Surgical Nurse Educator Expert Witness

Professional Experience

St. Vincent’s East: Perioperative Services
October 2016 – Present
Surgical Nurse Educator

• Oversees and implements orientation for all new employees in the Operating Room.
• Responsible for maintaining yearly competencies for current employees.
• Created and maintains an online learning system that serves to educate and train employees using relevant modules and focused assessments.
• Conducts in-services on relevant topics and new findings in research.
• Provides training for staff focused on AORN recommendations, new techniques, protocols, & equipment.
• Member of the Surgical Decision Team – this team approves new items and devices for use.
• Leader of the Core Values Team – this team creates policies and procedures that are aimed to provide high quality medical care with an emphasis on patient safety.
• Developed an extensive education program for the orientation of employees new to surgery.
• Serves as BLS Instructor for Perioperative areas.
• Serves as main point person for all Perioperative areas for the implementation of a new EMR (Cerner).
• Developed and taught Cerner training program for employees across all Perioperative areas at every facility.

UAB Hospital: Clinical Research Support Program
June 2015 – September 2016
Research Nurse Coordinator

• Coordinates multiple complex clinical trials, both industry sponsored and PI initiated, in accordance with GCP, ICH, SOP, IRB, and both institutional and FDA regulations. Performs all aspects of clinical trials.
• Assists with the design, study optimization, and finalization of clinical research studies.
• Recruiting, consenting, screening, enrolling, and maintaining participants.
• Maintains accuracy in meeting protocol requirements, data collection/reporting and billing activities.
• Monitors studies/trials to confirm protocol and regulation compliance for quality control purposes.
• Coordinates trials simultaneously at UAB Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and the VA Medical Center
• Works independently or in collaboration on trials as desired by Principal Investigator and research team.
• Areas of clinical trial experience include Pulmonary, Neurology/Epilepsy, Oncology, and Immunology.

UAB Hospital Highlands: Perioperative Services
February 2012 – June 2015
Circulating Nurse / Scrub Nurse

• Developed individualized patient care plans for each surgical procedure.
• Communicated with patients and families concerning operative procedures and the recovery process.
• Skillfully coordinated with surgeons and anesthesia providers for effective and efficient patient management and delivery of optimal treatment plans.
• Provided assistance for administration of critical procedures related to the anesthesia process and surgical services.
• Responsible for intraoperative patient safety by using assessment and critical thinking skills while acting as the patient advocate.
• Intraoperative tasks included proper positioning of the patient, disinfection of surgical site, maintaining a sterile environment, passing instruments and sterile supplies to surgeons, and assisting with the dressing of incision site.
• Preceptor to new staff nurses. Cerner Surginet trainer.

Education

University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, December 2011
Major: Nursing

University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences, May 2009
Major: Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management

Relevant Skills

Clinical /Medical:

• Electrocardiograms
• IV Therapy
• Phlebotomy
• Medication Administration
• Specimen Processing
• Physical Assessments
• Spirometry
• Pfts
• Olympus/Stryker Endoscopy Equipment
• Logician, Cerner
• Powerchart
• Surginet
• SIS
• LMS Programs
• SCORM/HTML5
• Physician’s Portal
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Budgeting
• IRB And Regulatory Submissions

Licensure and Certifications

• Licensed by the Alabama Board of Nursing
• Basic Life Support Instructor [HCP] certified by AHA

Professional Associations

• AORN Member