CASSANDRA A.

PETERSON, MsHA, RN
1251 Astral Drive
Barstow, CA 92311
773-263-6107 (c)
cp1002f68@westpost.net
NURSE LEADERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
Accomplished, seasoned professional with proven success in building cohesive tea
ms, improving healthcare projects in addition to providing consultative services
for healthcare systems. Visionary leader with a strong focus on the organizatio
nal mission. Superior communication skills, easily interacts with executives, c
lients, vendors, and staff.

* With two staff positions unfilled at Modoc Medical clinic, managed to keep the
clinic overtime budget less than 3% while providing quality patient care.
* Spearheaded the financial analysis of the Saturday clinic to provide the need
ed data to show that the clinic was losing revenue on that program, and provided
the productivity data needed to sustain a profit level for this program. This a
nalysis had not been completed prior to her arrival.
* 2009-Managed over 160 professionals in an acute care environment improving ove
rall morale, work performance, and teamwork including 8 direct reports.
* 2009-Restructured the Job Corp nurse assistant program resulting in improved c
linical skills of Job Corp. students and better patient outcomes. 30% more Job C
orp students received 1st time job placement after restructure of the program.
* 2009-Developed and implemented a comprehensive Nurse Internship and Preceptor
Program that met the needs of novice nurses and ensured quality patient care. Th
e program helped alleviate turnover and address recruitment and retention issues
in nursing.
* 2009-Improved the Patient Falls program by implementing colored arm banding, s
pecial colored socks and gowns to identify patients at risk for falls; decreased
falls by 25% in 6 months
* 2008-Contributed significantly to Emergency Department passing CMS accreditati
on survey by implementing corrective action plan for noted deficit areas prior t
o CMS arrival-less than 30 days in the department. Department of Nursing Educat
ion received no deficits during 2008 CMS accreditation survey.
* 2008-Initiated first evidence based new graduate training program in the Emerg
ency Department based on the Vermont Nurse Internship program.
* 2007-Participated in planning and implementation of Navajo Area Regional Mass
Vaccination Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Exercise. Wrote and implemented Nur
sing Policy for the exercise. Contributed to successful immunization of 1900 pat
ients in approximately five hours.
* 2006-Implemented BLS, Basic Life Support Team and ACLS, Advanced Cardiac Life
Support Teams in Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. Resulted in annual savings of $
20,000 by not outsourcing certification courses. Increased CPR certification com
pliance rate in nurses from 70% to 97%, and overall hospital compliance from 40%
to 85% in required areas.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

NUCLEAR DIAGNOSTIC GROUP

(Nurse Consultant)10/2010-Current
Provided advice in preparing various reports and medical records, reviewed medic
al policies and medical documents, responsible for interacting with the nurse a
nd other medical professionals, conducting training seminars for nurses to maint
ain field skills. Identified and communicated field issues, opportunities and co
mpetitive activities through appropriate organizational venues.

MODOC MEDICAL RURAL HEALTH CLINIC

Clinical Nurse Leader (Consultant), 4/2010-9/2010
Clinical Nurse Leader for a rural health clinic, manages clinic operations, nurs
ing and office medical staff. Assesses, organizes, directs and evaluates all fun
ctions and personnel of the out-patient clinic. Responsible for the development
and implementation of policies and procedures, and the direction and evaluation
of patient care delivery.
10/2009-03/2010 Dissertation research for first three of five chapters of disser
tation.
ROSWELL REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Chief Nurse Officer, 1/2009-9/2009
* Managed a 6 bed OB unit-average births per month 85, 3 Bay Emergency Departmen
t with over 16,000 annual visits, 2 bed ICU, 18 bed Medical/Surgical Unit, and 7
OR suites (2 designated to Endoscopy)
* Established Shift Nursing Supervisor positions. The personnel in those positio
ns expedited the discharge and admission planning processes, executed conflict r
esolution skills that improved patient satisfaction scores, and facilitated pati
ent flow processes that maintained standards of patient care and managed unplann
ed events occurring during the shift toward successful outcomes.
* Improved the out-patient customer satisfaction forms and collected data to rev
eal monthly out-patient customer satisfaction scores by nursing unit.
* Expanded the on call nursing pool to decrease overtime expenditures.
* Completely eliminated all contract nurse staff on the day shift for the medica
l/surgical floor and day shift ICU (total of 12 contract nurses). Estimated inst
itutional savings of $58,000 for the quarter.
* Established and directed the nursing model; reviewed and evaluated administrat
ive and clinical
Nursing procedures within the hospital; directed the development and implementat
ion of clinical and operational policies, procedures and standards.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INDIAN HEALTH HOSPITALS

