Shayla Hamilton
Novato
Summary
Reliable, hardworking, and passionate professional with strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Eager to secure a position that offers professional challenges utilizing nursing skills, interpersonal skills, excellent time management, and problem-solving skills. Ready and eager to contribute to team success through hard work, compassion, and attention to detail. Motivated to learn, grow and excel professionally.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Victim Advocate
Bridging Freedom
Tampa, FL
10.2024 - 11.2025
- Provide daily care for up to 12 female survivors of Human Trafficking, age 12-17.
- Cook meals, transport youth to off-site activities, family visits, and appointments.
- Ensure staff/youth ratios and 24/7 supervision is maintained.
- Provide effective crisis management in emergencies including injury, physical altercation, elopement, and self-injurious behavior.
- Medication administration.
- Management of assaultive behaviors.
- Advocated for victims' rights, ensuring access to necessary resources and support services.
- Developed and implemented tailored support plans addressing individual needs of survivors.
- Provided crisis intervention and emotional support during critical incidents for clients in distress.
- Trained and mentored new advocates on best practices and effective communication strategies.
- Facilitated regular support groups, fostering a safe environment for sharing experiences among survivors.
- Facilitated referrals for mental health counseling or other specialized services when necessary, ensuring holistic care for each client''s unique needs.
- Developed supportive relationships with clients by displaying empathy, active listening skills, and cultural sensitivity throughout all interactions.
- Assisted crime victims by providing emotional support and guidance through the criminal justice process.
- Contributed to organizational growth by actively participating in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities related to victim advocacy work.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive safety plans for at-risk individuals, helping reduce instances of repeat victimization.
- Documented client progress and activities in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Assisted clients in developing and setting realistic goals to promote positive change.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate care for clients.
- Participated in professional development and training opportunities to enhance clinical skills.
- Utilized evidence-based practices to provide effective interventions for clients.
- Facilitated psychoeducational classes to help clients develop life skills.
Unit Manager
Brooksville Youth Academy
Brooksville, FL
07.2023 - 10.2024
- Manage youth Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility housing up to 72 male youth, ages 12-17.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and adaptability among team members.
- Enhanced operational efficiency, redesigning workflow processes.
- Optimized inventory management to reduce waste and ensure availability of critical supplies.
- Conducted routine facility inspections, identifying areas needing improvement and eliminating hazards posed to staff and residents for continued compliance with associated regulations.
- Manage a team of 15 floor staff to ensure quality care and effective interventions for residents.
- Complete all incident reports and physical intervention reports for final review and submission.
- Supervised daily operations to ensure compliance with youth development standards.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff to enhance team performance.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary meetings to address youth behavioral challenges effectively.
- Monitored and evaluated program effectiveness, identifying areas for improvement.
- Led crisis intervention strategies, ensuring safety and well-being of all residents.
- Advocated for resource allocation to improve facility services and support staff needs.
- Evaluated employee performance regularly for professional growth opportunities, accountability measures, and feedback-driven improvement strategies.
- Ensured compliance with regulations and standards through regular audits, staff education, and policy updates.
- Addressed clinical issues promptly to reduce risks associated with patient care or operational inefficiencies in the unit.
- Mentored new hires during orientation periods for seamless integration into the team while maintaining high-quality patient care standards.
- Assisted in development and implementation of policies, procedures, and regulations for unit operations.
- Developed strong working relationships with physicians, nurses, therapists, and ancillary staff for cohesive unit functioning.
- Facilitated interdepartmental collaboration through effective communication and coordination of patient care plans.
- Optimized staffing levels by monitoring unit needs and making data-driven adjustments to scheduling as necessary.
- Promoted a culture of safety within the unit by enforcing strict adherence to protocols, guidelines, and infection control measures.
- Handled complaints from patients and families and immediately took steps for quick resolution and to prevent reoccurrence.
- Enhanced patient care by implementing efficient unit management processes and coordinating interdisciplinary teams.
- Improved patient satisfaction with timely and accurate communication between patients, families, and medical professionals.
