Physician Fees Benefit Plans Operations Expert Witness

Education & Training

University of South Dakota School of Nursing, 1986
Western Schools Continuing Education Programs, 1988-present
Southwestern College BLS Instructor Training, AHA, 2004
Advanced Life Saving Training, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, San Diego, CA, 2011
Legal Nurse Consulting 1998-present

Continuing Education Units

Legal Aspects of Nursing
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Diabetic Nursing Care
Respiratory Therapy
Deciphering Lab Data
Phlebotomy
Transcultural Nursing
Comprehensive Intravenous Therapy
Safety Training
Central and Arterial Lines
AHA Basic Life Support Instructor
Neonatal Critical Care
Advanced Life Saving
Intubation
Central Line Placement
Thoracentesis
Radial Arterial Puncture
Professionalism in Nursing

Professional Certifications

Registered Nurse Advanced Clinical Nurse III
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care
Basic Life Support Provider
Basic Life Support/First Aid Instructor
Neonatal Advanced Life Support (NRP)
Neonatal Intensive Care Certification
Advanced Life Support Certification (ALS)

Medical Review Experience

Numerous cases reviewed involve moderate to extensive multi-system bodily injury/trauma/abuse/neglect, surgeries, procedures, and a large variety of medical complications resulting in prolonged treatments/disabilities/or death associated with the pediatric and neonatal population.
Serve as a practicing Neonatal/Pediatric Nursing Expert.
Extensive Medical Record and Deposition Reviews
Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Malpractice Litigation
Trial Experience

Nursing Experience

Scripps Mercy Hospital and Medical Center/Scripps Rady Children’s Hospital and Medical Center (San Diego, CA)
ALS Nurse, Clinical Nurse III, Neonatal ICU-March 2011-present
Responsible as Charge Nurse of the Neonatal ICU attending all high risk deliveries without the presence of the neonatologist, solely responsible for managing the complete immediate resuscitation of the newborn infant. Responsible for the intubation of the compromised premature or full term infant in respiratory arrest/distress, placement of umbilical venous and umbilical arterial central lines, radial arterial puncture for blood gases/lab values, and thoracentesis for pneumothorax. Managing or assisting with the complex infant plan of care associated with every high risk delivery and compromised infant admitted to the Neonatal ICU.

Scripps Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (San Diego, CA)
Certified Neonatal Nurse, Clinical Nurse III, Neonatal ICU-July 2005-Present
Responsible for delivering care to compromised premature and full term infants to meet the complex needs of the neonate in critical situations. Experience encompasses the vast array of high risk diagnoses and illnesses that present to the neonatal population. Continued use of Standards of Care to develop and implement individualized written plans of care, serving as a patient /family advocate and resource person, and regularly employing professional and comprehensive technical skills . Responsibilities also include ongoing instruction in lifesaving skills, and injury prevention.

Chairperson/Member of Neonatal ICU Collaborative Practice Committee
Jan. 2010-present Responsible for review/revision of current policies/practices, problem solving, and ongoing staff education issues and resolutions.

Chairperson of Unit Based Neonatal Advanced Life Saving (ALS) Committee
March 2011-present
Responsible for assisting with review/revision of ALS practices and policies associated with the NICU. Ongoing collaborative problem solving and resolution with physicians and interdisciplinary team associated with the care of the high risk infant.
Chairperson of the Unit Based Satellite Neonatal Mock Code Committee
June 2018-present
Responsible for coordination and direction of Mock Codes providing credentialing of highly skilled resuscitation competencies to all ancillary hospital staff. Member of Satellite Rady Children’s Mock Code Committee. Ongoing collaborative quality improvement associated with Critical Care of the Newborn.

Scripps Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (San Diego, CA)
Charge Nurse, Clinical Nurse III, Pediatrics/ Pediatric Special Care Unit
Oct. 1989-Jul.05
Responsible for delivering care specific to meet rapidly changing patient needs in complex care situations. Experience encompasses the broad spectrum of illnesses, injuries, traumas, medical and metabolic disorders that present to the pediatric population. Utilization of Standards of Care to develop and implement individualized written plans of care. Responsibilities also include overseeing the unit to ensure that it runs efficiently and safely, maintaining professional interactions with the multidisciplinary team, serving as a patient advocate and resource person, and regularly employing comprehensive technical skills.
Chairperson of Pediatric Collaborative Practice Committee, June 2004-Jul.05 Responsible for ongoing staff education, problem solving, policy reviews and revisions.

Member/former Chairperson (unit-based) Pediatric Practice Committee,
Nov. 1986-July 2005
Serve as an expert on medical policies, procedures, and documentation, continuously creating and revising policies and procedures based on the Standards of Care. Worked on a task force to redesign documentation format.

Scripps Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (San Diego, CA)
Adult Medical-Surgical Unit, Clinical Nurse II
Nov. 1986-Oct. 1989
Responsible for the care of acute and chronically ill patients suffering from cardiac, respiratory, neurological and metabolic disorders. Experience included terminal care.

California Convalescent and Rehabilitation Hospital (La Mesa, CA)
Charge Nurse, Team Leader, Clinical Nurse
June-Nov. 1986
Primarily worked on the Rehabilitation unit, with occasional responsibilities in Geriatrics. Emphasis of care was on physical therapy, occupational therapy, extensive charting, transcription, and comprehensive treatments.