Sonia Nicholson

• Monitored client progress closely, adjusting care plans as needed to achieve optimal health outcomes over time.
• Improved patient satisfaction by implementing personalized care plans and providing consistent communication with families.
• Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
• Collaborated with physicians on developing patient-centered medical home models that integrated multidisciplinary healthcare teams for improved coordination of services.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships with patients families, ensuring their understanding of care plans and addressing any concerns or needs.
• Safeguarded patient privacy by adhering to HIPAA regulations and implementing strict confidentiality protocols within the organization.
• Managed budget and resources effectively, reducing overall costs while maintaining high-quality care standards.
• Facilitated smooth communication between caregivers at shift handovers by implementing standardized reporting procedures.
• Conducted assessments of patient needs and collaborated with healthcare professionals to create comprehensive care plans, optimizing patient outcomes.
• Coordinated with external service providers to ensure seamless transitions for patients between home care services and other healthcare facilities when required.
• Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations
• Managed on-call caregiver scheduling, ensuring adequate staffing levels at all times while minimizing overtime costs.
• Liaised with other healthcare professionals (KGH - TL's & IPN) to develop comprehensive patient care plans and provide highest quality of care while transitioning home from acute care.

Leadership and Management: Provide leadership in the development, implementation, and management of health and wellness programs.
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Health and Wellness Department, ensuring services are culturally appropriate and accessible to all community members.
Supervise, mentor, and support health staff, ensuring professional development and performance evaluation.
Develop and manage the department's budget and financial resources efficiently.

Program Development and Implementation: Assess the health and wellness needs of the community, using input from community members, health professionals, and data to create targeted programs.
Design and implement health education programs, including prevention, mental health, substance use, and chronic disease management.
Ensure that all programs are aligned with the community's health priorities, cultural beliefs, and traditional practices.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, healthcare providers, and other First Nations.
Engage with community members and Elders to integrate traditional knowledge into health and wellness programs.
Advocate for the community's health needs and represent the community in meetings, workshops, and other forums.

Health Promotion and Community Engagement: Develop and implement strategies for community engagement in health and wellness activities.
Promote healthy living, including nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and wellness practices, through community events and workshops.
Raise awareness about available health services and resources within the community.

Policy and Reporting: Develop policies, procedures, and guidelines related to health and wellness services in accordance with community values, legal requirements, and best practices.
Provide regular reports on the status of health programs, challenges, and outcomes to the Chief, Health Board, or other designated committees.
Ensure compliance with relevant health regulations, privacy laws, and health standards.

Cultural Competency: Ensure that health and wellness programs and services are delivered in a culturally respectful and appropriate manner.
Incorporate Indigenous healing practices and traditions in health service delivery.

Crisis Management: Lead the response to public health crises or emergencies, coordinating with external health agencies as necessary.

Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.

Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.

Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.

Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.

Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.

Temporary Shelter for the unhoused population in West Kelowna during the Global Pandemic. 24/7 monitoring of the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) both indoor and outdoor, during COVID-19 while maintaining and adhering to all COVID protocols and safety regulations

Overdose prevention and response: Monitor clients for potential overdoses, administer naloxone, and respond to overdoses.

• Harm reduction and education: Provide information and education on safer drug use, harm reduction strategies, and overdose prevention techniques.
• Client support and referrals: Offer emotional support and crisis intervention to clients.
• Client service: Provide client service at a fixed site location and through community outreach.
• Distribution of harm reduction supplies: Distribute harm reduction supplies, such as clean needles, naloxone kits, and biohazard containers.
• Advocacy: Advocate for clients and assist with navigating health and social systems.
• Education for community : Provide education on harm reduction strategies and needle safety.
• PEER program: Supervision of clients during their peer program duties

Administration of iOAT and TiOAT Medications

• Administer injectable opioid agonist treatments (iOAT) to clients, following prescribed protocols and dosage instructions.
• Ensure proper patient assessment prior to administration, including evaluating for contraindications, allergies, and any signs of overdose or adverse reactions.
• Monitor clients during and after medication administration to ensure their safety and well-being.
• Document the administration of medications, including time, dose, method, and any observations regarding the client’s response.