- Reduced medication errors by diligently overseeing the administration of medications to patients.
Victim Advocate
Bridging Freedom
Tampa, FL
03.2022 - 07.2023
- Provide daily care for up to 12 female survivors of Human Trafficking, age 12-17.
- Cook meals, transport youth to off-site activities, family visits, and appointments.
- Ensure staff/youth ratios and 24/7 supervision is maintained.
- Provide effective crisis management in emergencies including injury, physical altercation, elopement, and self-injurious behavior.
- Medication administration.
- Management of assaultive behaviors.
- Advocated for victims' rights, ensuring access to necessary resources and support services.
- Developed and implemented tailored support plans addressing individual needs of survivors.
- Provided crisis intervention and emotional support during critical incidents for clients in distress.
- Trained and mentored new advocates on best practices and effective communication strategies.
- Facilitated regular support groups, fostering a safe environment for sharing experiences among survivors.
- Facilitated referrals for mental health counseling or other specialized services when necessary, ensuring holistic care for each client''s unique needs.
- Developed supportive relationships with clients by displaying empathy, active listening skills, and cultural sensitivity throughout all interactions.
- Assisted crime victims by providing emotional support and guidance through the criminal justice process.
- Contributed to organizational growth by actively participating in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities related to victim advocacy work.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive safety plans for at-risk individuals, helping reduce instances of repeat victimization.
- Documented client progress and activities in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Assisted clients in developing and setting realistic goals to promote positive change.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate care for clients.
- Participated in professional development and training opportunities to enhance clinical skills.
- Utilized evidence-based practices to provide effective interventions for clients.
- Facilitated psychoeducational classes to help clients develop life skills.
Psychiatric Technician
Napa State Hospital
Napa, CA
01.2018 - 12.2020
- License number: CA 40833
- Assigned to an inpatient forensic psychiatric unit housing male 60 patients, ages 18+.
- Took and monitored vital signs, administered medications, and managed patient behavior.
- Counseled and mentored clients on substance use and proper use of prescribed medications.
- Provided patient teaching related to medications, side effects, and treatments to ensure safe use and encourage compliance.
- Administered scheduled and emergency IM injections according to protocol per physicians order.
- Noted and implemented physicians orders, including updating medication/treatment administration records to reflect any changes in real time.
- Discontinued medications per physician orders and returned unused medications to hospital pharmacy per policy.
- Ordered ward stock and emergency medications as needed for unit supply.
- Conducted inventory reviews of ward stock medication frequently to ensure valid expiration dates and quantity of stock based on unit needs; returned expired or unusable medication to pharmacy for disposal.
- Inventory and stock emergency cart daily.
- Treated clients and families with respect and dignity.
- Charted on patient behaviors and progress daily.
- Maintained and updated patient medical records and performed chart audits.
- Assisted with intake of new patients including assessments and unit orientation.
- Provided one to one observation for high-risk patients during critical periods of treatment or crisis.
- Improved operations through effective time management, attention to detail, and organization.
- Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts; including mandatory overtime and voluntary overtime to meet staffing needs.
- Acted as shift lead for up to 10 nursing staff members including registered nurses, nursing assistants, and psychiatric technicians.
- Monitored patient behavior to ensure safety and compliance with treatment plans.
- Assisted in therapeutic activities to promote patient engagement and recovery.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized care strategies.
- Trained new staff on department protocols and patient care procedures efficiently.
- Implemented best practices for crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques consistently.
- Implemented crisis intervention protocols when necessary, ensuring the safety of all patients and staff members involved.
- Developed strong rapport with diverse patient populations through empathetic listening skills, helping them feel heard and understood.
- Observed patients closely for signs of distress or changes in condition, promptly reporting concerns to supervising clinicians for appropriate intervention.
- Maintained accurate and up-to-date documentation of patient progress, facilitating effective communication among healthcare team members.
- Fostered a positive therapeutic alliance with each patient by providing consistent encouragement throughout their healing journey.
