BARBARA BRENA
Anchorage
Summary
Effective nursing professional with 33 years of proven experience in clinical and community care settings. Expertise in leadership, teaching, coaching and training. Demonstrated ability to assess trends, evaluate processes and improve outcomes while working in a collaborative setting or as an individual contributor to the healthcare system. Seeking to grow and apply a repertoire of advanced nursing knowledge and skills and support systems in pursuit of quality individual and community health outcomes in a psychiatric and mental health setting.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Registered Nurse
PATCH RX
11.2022 - 01.2024
- Clinic RN Provided in-person and remote patient monitoring to pain management patients
- Educated patients on medication usage, side effects and the importance of adherence, and monitoring opioid safety and potential misuse using clinic protocols and guidelines
- Provided individualized coaching and motivational interviewing to support patients in following their treatment plans
- Identified and addressed barriers to medication adherence
- Taught non-pharmacological pain management strategies to complement medical treatment
- Engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration with the team to ensure effective pain management
- Facilitated referrals to specialists, mental health services and community resources to support holistic care. Participated in clinic initiatives to improve pain management outcomes and patient satisfaction
- Engaged in continuous quality improvement and patient advocacy initiatives
- Remained current on best practices, medication safety guidelines and pain management research.
Clinical Lead Registered Nurse
VISIT HEALTHCARE
07.2019 - 07.2021
- COVID 19 Testing and Vaccination Operations
- Provided clinical leadership and managed day-to-day operations, risk management and contributed to clinical governance for over six COVID 19 testing sites within the Municipality of Anchorage
- Partnered with the Chief Medical Officer and other senior management team members to submit Request for Proposal for COVID 19 Vaccination services and subsequently was awarded contract serving the municipality of Anchorage
- Created agency policies based on local, state and CDC guidelines
- Grew a team from 40 staff in testing services program to over 320 staff to support the addition of vaccination services
- Trained and mentored CNAs, RN/LPN and EMT staff to perform testing/vaccination across 6 sites and 4 mobile vaccination teams
- Supported all staff to maintain clinical safety, high-quality infection control standards and provide a professional, warm and welcoming environment to clients
- Partnered with the public health department and community agencies to provide services to community homeless shelters, unsheltered and homebound clients
- Provided public health guidance to clients with or exposed to COVID19
- Reported operations and health data to public and state health departments.
- Enhanced team performance by providing regular supervision, training, and professional development opportunities.
Founder/Integrative Health Coach
PEAK INTEGRATIVE HEALTH SOLUTIONS, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Coaching and supporting individuals and groups to establish effective wellness plans designed to optimize health outcomes along a continuous journey of self-improvement
- Partnering with clients via telephone or in person, to realize solutions needed to overcome barriers to action and encourage sustainability of their plan
- Advocating and linking clients to community resources available to empower clients along their health care journey
- Making referrals and collaborating with medical care providers and providing clients with tools for follow-up.
Senior Manager of Clinical Services
ALGOMA COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRE
07.2000 - 02.2006
- Managed a team of over 26 care coordinators and four clinical support staff supporting clinical practice through direct supervision, policy and procedures development and community health education strategies
- Ensured quality of care standards were consistent with organizational guidelines and federal regulations
- Maintained internal budgets and accounting reports
- Reviewed home care agency proposals and analyzed those chosen for the selection process
- Directed accreditation process
- Trained care coordinators, clinical staff and support staff on new EMR (RAI-HC) and converted the agency from a paper-based to electronic health records
- Developed and headed a committee to improve internal processes, client services and community health outcomes
- Represented organizations in community networking and collaborations and acted as subject matter expert in pursuit of seamless healthcare delivery between hospital and community service agencies.
Senior RN Health Services Manager
COMMUNITY LIVING ALGOMA
01.2000 - 12.2000
- Provided agency-wide support to developmentally disabled individuals, providing direct health care within their homes
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for comprehensive individual care plans, resulting in better health outcomes.
- Administered medications accurately and safely, reducing medication errors and adverse reactions.
- Educated individuals, families and caregivers on diagnosis and prognosis, treatment options, disease process, and management and lifestyle options.
