Karen L. Palmer
Victoria,BC
Summary
Community-focused professional with a strong background in volunteer initiatives, dedicated to driving meaningful projects that enhance community well-being. Recognized for exceptional teamwork and adaptability in dynamic environments, consistently contributing to collaborative efforts that yield positive outcomes. A reliable and committed advocate for community development, leveraging diverse skills to foster impactful relationships and initiatives. Passionate about creating sustainable change through engagement and cooperation within the community.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Crisis Line Responder (Volunteer)
Vancouver Island Crisis Society
09.2025 - Current
- Provide crisis intervention support, assisting individuals in distress with empathy and understanding.
- Define and assess the caller's crisis.
- Assess the level of severity of the call.
- Facilitate the caller's problem solving ability.
- Encourage callers to look to themselves for strength and options (Strength based approach).
- Explore appropriate direction and referrals to services in community (Mental Health Teams).
- Assist caller in developing a plan of action.
- Intervene (911, MCFD) and report when legally required to do so.
- Provide crisis intervention support to individuals experiencing emotional distress.
- Collaborate with local agencies to ensure resource availability and client referrals.
Community Volunteer
Quadra Village Community Centre, Victoria, BC
02.2022 - Current
- Board of Directors (Attend and participate in meetings).
- Equity Committee
- Garden Allotment Committee
- Setup Garden Allotment Site
- Secure City of Victoria My Great Neighborhood Grant for start-up Food Security Growing Project.
- Run various garden related workshops
- Build garden beds for Food Security Growing Project
- The CREW Pre-Employment & Life Skills Program (Youth ages 13-18)
- Even Work Indigenous Days, Seasonal Celebrations.
RN Geriatric Psychiatry/Palliative Care
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Saanichton, BC
10.2009 - 05.2010
- Direct patient care.
- Charge Nurse.
- Administered patient care plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
Clinical Nurse Educator/Leader Neuroscience Rehabilitation/Med-Surg- Acute
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
09.2008 - 05.2010
- Coordinated learning opportunities for nursing students and the instructors when on clinical rotations.
- Organized and led interdisciplinary conferences with external healthcare stakeholders and partnerships.
- Managed and supported team meetings.
- Arranged case conferences for discharge planning.
- Assessed and facilitated patient bed availability, placement, and transfers.
- Evaluated patient care needs, prioritized treatment, and maintained patient flow.
- Developed and implemented nursing education programs, enhancing clinical competencies across healthcare teams.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions, promoting evidence-based practices among nursing staff.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to design curriculum aligned with organizational goals and patient care standards.
- Mentored novice nurses, fostering professional growth and confidence in clinical decision-making skills.
- Spearheaded integration of new technologies into nursing practice, streamlining workflows and improving patient outcomes.
- Led initiatives to enhance compliance with regulatory standards through comprehensive staff training and resource development.
- Evaluated clinical staff performance, identifying areas of improvement and providing constructive feedback to drive continuous growth.
Nurse Educator
University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
05.2007 - 09.2008
- Taught Year 3 & 4 clinical & practicum.
- Prepared lesson plans.
- Assessed student readiness to practice clinical skills.
- Ran pre and post clinical briefing sessions for students to facilitate student learning related to experiences in the clinical setting.
- Researched methods for improved student education in the clinical setting.
- Collaborated with nursing course faculty and worked independently to develop, implement, and assess student evaluation processes.
- Implemented strategic learning opportunities for nursing students in the clinical setting to ensure students function within the policies and standards of the healthcare environment.
- Tracked the learning, competency, and clinical judgement of the nursing students throughout the assigned clinical learning experience and shared that information with the student and course faculty.
- Educating students on optimal task performance.
- Coordinated clinical opportunities and in-services for students.
- Facilitated communication between students, nursing staff and unit managers.
- Provided evaluations and assigned grades.
Nursing Instructor
Camosun College, Victoria, BC
06.2006 - 07.2008
- Taught Year 1 & 2 theory lab, clinical & practical classes.
- Prepared lesson plans.
- Assessed student readiness to demonstrate and practice clinical skills.
- Ran pre and post clinical briefing sessions for students to facilitate student learning related to experiences in the clinical setting.
- Researched methods for improved student education in the clinical setting.
- Collaborated with nursing course faculty and worked independently to develop, implement, and assess student evaluation processes.
- Implemented strategic learning opportunities for nursing students in the clinical setting to ensure students function within the policies and standards of the healthcare environment.
- Tracked the learning, competency, and clinical judgement of the nursing students throughout the assigned clinical learning experience and shared that information with the student and course faculty.
- Educating students on optimal task performance.
- Coordinated clinical opportunities and in-services for students.
- Facilitated communication between students, nursing staff and unit managers.
- Provided evaluations and assigned grades.
- Developed curricula.
Quality Assurance/Improvement Consultant Island Wide
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
10.2002 - 08.2005
- Portfolio of responsibility: Child, Youth & Family Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesia, Laboratory Services & Genetics
- Assessed and evaluated quality of practice across all healthcare disciplines.