- Assisted in patient goal-setting and regularly monitored progress, celebrating successes and addressing barriers to achievement.
- Maintained strict confidentiality of patient information, adhering to HIPAA regulations and protecting individual privacy rights.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in psychiatric care.
- Assisted psychiatrists in administering medications, ensuring accurate dosages and monitoring side effects for optimal efficacy.
- Provided crisis intervention, stabilizing patients experiencing acute mental health episodes.
- Reduced incidents of aggressive behavior by implementing de-escalation techniques.
- Assisted patients in understanding their conditions, leading to improved engagement with treatment.
- Encouraged patient independence by teaching self-care and life skills.
- Administered medication to patients, ensuring adherence to treatment plans.
- Improved patient outcomes by actively participating in multidisciplinary team meetings and sharing observations.
- Enhanced therapeutic environment, maintaining clean and safe living space for patients.
- Contributed to treatment plan evaluations, offering insights from daily patient interactions.
- Maintained detailed patient records, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations and privacy laws.
- Supported patients' coping mechanism development with effective communication and empathetic interaction.
- Delivered compassionate patient care, focusing on safety, comfort and emotional support.
- Participated in patient education, helping to reinforce concepts and treatment plans.
Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator
United States Army Reserves
06.2008 - 12.2016
- Accurately documented user support activities, such as system problems, corrective actions, resolution status and completed equipment installations.
- Accurately read, understood, and carried out written instructions.
- Monitored and analyzed system performance, such as network traffic, security and capacity.
- Evaluated hardware and software to determine efficiency, reliability and compatibility with existing systems.
- Followed standards and procedures to maintain safe work environment.
- Participated in team-building activities to enhance working relationships.
- Operated multichannel transmission systems ensuring effective communication during missions.
- Monitored system performance, troubleshooting issues to maintain operational readiness.
- Collaborated with team members to execute communication strategies in high-pressure environments.
- Conducted regular maintenance checks on equipment to ensure optimal functionality and reliability.
- Trained junior operators on system protocols and best practices, enhancing team efficiency.
- Maintained accurate records of system configurations, updates, and maintenance activities to ensure traceability and adherence to established protocols.
- Facilitated seamless integration of new technology into existing infrastructure through extensive research, testing, and evaluation processes prior to implementation.
- Guaranteed smooth information flow during critical missions by skillfully utilizing secure voice/data networks in various operational settings.
- Reduced downtime during outages by rapidly diagnosing issues and providing efficient solutions for hardware or software problems.
- Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility in response to changing mission requirements, effectively adjusting communication strategies as needed.
- Collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams to establish effective communication links between units and command posts.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
Charles Town, WV12.2021
Associate of Science - Psychiatric Technician
Napa Valley College
Napa, CA12.2017
Certificate - Multichannel Transmission Systems Training Course
United States Army
Fort Gordon, GA08.2011
Certificate - Cable Installation Operator
United States Army
Fort Gordon, GA08.2009
High School Diploma -
Vintage High School
Napa, CA06.2009
Skills
- Trauma-informed care
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Active listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Case documentation
- Patient support
- Documentation skills
- Task prioritization
- Client advocacy
- Self motivation
- Behavior management
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Goal setting
- Professionalism
- Interpersonal communication
- Crisis intervention
- Time management abilities
- Written communication
- Experience with at-risk youth
- Patient-centered care
- Cultural competence
Languages
English - Excellent
German - Basic
Timeline
Victim Advocate
Bridging Freedom
10.2024 - 11.2025
Unit Manager
Brooksville Youth Academy
07.2023 - 10.2024
Victim Advocate
Bridging Freedom
03.2022 - 07.2023
Psychiatric Technician
Napa State Hospital
01.2018 - 12.2020
Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator
United States Army Reserves
06.2008 - 12.2016
Certificate - Multichannel Transmission Systems Training Course
United States Army
Certificate - Cable Installation Operator
United States Army
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
Associate of Science - Psychiatric Technician
Napa Valley College
High School Diploma -
Vintage High School