Collaboration with Medical Team

• Work closely with the prescribing physician to review and update treatment plans and medication orders for iOAT and TiOAT.
• Collaborate with the pharmacist to ensure accurate dispensing, inventory management, and medication reconciliation.
• Ensure adherence to protocols for patient eligibility and dosing, as guided by both the doctor and pharmacist.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss client progress, challenges, and adjustments to treatment plans.
• provided crisis intervention such as first response to suicide threats and any/all medical emergencies.
• Collaborated with other health-focused organizations and agencies to promote community health.
• Participated in ongoing professional development and training opportunities to stay abreast of best practices and emerging trends in community health nursing.
• Performed treatments as ordered by physicians and documented actions.
• Provided therapeutic nursing interventions for individualized plan of care to patient.
• Conducted assessments of social determinants of health impacting patient wellbeing and factored these into holistic care approaches designed around each individual''s unique circumstances.
• Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
• Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
• Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.

• Strived to continuously update course strategies and content based on current trends and technological advancements in healthcare.
• Educated nursing students on successful methods for performing hands on care/assessments and Nursing techniques.
• Oversaw classroom, laboratory and clinical environments to help students advance knowledge and abilities.
• Assessed student knowledge levels and abilities with detailed assessments.
• Developed and created clinical assignments to assess student skills.
• Monitored progress of each student and provided formal evaluation upon completion of clinical placements.
• Maintained student attendance records and grades.
• Coordinated with clinicians to develop and coordinate student assignments.
• Coached under performing students to help meet clinical objectives
• Prepared and administered weekly examinations to test student skills.
• Created training materials and implemented instructional strategies to track student progress, ascertain skills and development and perform staff assessments.
• Oriented and provided instruction to students during clinical rotations.
• Delivered information and valuable instructions to students during clinical rotations.
• Created and implemented several different interactive learning techniques to achieve maximum retention of objectives.

• Provided professional care to Clients acutely detoxing from all substances; assess clients' physical and psychological status during intoxication, withdrawal and stabilization. Monitor , document changes and made required referrals to Physicians or emergency services. Provided input to clients' needs, performance and progress to interdisciplinary team assessing, developing, implementing and evaluating plans to meet individual care needs of the Clients.
• Monitored and tracked patient vitals in to keep team informed of changing conditions.
• Assisted with admissions, appointments, transfers and discharges.
• Administered controlled narcotics, utilized and performed all skills within the full scope of Practical Nursing.
• Monitor Client interactions and behaviours, provided crisis intervention such as first response to suicide threats and medical emergencies.
• Administer and dispense medications; Taking and transcribing Doctors' orders; providing nursing care
• Supervises staff by performing duties listed; assigning work, orientating new staff,

• Led and supervised teams for 2 communities, ensuring cohesive, functional care delivery.
• Managed staffing, medication administration, and daily care for 100 residents.
• Maintained competency and accountability as a regulated Nursing Professional.
• Conducted nursing assessments, care planning, interventions, and evaluations.
• Assisted with dietary needs, feeding, and monitored intake to support wellness.
• Collaborated with physicians during exams, diagnostic procedures, and reporting findings.
• Administered medications, including controlled substances and narcotics, and managed IV treatments.
• Monitored vital signs (respiration, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, SP02, blood glucose).
• End-of-Life Care Planning, advance directives and ethical decisions, Patient comfort and dignity, family support and communication related to end-of-life care.
• Managed pain and behavior issues in consultation with the RN.
• Led medication reviews, care conferences, and patient status documentation quarterly.
• Collected and transported biological specimens for testing.
• Provided comfort and support to patients and families, ensuring clear communication.
• Assisted with wound care, treatments, and procedures.
• Triage incoming calls, provided basic assistance, and escalated as needed.
• Contributed to care planning and patient education through research on diagnoses.
• Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team; Physicians, Dietitians, RNs, Pharmacists, OT/PT, Podiatrists, Dental Hygienists to optimize residential care.
• Utilized office equipment and software for patient documentation and communication.
• Preceptor for Okanagan University College PN students from: 2002–2007.