Sara Wellnitz
Lexington
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented nursing professional with extensive experience at Saint Joseph East Hospital and U of KY Medical Center,specializing in operating room efficiency and patient care. Excelled in sterile technique and effective communication, significantly enhancing procedure turnaround times and reducing infection risks. Demonstrated leadership in ensuring compliance with healthcare standards, fostering team collaboration, and promoting patient safety.
Professional nurse with significant experience in operating room settings. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Expertise in perioperative care, patient assessment, sterile techniques, and surgical assistance. Reliable and adaptable to changing needs, ensuring optimal patient outcomes and seamless surgical procedures.
Overview
46
46
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Circulating Nurse, Operating Room
Saint Joseph East Hospital
07.2018 - 10.2023
- Streamlined operating room setup for faster procedure turnaround times, ensuring timely patient care.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between surgical cases by efficiently preparing operating rooms for subsequent procedures.
- Reduced risk of infection by maintaining a sterile operating room environment through proper cleaning and equipment handling techniques.
- Minimized post-operative complications through diligent assessment of patients'' vital signs and overall condition during recovery.
Clinical Manager-Ortho, Podiatric & Neurosurgery
Saint Joseph East Hospital
08.1997 - 05.2018
- Communicated effectively with staff members, physicians, and patients, employing active listening and interpersonal skills.
- Regularly evaluated employee performance and provided feedback.
- Promoted high morale and staff retention through dynamic communication, prompt problem resolution, proactive supervisory practices and facilitation of positive work environment.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory guidelines and accreditation standards through consistent monitoring and implementation of corrective actions when needed.
Clinical Manager-Orthopaedics
University of Kentucky Medical Center
02.1983 - 10.1996
- Communicated effectively with staff members, physicians, and patients, employing active listening and interpersonal skills.
- Regularly evaluated employee performance and provided feedback.
- Promoted high morale and staff retention through dynamic communication, prompt problem resolution, proactive supervisory practices and facilitation of positive work environment.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory guidelines and accreditation standards through consistent monitoring and implementation of corrective actions when needed.
Floor and ICU Nurse
Central Baptist Hospital
06.1978 - 08.1983
- Managed critical care patients with complex medical conditions, providing compassionate care and support to families.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring of vital signs, lab results, and diagnostic tests to promptly identify changes in patient conditions.
- Monitored patients' respiratory status and ventilator operation and made adjustments to promote stabilization.
- Administered medications safely and effectively, following established protocols and guidelines for dosage calculations and administration techniques.
Floor Nurse-Med-Surg Unit, Labor & Delivery
Woodford Memorial Hospital
06.1977 - 08.1978
- Communicated effectively with patients and family members to convey important instructions and discuss treatments.
- Administered medications safely according to physician orders, closely monitoring for adverse reactions or interactions among drugs.
- Administered basic patient care and treatments by dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas and performing catheterizations.
- Delivered treatments and direct nursing care according to physicians' orders in [Type] environment.
- Collected and documented vital signs to maintain current records of patients' conditions.
- Assisted physicians during medical procedures, ensuring timely completion and optimal patient outcomes.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures.
Education
Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing
Midway College
Midway, KY05-1977
Skills
- Adapting to change
- Preoperative preparation
- Intraoperative monitoring
- Basic life support
- Critical thinking
- HIPAA compliance
- Patient safety
- Patient communication
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Patient charting
- Patient positioning
- Medication administration
- Infection control
- Patient advocacy
- Patient needs assessment
- Compassionate and caring
- Strong clinical judgment
- Direct patient care
- CPR certification
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
Certification
BLS,
Laser Certified (Co2, NdYag)
Nursing Excellence, KNA 2004
I have been a nurse for 45 plus years, the majority spent in the operating room. My major focus has been orthopaedic surgery, but have been involved in most operating specialties. I recently participated on a mission trip to Guatamala assisting in orthopaedic and plastic surgery cases. I frequently volunteer with Surgery on Sunday.
In my spare time I dog sit for numerous clients and enjoy crafting, decorating and walking.
Timeline
Circulating Nurse, Operating Room
Saint Joseph East Hospital
07.2018 - 10.2023
Clinical Manager-Ortho, Podiatric & Neurosurgery
Saint Joseph East Hospital
08.1997 - 05.2018
Clinical Manager-Orthopaedics
University of Kentucky Medical Center
02.1983 - 10.1996
Floor and ICU Nurse
Central Baptist Hospital
06.1978 - 08.1983
Floor Nurse-Med-Surg Unit, Labor & Delivery
Woodford Memorial Hospital
06.1977 - 08.1978
Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing
Midway College
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