Teresa Cates
Hickory
Summary
Experienced Registered Nurse at Aya Healthcare, skilled in medication administration and patient assessments, driving a 15% reduction in hospital-acquired infections. Adept at team coordination and compassionate patient advocacy, consistently enhancing critical care outcomes through evidence-based practices and effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Nurse
Aya Healthcare
Oakland, CA
03.2015 - Current
- Assessed and implemented individualized treatment plans for critically ill patients, ensuring optimal health management.
- Provided targeted care and treatment to [Type] patients.
- Educated families on critical care processes, enhancing understanding and emotional support during stressful times.
- Led quality improvement initiatives, streamlining workflows for enhanced patient outcomes and safety protocols.
- Developed best practice guidelines for emergency situations, improving team response times in critical scenarios.
- Assisted with bedside procedures such as central line insertions, intubations, and chest tube placements to ensure proper sterile technique and patient safety.
- Administered complex medication regimens and monitored patient responses in high-acuity environments.
- Conducted thorough assessments to identify changes in patient conditions, prioritizing urgent care needs effectively.
- Ensured timely interventions for deteriorating patients through early recognition of subtle changes in condition and rapid response team activation.
- Safeguarded patients from medication errors by diligently verifying orders, double-checking calculations, and monitoring for adverse reactions.
- Preserved continuity of care during transfers between hospitals or facilities by ensuring all necessary information was accurately communicated to receiving personnel.
- Improved patient outcomes by consistently monitoring vital signs, conducting accurate assessments, and adjusting treatment plans accordingly.
- Facilitated smooth transitions of care for patients between units or facilities by providing thorough handoffs and maintaining accurate documentation.
- Enhanced the overall quality of care within the critical care unit by participating in ongoing education and professional development opportunities.
- Maximized patient comfort during end-of-life care by administering palliative treatments per physician orders while advocating for patient preferences.
- Supported quality improvement initiatives within the critical care unit by participating in audits, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing evidence-based practice changes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to develop comprehensive care plans and optimize patient care in critical situations.
- Enhanced patient safety with meticulous attention to detail when administering medications, titrating IV drips, and managing ventilators.
- Minimized complications associated with mechanical ventilation through vigilant monitoring of patients'' respiratory status and prompt management of any issues that arose.
- Reduced patient recovery time by providing compassionate care, thorough education on self-care procedures, and emotional support to patients and families.
- Streamlined communication among team members during high-stress situations by utilizing clear, concise language and active listening skills.
- Contributed to a reduction in hospital-acquired infections through strict adherence to infection control policies and protocols.
- Maintained a high level of competency in caring for critically ill patients with diverse diagnoses by staying current on literature related to critical care nursing best practices.
- Increased efficiency of the nursing team by serving as a resource for current best practices in critical care nursing and mentoring new staff members.
- Promoted a culture of teamwork within the intensive care unit through open communication channels with colleagues from various disciplines.
- Assessed and managed various patient treatments for numerous patient diagnoses from sepsis to acute respiratory distress.
- Conducted patient assessments, recorded vitals, and analyzed records and charts to define care requirements.
- Oversaw various aspects of telemetry by administering pa catheters and arterials, vasoactive drugs, titration, thrombolytic therapy, dysrhythmia interpretation, and chest tubes.
- Coordinated with healthcare staff from various disciplines to devise, carry out, and manage personalized care plans to benefit patient health and recovery.
- Trained and coached new employees on protocols and best practices to promote ideal patient outcomes.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints, and current symptoms.
- Administered medications and treatments as ordered by physician.
- Assessed and documented changes in patient's condition and prepared patient for transfer to higher level of care.
- Guided patients, caregivers, and family members on plans of treatment and helpful resources available locally to support care.
- Triaged patients and delegated treatment needs to qualified staff and specialized departments.
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mitchell Community College
Statesville, NC05-2003
Associate of Science - Radiologic Science
Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute
Hudson, NC05-1987
Skills
- Medication and IV administration
- Medication administration
- Direct patient care
- Patient assessments
- Clinical judgment
- Patient and family advocacy
- Infection control measures
- Patient care
- Wound care
- Compassion and empathy
- Patient monitoring
- IV setup
- Intravenous therapy
- Care planning
- Patient management
- Care plan development
- Professional bedside manner
- Physical assessments
- Patient care planning
- Patient evaluation
- Telemetry monitoring
- Family education
- Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification
- Taking vitals
- Critical care
- Collecting vitals
- Nursing staff leadership
- Medication distribution
- Tracheostomy care
- Precepting
- Patient discharge
- Lab result interpretation
- Team coordination
- EMR systems
- Performing ekgs
- Proper catheter insertion/removal
- Emergency response
- Maintaining privacy
- Relationship building
- Vaccine administration
- Chart updating
- Diabetes management
- Insulin medication assistance
- Procedure preparations
- EMR / EHR
- Chronic disease management
- ADL assistance
- Patient counseling
- Personal care needs
- Diabetes and nutrition education
- Chest pain management
- Emergency procedures
- Data collection
- HIPAA education
- Acute care expertise
- Oxygen saturation standards
- Removing sutures
Certification
ACLC/BLS Current
NIHSS Current
- [Area of certification] Training - [Timeframe]
Timeline
Registered Nurse
Aya Healthcare
03.2015 - Current
Associate of Science - Nursing
Mitchell Community College
Associate of Science - Radiologic Science
Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute
Daisy Award Recipient 2024
As a travel nurse, we are not allowed to receive this award at most facilities, but because of the numerous nominations from patients and team members, Roanoke recognized me as potential recipient in 2016, and an actual recipient in 2024. I was the first and only travel nurse to receive this award. This was the greatest achievement to me in my career.
Detailed work history
High Point Regional Hospital – High Point, NC (08/2024 – 07/2025)
ICU | Epic | 1:1 ratio
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital – Roanoke, VA (08/2023 – 08/2024)
ICU | Epic | 1:1 ratio
High Point Regional Hospital – High Point, NC (08/2022 – 07/2023)
ICU | Epic | 1:2 ratio
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – Los Angeles, CA (2021–2022)
ICU (including Crisis Assignment) | Epic | 1:2 ratio
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center – Winston-Salem, NC (2021)
ICU | Night Shift
Johnson City Medical Center – Johnson City, TN (2020–2021)
ICU & CVICU | Night/Day
Hackensack University Medical Center – Hackensack, NJ (2020)
COVID ICU | 1:2–3 ratio
Additional Travel Experience Includes:
Spartanburg Medical Center (SC), Mary Black Health System (SC), Methodist Le Bonheur
(TN), South Georgia Medical Center (GA), Saint Francis Medical Center (VA), Lutheran
Hospital (IN), Cape Fear Valley Medical Center (NC), Palmetto Health Richland (SC), Grand
Strand Medical Center (SC), University of Maryland Medical Center (MD), Johns Hopkins
Hospital (MD), Carolinas HealthCare System (NC)
Key Responsibilities:
Delivered critical care to high-acuity ICU and CVICU patients
Managed ventilators, drips, invasive monitoring, and post-operative cardiac patients
Responded to rapid response and code blue situations
Maintained accurate documentation using Epic and other EMR systems
Adapted quickly to new hospital systems, protocols, and team environments
Provided care during COVID-19 pandemic in dedicated ICU units
PERMANENT EXPERIENCE
Registered Nurse – ICU
Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge – Morganton, NC
06/2012 – 02/2013
Registered Nurse – ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU
Iredell Memorial Hospital – Statesville, NC
08/1996 – 06/20
Current Assignment
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital August 2 2025 to present.