Karen Kesslar
Leduc,Canada
Summary
Compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse with extensive experience in patient care, committed to facilitating recovery and ensuring safe discharge processes. Proficient in monitoring patient conditions, interpreting symptoms, and delivering effective treatments while adhering to health and safety protocols. Recognized for strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal patient outcomes in challenging environments. Eager to leverage critical thinking and leadership skills in a new role that fosters professional growth and contributes to the success of the healthcare organization.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - Current
- Administered medications and treatments according to established protocols and patient care plans.
- Educated patients on health management, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes for improved outcomes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to enhance patient safety and optimize recovery processes.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify patient needs, ensuring timely interventions and continuity of care.
- Managed complex case loads effectively, prioritizing tasks to meet urgent healthcare demands while maintaining high standards of care.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify changes in condition, promptly notifying physicians and initiating appropriate interventions when necessary.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
- Skillfully managed challenging patient situations using de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and therapeutic communication skills.
Registered Nurse PAC
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - Current
- Protecting patients postoperatively, through careful monitoring of airway, vital signs, surgical site and pain/nausea level.
- Helped treat patients' conditions and alleviate symptoms by administering oral, IV, and intramuscular medications as per physician orders, ensuring compliance with protocols.
- Stabilized patients experiencing emergency complications and decompensations.
- Alleviated patient fears of treatments using kind, empathetic communication.
- Assisted physicians with bedside procedures in the PACU setting, such as wound care, dressing changes, and insertion of invasive monitoring devices.
- Achieved optimal patient outcomes by carefully monitoring conditions and delivering comprehensive support.
- Ordered diagnostic tests and requested specialist care to meet patient needs.
- Maintained effective and professional communication as well as colaboration between all members of the healthcare team to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, treatments, interventions and outcomes.
- Maximized unit efficiency, keeping supplies and records well-organized for expected needs.
- Enhanced patient safety during transfers to other units by providing handoff communication that accurately conveyed critical information about the patient''s condition, potential risks, and ongoing treatment plans.
- Trained and mentored student nurses, interns and new graduates in proper procedures and care techniques.
Registered Nurse Diagnostic Imaging Casual Position
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - 01.2024
- Worked with interdisciplinary team to organize and implement patient care plans.
- Monitored patients and provided sedation during diagnostic procedures.
- Administered medications and treatments as per physician orders, maintaining compliance with protocols.
- Prepared samples for laboratory testing.
- Advised patients on at-home care and preventive lifestyle choices.
- Provided patient-centered care in diverse clinical settings, ensuring comfort and safety.
Registered Nurse ICU/CCU
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Adept at adapting quickly to fast paced acute care setting.
- Provided compassionate care for critically ill patients from the medicine and surgery programs.
- Proficient in nursing duties and skills required to maintain critically ill patients requiring life support equipment and medications.
- Protected patients through careful monitoring and consistent use of aseptic techniques.
- Helped treat patients' conditions and alleviate symptoms by administering oral, IV, and intramuscular medications.
- Cared for patients' wounds and promoted recovery by dressing, cleaning, and redressing areas.
- Stabilized patients experiencing emergency complications and decompensations.
- Managed patient flows for unit, handling admissions and processing discharge paperwork.
- Conducted accurate chart updates in computer system.
- Recorded changes in patient conditions and laboratory test results.
- Worked closely with physicians, surgeons and nursing staff as part of unit team.
- Educated patients on preventive care and lifestyle choices to improve overall health.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans for optimal patient outcomes.
- Developed educational materials for patients and families, improving understanding of treatment plans and recovery expectations.
- Advocated for patients' rights and needs, ensuring compassionate care aligned with ethical standards and hospital policies.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate, holistic nursing care that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Registered Nurse PACU
St Boniface Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Fast paced, tertiary care hospital.
- Similar responsibilities to current PACU.
- Optimized patient outcomes by continuously evaluating conditions and responses, quickly intervening to prevent or control complications.
- Cared for 20+ patients each day, receiving and quickly assessing new patients from operating rooms.
Registered Nurse Intensive Care Cardiac Science
St Boniface General Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Took detail-oriented notes on patients' conditions, treatments and responses and updated electronic medical records.
- Prepared and administered oral, subcutaneous and IV medications based on patients' needs.
- Developed appropriate treatment pathways based on patient's age, health condition and stated beliefs.
- Created positive patient care experiences using advanced clinical judgment, knowledge of nursing process and high emotional intelligence.
- Managed adverse symptomatology by promptly initiating corrective actions.
- Taught patients, caregivers and loved ones how to manage conditions and improve outcomes.
- Adjusted specialized equipment to manage different pressures, cardiac rhythms and respiration.
- Administered medications intravenously, by injection, orally, through gastric tubes and by [Type] methods.
- Evaluated patients' vital signs and laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs.
- Detected emerging fluid and electrolyte imbalances by monitoring fluid intake.
- Assessed patients' pain levels and sedation requirements.
- Prioritized care for critically-ill patients, balancing emerging needs against core requirements.
- Updated charts, documenting medical histories, assessment findings and treatments.
- Controlled risks of deterioration with continuous monitoring and swift action on concerning changes in condition.
PACU/ Surgical Registered Nurse
NorthBay General Hospital
01.2007 - 01.2012
- Managed all aspect of Patient care pre and post operatively.
- Implemented and monitored patient care plans, recording and communicating patient condition as appropriate.
- Managed direct care of patients, conducted assessments and documented care activities.
- Communicated with physicians and other nurses to discuss patient status changes or care plan adjustments.
- Alleviated patient fears of treatments using kind, empathetic communication.
Education
Critical Care Nursing Education Program - Critical Care Nursing
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Winnipeg, Manitoba02.2012
Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Degree - Nursing
Nipissing University
North Bay, Ontario06.2007
Skills
- Team collaboration
- Compassionate
- Advanced knowledge of critically ill patient management
- Critical thinking
- Patient assessments
- Documentation and charting
- Direct patient care
- Medication and IV administration
- Patient education and counseling
- Patient and family advocacy
- Infection control measures
Certification
Registered Nurse with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - Current
Registered Nurse PAC
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - Current
Registered Nurse Diagnostic Imaging Casual Position
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2019 - 01.2024
Registered Nurse ICU/CCU
Grey Nuns Community Hospital
01.2017 - 01.2019
Registered Nurse PACU
St Boniface Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2017
Registered Nurse Intensive Care Cardiac Science
St Boniface General Hospital
01.2012 - 01.2017
PACU/ Surgical Registered Nurse
NorthBay General Hospital
01.2007 - 01.2012
Critical Care Nursing Education Program - Critical Care Nursing
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Bachelor's of Science in Nursing Degree - Nursing
Nipissing University