Karen Benson

• In May of 2019 I accepted a position as a PAE nurse in the outpatient surgery department. My responsibilities included reviewing upcoming surgery cases and working closely with the anesthesiologist and surgeons to ensure the patients had all the appropriate labs and clearances they needed to be ready for their upcoming surgery date. My responsibilities also included completing over the phone pre op assessments and providing the appropriate education for each of the patients. As a PAE nurse I also took care of patients who came in for central line dressing changes, administering injections, Covid testing, specimen collections or whatever physician orders needed to be carried out. During my time as a PAE nurse I was also the coordinator for the ERAS program at Desoto. I worked very closely with the surgeons and anesthesiologist to coordinate and provide early education to the patients who participated in the early recovery after surgery program. I provided pre op teaching, testing, nutritional assessment and education. I followed these patients throughout their hospital stay and worked with the staff nurses to ensure the patients followed the ERAS guidelines which included early ambulation, adequate nutrition, and pain control. During COVID I helped in running the COVID outpatient treatment area where we administered IV and/or IM injections for positive COVID patients who were being treated in the outpatient setting. In 2021 I transitioned to the pre op/post op setting in the outpatient surgery department. My responsibilities now include recovering patients after their same day surgery. I also care for patients who come in for blood transfusions, BCG treatments, IR procedures and GI procedures.

• In 2008 I accepted the HN role on the 6th floor, which was the 23 hr observation unit at the time. My duties and responsibilities as a HN included fulfilling the charge nurse role, managing staffing, employee scheduling, assisting with payroll, monitoring budget and staffing ratio, collecting PI data, completing annual and quarterly employee evaluations, rounding on patients, TWI training, lift equipment training, employee coaching/counseling and/or reward and recognition as warranted. I also facilitated MDM rounds, provided bedside care up to 8 Med Surg patients when required. In May of 2016 I advanced to the unit manager of the 6th floor which had changed to an inpatient neuro-focused med-surg unit. My job duties included being 100% accountable and available 24/7 to oversee and manage the daily ins/outs of a 48 bed in patient unit. I managed up to 60 employees. I was responsible for managing employee files, attendance, payroll, yearly education, and compliance with all JACHO requirements. I was responsible for monitoring the budget and productivity daily. I was responsible for retention and recruitment of staff by interviewing and hiring new staff and promoting employee engagement. I worked on creating an onboarding project which helped to welcome and retain new staff to our unit. I also provided coaching and counseling to staff and worked closely with HR when required. My responsibilities also included monitoring quality measure and ensuring best practice measures were being implemented. I worked closely with my team and other departments to ensure patient safety. I focused on patient satisfaction and monitored HCAHPS scores monthly. I was KATA trained and worked closely with Studer consultants to improve units overall employee engagement and patient satisfaction.

I accepted a PRN position at Baptist Union County in the ER department while maintaining my fulltime employment as a HN at Desoto. In the ER my responsibilities included providing care to patients who came in for emergency treatment. I followed physician orders and provided prompt treatment to patients in need. Though my time was limited here I learned quick and thorough assessment skills and learned to adapt quickly to an ever changing environment. I had to resign from this position because I accepted the nurse manager position which required me to be available 24/7 at Desoto.

• This was a part time position that I worked in addition to my full time position at BMHCC. My responsibilities included teaching and checking off clinical skills per the LPN curriculum. I provided lecture and tested the students regarding the skills being taught and rationales. I assisted the lead instructor as needed.

I worked in the internal float pool department. My responsibilities included floating throughout the med surg units in the hospital providing bedside care for up to 8 patients. I also worked as a unit charge nurse as needed and worked as a preceptor for newly hired employees as needed.

As a new graduate RN I worked on the cardio pulmonary med Surg unit. I provided bedside care for up to 6 patients. After one year I began taking in the role of the unit charge nurse when needed.