- Managed two assisted living care homes one of which supported individuals with complex health needs (ventilator and enteral feeding system support)
- Provided support through agency-wide education and supervision, and on-call services after hours
- Participated in community-wide awareness campaigns to increase support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Registered Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, Branch Manager
COMCARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES
09.1997 - 07.2000
- Provided community in home clinical nursing alongside team members across the Algoma region
- Collaborated with and supervised RNs supporting in-home and wound care clinic clients, resulting in promotion to nursing supervisor in (1997)
- Directed team meetings, participated in policy and procedure development, and facilitated transition to improved clinical client service software
- Supervised client scheduling provided on-call clinical support to clients and after-hours clinical support to staff
- Led the agency to a successful RFP process which provided the Algoma region with Clinical Services for home care patients
- Led the agency to successful unconditional accreditation.
Registered Nurse
MARQUETTE GENERAL HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE
09.1994 - 09.1997
- General and Maternal and Infant Support Services Worked as Maternal and Infant Support Services RN, providing clinical support to home care clients with a variety of health care needs, including cancer care, post-operative care, infusion therapy, advanced wound care, and also including prenatal support and post-natal education and support to high-risk mothers, babies and their families
Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
07.1991 - 09.1997
- Provided skilled nursing assessment and interventions and evaluation of responses to treatments based on unit specific policies and procedures and best practice guidelines
- Participated on Code Blue Team as an active critical care responder
- Provided advanced wound care and intravenous therapy
- Provided support to the Labor and Delivery unit as needed and transported high-risk mothers to regional facilities via ambulance as medically necessary
- Continuous Quality Improvement Committee member- conducted regular clinical chart audit/reviews and provided reports on outcomes based on quality measures
- Supported quality team meetings to review and share review/audit results, proposed changes, discussed current practice trends and best practice guidelines.
Nursing Instructor
SAULT COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
01.1996 - 01.1997
- Developed and implemented the IV therapy course for nursing students in the undergraduate degree program
- Assessed and evaluated students’ learning needs
- Supported students learning in the classroom and guided assimilation of new knowledge by teaching theoretical concepts, matching psychomotor skills in the nursing practice laboratory.
Education
End of Life Care Coaching Certification -
INTEGRATIVE NURSE COACH ACADEMY
10.2022
Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching Certification -
DUKE UNIVERSITY INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
Raleigh, North Carolina10.2014
Master of Science - Advanced Practice Nursing-attended
ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
Athabasca, Alberta01.2011
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan05.1991
Skills
- Community Engagement and Leadership
- Skilled Acute Care and Home Health Care
- Accreditation Processes Lead
- Research and Analysis
- Team Development
- Teaching and Training
- Continuous Quality Improvement
- Policy Development
- Coaching and Mentoring
Languages
Fluent in English and Italian
Conversational French/Spanish for Health Care Providers
Associations Registrations And Certifications
- American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers-current
- Alaska State Board of Nursing-Registered Nurse-Active
- Michigan State Board of Nursing-Registered Nurse-Active
- College of Nurses of Ontario Registered Nurse-Inactive Class
- Alaska Nurses Association-2018-current
- Registered Nurses Association of Ontario-current
- National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach 2019-2022
- John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-Contact Tracing for Covid-19
- Infusion Nurses Society-2020-current
- Forensics Nurses Association-2022-current
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association-2025-current
Volunteerism And Community Service
- Food Bank of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, 2012-present
- Grow Some Good School Gardens, Maui, Hawaii, 2012-present
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish-Friendship Dinner, 2023-present
- Divine Mercy Missions-Caring for Underserved and Homeless Populations, 2022-present
Timeline
Registered Nurse
PATCH RX
11.2022 - 01.2024
Clinical Lead Registered Nurse
VISIT HEALTHCARE
07.2019 - 07.2021
Founder/Integrative Health Coach
PEAK INTEGRATIVE HEALTH SOLUTIONS, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2017
Senior Manager of Clinical Services
ALGOMA COMMUNITY CARE ACCESS CENTRE
07.2000 - 02.2006
Senior RN Health Services Manager
COMMUNITY LIVING ALGOMA
01.2000 - 12.2000
Registered Nurse, Nursing Supervisor, Branch Manager
COMCARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES
09.1997 - 07.2000
Nursing Instructor
SAULT COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
01.1996 - 01.1997
Registered Nurse
MARQUETTE GENERAL HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE
09.1994 - 09.1997
Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
07.1991 - 09.1997
Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching Certification -
DUKE UNIVERSITY INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
End of Life Care Coaching Certification -
INTEGRATIVE NURSE COACH ACADEMY
Master of Science - Advanced Practice Nursing-attended
ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY
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