- Identified problems and issues with care delivery.
- Designed quality improvement activities to overcome gaps in care.
- Followed by monitoring to ensure that recommendations were effective or needed revision.
- Defined/developed standards/guidelines and methodologies according to practice regulations.
- Facilitated multidisciplinary case discussions to help professionals identify gaps in standards of practice through an educational hands-on system.
- Consulted with Regulatory Bodies, Risk Management, Client Relations, & Executive Management to ensure accountability and responsibility in teams and big badness cases.
RN Pediatrics/PICU/NICU/Neonatal
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
04.1990 - 09.2002
- Direct patient care.
- Charge Nurse.
- Child & Family Ambulatory Unit Booking Nurse.
Education
GradD. - Interprofessional Mental Health & Addiction Post Degree Program
Camosun College, School of Health & Human Services
01.2025
Cert. - IFS Model Across Clinical Applications
Professional Education Systems Institute (PESI), Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute
01.2024
Cert. - CCTP-II (Complex Trauma)
PESI, Evergreen
01.2024
Cert. - Traumatic Stress Studies
PESI, Trauma Research Foundation
01.2024
AssocCert. - Leadership, Intercultural Focus
British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Business
01.2022
GradC - Neonatal Nursing (NICU)
British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Health Sciences
01.2002
BSN - undefined
University of Victoria, School of Human & Social Development
01.1999
Cert. - Office Administration
Camosun College, School of Business
01.1994
AA - Nursing (RN Recognized)
Camosun College, School of Health & Human Services
01.1990
Skills
- Advanced swimming proficiency
- Bicycle commuting
- Outdoor hiking experience
- Yoga practice
- Horticultural expertise
- Culinary skills
- Textile arts proficiency
- Creative photography skills
- Critical reading abilities
- Community engagement at Quadra Village Centre
- Collaborative teamwork
- Effective problem resolution
- Constructive outlook
- Efficient task management
Languages
English (Conversation & Written Native)
French (Conversation & Written Intermediate)
German (Conversation & Written Intermediate)
Welsh (Beginner)
Certification
First Aid & CPR Certificate: St. John’s Ambulance – Aug 2025
CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Mindvalley On-Line Innovative Personal Transformation Platform Apr 2017 – Jul 2023
- Innovative Curriculum Mind, body, soul, career, entrepreneurship, relationships development using sophisticated learning technology, supportive communities & education platforms.
- Life Book.
- Growth Mindset.
- Entrepreneurship.
- Mindfulness.
- Meditation.
- Yoga.
- Bridges for Women, Victoria, BC Apr 2022 – Aug 2022
- Employment Program
- Understand & overcome the impact of trauma through education.
- Counselling.
- Group work.
- Victoria Sexual Assault Centre Aug 2010 – Oct 2010
- Victim Sexual Assault Clinic
- Participated in group counselling.
- Educated about how people respond to trauma.
- Learned about emotional regulation, dealing with flashbacks, etc.
- Shared group experiences practicing skills.
- Zenger Miller Organizational Management Training Jan 1990 – Jan 1994
- Vancouver Island Health Authority Organizational Development
- Giving and receiving constructive feedback.
- Developing others.
- Giving recognition.
- Moving from conflict to collaboration.
- Solving problems The basic process
- Leading through change.
- Effective communications.
- Communication in the workplace.
- Establishing performance expectations.
Computer software frameworks
Microsoft 365, Adobe Photoshop/Acrobat, MAX, WordPress, Web.com, social media & various communication platforms.
Timeline
Crisis Line Responder (Volunteer)
Vancouver Island Crisis Society
09.2025 - Current
Community Volunteer
Quadra Village Community Centre, Victoria, BC
02.2022 - Current
RN Geriatric Psychiatry/Palliative Care
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Saanichton, BC
10.2009 - 05.2010
Clinical Nurse Educator/Leader Neuroscience Rehabilitation/Med-Surg- Acute
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
09.2008 - 05.2010
Nurse Educator
University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
05.2007 - 09.2008
Nursing Instructor
Camosun College, Victoria, BC
06.2006 - 07.2008
Quality Assurance/Improvement Consultant Island Wide
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
10.2002 - 08.2005
RN Pediatrics/PICU/NICU/Neonatal
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC
04.1990 - 09.2002
Cert. - CCTP-II (Complex Trauma)
PESI, Evergreen
Cert. - Traumatic Stress Studies
PESI, Trauma Research Foundation
AssocCert. - Leadership, Intercultural Focus
British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Business
GradC - Neonatal Nursing (NICU)
British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Health Sciences
BSN - undefined
University of Victoria, School of Human & Social Development
Cert. - Office Administration
Camosun College, School of Business
AA - Nursing (RN Recognized)
Camosun College, School of Health & Human Services
GradD. - Interprofessional Mental Health & Addiction Post Degree Program
Camosun College, School of Health & Human Services
Cert. - IFS Model Across Clinical Applications
Professional Education Systems Institute (PESI), Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute