Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Leesa Edwards

Chocowinity

Summary

Experienced Respiratory Care Practioner with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of respiratory care in various hospital, home care and long term settings. Former proactive and supportive manager with a home care company who implemented policies and procedures for respiratory and warehouse staff. Over the years, my endeavors have included leading teams, precepting respiratory and EMS students, assisting in developing protocols, and building strong teams that ensure departmental focus and great patient care. I have a history of learning new skills, taking on new responsibilities and being a true asset to my department. If chosen, my goals include learning the ins and outs of the Respiratory Department, improving my clinical skills, and assisting the Department Manager in improving the respiratory team, ensuring excellent patient care and improved outcomes.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Travel Respiratory Care Practitioner

VARIOUS STAFFING AGENCIES
03.2019 - Current
  • Temporary/contract RT for critical access hospitals, community hospitals and skilled nursing/ventilator rehabilitation facilities
  • Provided wide range of respiratory care for newborn through adult patients
  • Assessed, treated and evaluated patients needing respiratory care
  • Implemented individual care plans using best practices
  • Performed arterial blood sticks, analyzed results and treated patients accordingly
  • Intubated and assisted in intubations
  • Initiated and managed mechanical ventilation, NIV, BiPAP and CPAP
  • Performed routine tracheostomy care, including changing tracheostomy tubes monthly
  • Performed PFTs
  • Implemented interdisciplinary training in skilled rehab facility
  • Attended difficult and emergent L&D births, resuscitated/stabilized fragile newborns and prepared them for transport
  • Was a resource for other health team members and encouraged true teamwork
  • Triaged and treated patients according to severity of their status
  • Trained new employees and precepted students as needed
  • Quickly learned new/unfamiliar computer and charting systems
  • Provided excellent patient care

Respiratory Care Practioner

BON SECOURS DEPAUL MEDICAL CENTER
09.2015 - 03.2019
  • 150 bed community hospital, 20 bed ED, 16 bed general ICU, 8 bed Neuro ICU, general medical, surgical and ortho units, 10 bed L&D
  • Primary RT for Neurology and Medical ICUs, with frequent rotations to Emergency Department
  • Managed airways, ventilators and PAP machines for critical patients
  • Worked closely with physicians and other medical staff to implement individual care plans
  • Obtained and analyzed arterial blood gases, then treated patients accordingly
  • Routine and emergent respiratory care for all patient populations

Respiratory Care Practioner

BON SECOURS MARYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER
09.2015 - 02.2019
  • 346 bed acute care hospital, 26 bed ED, 20 bed medical ICU, 10 bed post-op cardiac ICU, cardiac step-down unit, general medical, surgical and ortho units, 12 bed L&D
  • Primary RT in Medical and Cardiovascular ICUs with floor and Emergency Department rotations
  • Responsible for weaning and extubations of post-op cardiac patients
  • Management of airways, ventilators and PAP machines
  • Obtained and analyzed arterial blood gases and treated patients accordingly
  • Assisted in forming care plans
  • All aspects of routine respiratory care for newborn to geriatric patients
  • Skilled at time management and prioritizing multiple patients in several areas
  • Worked well in multiple team settings

Respiratory Care Practioner

CAROLINAEAST MEDICAL CENTER
04.2007 - 09.2015
  • 350 bed acute care hospital, 26 bed ED, 24 bed mediacl ICU, 10 bed cardiac ICU, 5 bed post-op open heart ICU, general medical, surgical, ortho, oncology units, 10 bed L&D, short term rehab wing2
  • Weekly Charge RT duties
  • Floated to all units of hospital; worked effectively in fast-paced environments
  • Managed complex patients according to set RT protocols
  • Excellent verbal and written skills
  • Obtained and analyzed arterial blood gases and treated accordingly
  • Skilled at intubations and mechanical ventilation, PAP therapy
  • Was a strong patient advocate
  • Precepted respiratory students
  • Excellent time management and triage skills
  • Able to adapt rapidly to circumstances

Respiratory Care Practioner, RPSGT

PUNGO DISTRICT HOSPITAL
12.1994 - 03.2013
  • 40 bed community hospital, 6 bed ED, 10 bed long term ventilator unit, 2 bed ICU, 5 bed step-down ICU, 2 bed sleep lab
  • Floated between acute care, emergency department and long term ventilator unit
  • Assessed and treated patients from newborn to geriatric
  • Weaned subacute ventilator patients with reversible respiratory issues
  • Managed ventilated and trached patients during their terminal disease processes
  • Changed out tracheotomy tubes monthly, daily trach care duties
  • Was on the Evacuation Team, assisting in evacuating and resettling patients during impending hurricanes
  • Intubated patients and managed acute ventilators
  • Worked closely with staff to implement care plans for all patients
  • Performed stress tests
  • Set up and managed all aspects of an in-hospital 2 bed sleep lab
  • Performed and graded sleep studies
  • Educated patients on home PAP machines, including set-ups and followups