FORT DEFIANCE INDIAN HOSPITAL, AZ
Emergency Department Nurse Manager, Interim, 8/2008-10/2008
* Nurse Manager accountable for the day to day operations, scheduling and assign
ment of 30 FTE's
Assistant Chief Nurse Officer, Interim, 8/06-1/08
* Served as Acting Assistant Chief Nurse for 1.5 years. Assumed responsibilities
for activities in absence of Chief Nurse; Assigned and reviewed work of thirtee
n Supervisory Clinical Nurses. Was a member of the Nurse Executive Team and oth
er multiple disciplinary teams.
* Approved/Disapproved leave, interviewed candidates for positions on units. Ass
isted with recommendations for corrective action or discharge.
* Promoted team building and assists to improve business practice through monito
ring contract staff nurses. Worked with risk manager to establishes systems that
supported and monitored compliance with all applicable clinical service related
to laws and regulations promulgated by regulatory and/or accrediting agencies s
uch a CMS, JC, and state requirements. Assisted with creation, maintenance of co
ntract nurse budget.
* Promoted recruitment, retention, continuing education, and development of nurs
ing and clinical staff members through professional development using both inter
nal and external resources and maintained collaborative communication with appro
priate nurse and clinical leaders and educators locally and regionally.
* Assigned work to subordinates based on priorities. Advised, counseled or inst
ructed employees on both work and administrative matters. Evaluated patient care
issues and created approaches to problem resolution.
* Resolved complaints from subordinate staff and supervisors. Utilized effective
communication in oral and written form. Accomplished quality and quantity of wo
rk expected within set limits of cost and time.
* Assisted with creating short and long range goals for the department of nursin
g that ensured the mission of the organization was carried out.
* Assisted with developing, implementing and analyzing outcome measures of custo
mer and employee satisfaction and the quality of patient care.
* Ensured adherence to professional standards and management competency requirem
ents. Ensured the services and programs provided achieve the required quality st
andards and identifies and establishes quality measures and standards required f
or continuous quality improvement.
Director of Nurse Education, 03/2005 - 12/2008
* Revised the facility-wide hospital and nursing orientation program. Contribute
d to the organization receiving a passing rating on the CMS/ Center for Medicaid
/Medicare Services accreditation survey.
* Developed and implemented unit orientation and unit competency forms and compe
tency files; resulting in staff completing formalized unit orientation training.
Prior to the implementation of these competencies, no formal organizational uni
t competencies existed to meet CMS accreditation policies. Designed and implemen
ted Department of Nursing Education policies.
* Planned, organized and directed the Nursing Education program; established tea
ching protocols and policies for staff and patient education. Involved physician
s in teaching courses for nurses which promoted high quality health education se
rvices in the clinical setting. Initiated first QA/PI project for department of
nursing education to track percentage of nurses completing orientation on time,
and completion of core nursing competencies, as well as tracked blood utilizatio
n training compliance for the hospital lab to maintain College of American Patho
logists (CAP) lab certification. Initiated start up of evidence based practice t
raining. Implemented hospital wide customer service seminars in coordination wit
h patient advocate. Provided and coordinated staff training, has implemented fiv
e year department plan for Department of Nursing Education and established Dept.
of Nursing Education budget.
* Conducted needs assessments using a variety of strategic tools. Continually a
ssisted learners in the assessment of needs and identification of outcomes. Inco
rporated the principles of adult learning in the planning, implementation, and e
valuation of education programs. Adjusted educational content and teaching strat
egies appropriate for learner needs. Adept at curriculum development and program
