvement activities.
•Established as an Clinical Educator, with background in acute trauma, metabolic bone disease, total joint replacement, spinal surgery and sports injuries.  Experience included preoperative and postoperative care on orthopaedic surgical units, as well as circulator/scrub duties on an Orthopaedic/Spine Team in a Level I Trauma Center Operating Room.  Coordinator/Instructor for pre-admission classes for patients planning total joint replacement.

•Rehabilitation background includes primary care of children and adolescents status post Spinal Cord Injury, which included extensive patient and family teaching from the acute phase of injury through rehabilitation and discharge planning.

•As an Orthopaedic Clinical Nurse Specialist, responsibilities included:  1) Education of patients, families and nursing staff; 2) Staff development in areas of quality improvement, professional practice and autonomy; 3) Development of critical pathways that address orthopaedic patient care and managed care issues; and 4) Instructor for Musculoskeletal component of the Physical Assessment Course.

•As an Infection Control Coordinator, responsibilities include development and implementation of both Infection Control & Occupational Health policies and procedures for a 30-bed acute rehabilitation facility.  Responsible for monitoring policy compliance through surveillance activities and interdepartmental education.  Responsible for communicable disease screening for all hired employees & provision of appropriate immunization/education.  Maintenance of employee records in accordance with OSHA regulations.

Education

West Chester University, West Chester, PA:  BSN Nursing, 1981
St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA:  MS Health Administration/Education, 1995

Credentials

Orthopaedic Nurse Certification, 1993 – Present (ONC)
Rehabilitaion Nurse Certification, 2006 – Present (CRRN)

Experience

2008-Current
Orthopaedic Program Coordinator/Clinical Educator Medical-Surgical,
New Jersey

2006-2008
Director of Nursing/Osteoporosis Program Coordinator, Rehabilitation
Hospital of South Jersey, Vineland, NJ

2005-2008
Education Coordinator/Osteoporosis Program Coordinator, Rehabilitation
Hospital of South Jersey, Vineland, NJ

2003-2008
Infection Control Coordinator/Osteoporosis Program Coordinator/
Occupational Health Nurse, Rehabilitation Hospital of South Jersey.
Vineland, NJ

2000-2003
Infection Control Nurse/Orthopaedic Educator, Graduate Hospital.
Philadelphia, PA

1997-2000
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Orthopaedics, Graduate Hospital. Phila., PA

1995-1997
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Orthopaedics, Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital.  Philadelphia, PA

1992-1995
Clinical Nurse III/Orthopaedic Operating Room, Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital. Philadelphia, PA

1988-1992
Clinical Nurse II/ Orthopaedic Unit, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Philadelphia, PA

1986-1988
Independent Contractor/RN. Various Hospitals located in the Delaware Valley

1982-1986
Primary Care RN/Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Shriners Hospital for Crippled
Children. Philadelphia, PA

1981-1982
Staff RN/Orthopaedic Surgical Unit, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, PA

Community Lectures

Available Upon Request