Respiratory Care Practioner

WASHINGTON COUNTY HOSPITAL
11.2005 - 04.2007
  • 25 bed critical access hospital, 6 bed ED
  • All aspects of respiratory care in a rural critical access hospital
  • Weekly charge duties
  • Performed and scored holter monitor tests
  • Performed PFTs
  • Assisted in intubations
  • Managed ventilators and PAP machines
  • Obtained arterial blood gases and treated accordingly
  • Fostered solid teamwork between other departments
  • Daily billing, weekly supply ordering

Manager Respiratory Care and Warehouse

BEVERLY HOME CARE
03.2003 - 10.2005
  • Local home care company providing setups for home PAP units, home ventilators, oxygen and nebulizer equipment
  • Educated patients on home respiratory equipment
  • Set up and monitored home respiratory equipment, including oxygen, ventilators, nebulizers and PAP machines
  • From November 2004-October 2005 I was manager over the RT department and Warehouse staff
  • Created and updated department policies and procedures
  • Interviewed and disciplines staff
  • Responsible for billing, invoice reconciliation, ordering supplies, coordinating schedules

Respiratory Care Practioner

GRANVILLE MEDICAL CENTER
03.2002 - 03.2003
  • 122 bed acute/community hospital, 10 bed ED, 6 bed ICU, general care, surgical and ortho units, 6 bed L&D
  • Provided all aspects of respiratory care for newborns to geriatric patients
  • Excellent triage and time management skills as the lone RT on duty
  • Performed EKGs
  • Obtained arterial blood gases and treated patients accordingly
  • Assisted with chest tube placements and management
  • Assisted with intubations
  • Managed mechanical ventilators and PAP machines
  • Effective patient education
  • Encouraged solid teamwork

Respiratory Care Practitioner

HOWELLS HCA CHILDCARE CENTER
05.1998 - 11.1999
  • 16 bed residential facility for medically fragile infants and children (ventilator dependent, trached patients)
  • All aspects of respiratory care for pediatric patients with tracheotomies, many whom were on ventilators
  • Changed out trach tubes monthly
  • Performed effective CPT
  • Assisted in preparing care plans
  • Fostered an environment of teamwork
  • Provided excellent patient care

Education

Sleep Studies

Alabama School of Sleep Medicine

Associate Degree in Respiratory Care Technology - undefined

PITT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
06.1994

Skills

  • Broad range of respiratory skills and knowledge, including:
  • - Oxygen administration of different modalities
  • - Ventilator initiation, management and weaning
  • - Intubation and extubation
  • - Clinical assessment of patients
  • - Education of patients and families
  • - Tracheostomy changes and weaning to decannulation
  • Resuscitation of distressed newborns
  • Application of high flow and PAP modalities in all ages of patients
  • - Drawing and analyzing ABGs
  • - Setting up, monitoring and scoring sleep studies and holter monitors
  • - Performing bedside and pre-employment PFTs, spirometry, EKGs, treadmill studies
  • - Preceptor for respiratory and EMS students
  • - Assessment, stabilization, and general care of patients from newborn through geriatric
  • - Nebulizer treatments, IS, flutter valves, chest percussion, all aspects of general respiratory care
  • - BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP
  • - Equipment used includes various brands of hospital and home ventilators, BiPAPs, CPAPs, hi flow oxygen systems, ABG analyzers and IStats, EKG machines
  • Use of critical thinking skills to achieve positive patient outcomes
  • Staunch patient advocate
  • Builds and maintains professional relationships to further enhance best practices

Certification

BLS exp 11/2025

ACLS exp 8/2025

NRP exp 9/2025

PALS exp 4/2026

Timeline

Travel Respiratory Care Practitioner

VARIOUS STAFFING AGENCIES
03.2019 - Current

Respiratory Care Practioner

BON SECOURS DEPAUL MEDICAL CENTER
09.2015 - 03.2019

Respiratory Care Practioner

BON SECOURS MARYVIEW MEDICAL CENTER
09.2015 - 02.2019

Respiratory Care Practioner

CAROLINAEAST MEDICAL CENTER
04.2007 - 09.2015

Respiratory Care Practioner

WASHINGTON COUNTY HOSPITAL
11.2005 - 04.2007

Manager Respiratory Care and Warehouse

BEVERLY HOME CARE
03.2003 - 10.2005

Respiratory Care Practioner

GRANVILLE MEDICAL CENTER
03.2002 - 03.2003

Respiratory Care Practitioner

HOWELLS HCA CHILDCARE CENTER
05.1998 - 11.1999

Respiratory Care Practioner, RPSGT

PUNGO DISTRICT HOSPITAL
12.1994 - 03.2013

Associate Degree in Respiratory Care Technology - undefined

PITT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Sleep Studies

Alabama School of Sleep Medicine

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Leesa Edwards