implementation.
* Delivered competency based programs for nursing staff with a focus upon improv
ement of skills and retention of knowledge. Developed evidence-based educational
materials including materials for the evidence based Vermont Nurse Internship P
rogram. Prepared short and long term planning and programs to address identified
needs.
* Responded to changes in nursing practice and developed nursing programs to sup
port those changes. Ensured that educational programs were congruent with organi
zational missions, values, and goals. Served as a role model, preceptor and prom
oted the concept of lifelong learning Identified and recruited internal and exte
rnal resources (nurse, doctor, and other specialists) for educational activities
. Facilitated teambuilding and leadership development for areas of coverage in t
he facility through implementation of team building seminars.
CHINLE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE INDIAN HEALTH HOSPITAL, Chinle, AZ
Pediatric Charge Nurse, 2003- 2005
* Assessed health status of pediatric patients. Planned and implemented therapeu
tic regimens including providing wellness care, patient education and patient re
ferrals to health care team in a rural hospital. Assisted in staff scheduling, b
udget management, supply maintenance, and served as preceptor for new graduate n
urses.
* Implemented formal training and unit orientation program for seasonal certifie
d nurse assistants.
* As charge nurse ensured the smooth operation of the pediatric unit. Supervised
up to three nurses, one administrative specialist and two nurse assistants. Ser
ved as nurse preceptor for new graduate nurses. Competent training has resulted
in three new graduate nurses transitioning successfully to emergency room nurses
. Contributed to passing JCAHO survey.
MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER, Chicago, IL
Pediatric Charge Nurse, 2001 - 2003
* Charge nurse for a 31 bed Pediatric ICU/ Step-Down and Pediatric Floor Unit.
Provided and coordinated care for a multicultural population. Supervised up to s
ix registered nurses, and two nurse assistants per shift. Assisted in staff sche
duling, budget management, supply maintenance, and served as preceptor for new g
raduate nurses.
* Member of pediatric process improvement team. Participated in data collection
to improve quality assurance for maintenance of unit policies, and maintenance o
f unit equipment. Created and implemented Parent Orientation Guide that outlined
flow of care on unit and served as a unit orientation guide for parents and gua
rdians.
* Collaborated with clinical educator on processes to streamline redundant docum
entation. Improved patient response time, and decreased patient waiting time in
emergency room from an average of five hours to three hours for pediatric patien
ts. Assisted in redesign of staff orientation processes resulting in decrease of
orientation time of new graduate nurses from seven to six weeks without losing
orientation effectiveness.
* Served as Customer Service Ambassador to resolve customer conflict between cus
tomers and staff, and assisted in conflict resolution between staff members. As
a result, for two years consecutively, the pediatric unit received the highest c
ustomer service rating in the hospital.
ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER, Chicago, IL
Cardiac Telemetry Novice Nurse, 1999 - 2001

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, Honorable Discharge

Still Photographic Journeyman, 1984 - 1995
Managed the color print department of the Still Photographic lab. Supervised se
ven Non- Commissioned Officers and five Air Force Airmen. Managed capital budget
of $600,000.

EDUCATION
DM, Doctoral of Management, 2011, University of Phoenix, AZ (expected completion
date March 2011)
MsHA, Health Administration, 2003, University of Saint Francis, Joliet, IL
BS, Nursing, 1999, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL
LICENSURE, TRAINING, CERTIFICATES
* Current Nursing Licens: - State of Arizona (compact), State of California, Sta
te of Illinois
* Current BLS, ACLS
* U.S. Public Health Service Chief Nurse Officer Award for Outstanding Contribut
ions to Nursing-2006 and 2007 from U. S. Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Carol R
omano