Nicole Stutzman
Petaluma
Summary
Empathetic healthcare professional with 7 years of experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist supporting families through complex medical experiences. Proven ability to communicate with sensitivity, navigate healthcare systems, and advocate for patient needs. Now seeking to transition into fertility financial counseling, bringing strong organizational skills, healthcare knowledge, and a deep commitment to helping families on their reproductive health journeys.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Certified Child Life Specialist
California Pacific Medical Center
06.2018 - Current
- Facilitated therapeutic interventions to enhance coping skills and reduce anxiety in pediatric patients and families in the general pediatric and PICU units.
- Educated families on available hospital and community resources to support their needs.
- Provided emotional support during medical procedures, enhancing patient and family understanding and coping.
- Educated caregivers and families about medical procedures and healthcare processes in a compassionate and digestible way
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to advocate for patient needs and improve care coordination.
- Documented assessments and interventions in electronic medical records, ensuring accuracy and HIPAA compliance.
- Mentored and supervised interns, guiding them through clinical practices and patient support strategies.
Certified Child Life Specialist
Stanford Childrens Health
06.2019 - 03.2024
- Provided support to children and families navigating medical experiences in an outpatient clinic, covering 17 specialties (e.g., oncology, allergy, orthopedics, cardiology), helping them cope with treatment and enhance their understanding of complex medical processes.
- Led the Packard Paws program, serving as the primary facility dog handler to provide comfort, emotional support, special events and therapeutic interventions for patients and families during treatment.
- Managed Beads of Courage, Little Wishes, and Make-A-Wish programs, coordinating with families to offer personalized, impactful experiences that supported emotional well-being and enhanced patient engagement.
Education
Master of Science - Child Life
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA12-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA05-2014
Skills
- Patient & Family Advocacy
- Fertility Treatment Understanding
- Emotional & Psychological Support
- Empathetic Communication
- Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
- Collaboration with Healthcare Teams
- Skilled in MS Office applications
- Experienced in utilizing EMR software
Certification
- Certified Child Life Specialist, Expires: 10/27
Timeline
Certified Child Life Specialist
Stanford Childrens Health
06.2019 - 03.2024
Certified Child Life Specialist
California Pacific Medical Center
06.2018 - Current
Master of Science - Child Life
University of La Verne
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts
Sonoma State University
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