About Me

I remember when I started in nursing school; I did not excel nor understood what it meant to be a nurse until I encountered a patient at the VA Hospital.  He asked me to stay and sit with him because he did not have anyone in life.  As he was sharing his life story, I listened intently, smiled and laughed at his jokes. Before I left his bedside, he said, “Thank you for staying. It meant a lot to me.”  At that moment, my passion in nursing began. 

The first few months of teaching at a Licensed Vocational school was not what I thought it would be.  I was lost and out of my element.  It was not until, a student who came up at the end of class and stated the simple words of “thank you, Mr. Mac, you are making a difference in my learning and I want to be a nurse because of you.”  At that moment, my passion in teaching began. 

Education became part of my DNA.  Having held a variety of positions in nursing for at least 17 years, my heart belonged to nursing education preferably in academia. Teaching is an art, a science, and as raising awareness of one’s own experience.  It is without a doubt involves with emotions and values.  Perhaps to sum it all up what a teacher means to me is a quote from William Arthur Ward.  “The mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires” (Brainy Quote, 2013). One day, I will be the latter. 

Personal Mission Statement

I am an educator.  I am committed to my students overall learning and growth.  I will utilize different approaches of teaching to connect with my students. This means encouraging them to value learning and become a better nurse.  Students will be allowed to use technology at every opportunity in the classroom, thus allowing student’s creativity to flourish and expand.  I believe in empowerment.  Students will find tasks meaningful, see themselves as relatively competent and capable of doing nursing tasks, and believe that their involvement in those tasks will make an impact in their own lives or someone else life.  I will treat all of my students with the same respect regardless of race, gender, ability or disability.  I am passionate expert on educating others to provide an exciting, motivating, and challenging learning environment.  Foremost, I am a nurse first before an educator who will nurture a relationship with my students because I care deeply for their individual growth.

Experiences

West Coast University – La Palma, CA

 Full Time Faculty    2015 – Present

Mount St Mary’s University – Los Angeles, CA

 Adjunct Faculty    2015 – Present

Mount Saint Mary’s University – Los Angeles, CA

Completed 144 hours of which are 48 hours of clinical instruction. 

Assisted Professor Levy with clinical instruction in mental health to students.  Discuss with students their concerns and/or problems directly or indireclty related to learning experience.  Provide clinical and classroom instruction.  Orient students to clinical area and demonstrates proper procedures.  Leads discussions and elicits information from students which demonstrates that students are learning and accomplishing the clinical objectives.  Maintain clinical standards and course expectations throughout each course.  Evaluates and grades student performance.  Meets with students for care plans.  Communicates with Lead Professor as necessary to resolve issues or concerns in clinical areas. 

Exodus Recovery – Culver City, CA                                                                                                             

Provided direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules and evaluating patient progress. Collaborated with a variety of interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for their patients. Educated patients’ families about their conditions and how to create a supportive environment for the patients for long-term care and recovery.

Kindred Hospital – Orange/LA County, CA                                                                                                  

Ensure complete and updated clinical training and education of nursing and healthcare staff, as well as new employees. Develop and maintain the clinical competencies of nursing staff by demonstrating and assessing, their learning needs through direct observation, formal learning assessments and thorough review of quality improvement and program evaluation. Plan and deliver mandatory, voluntary and identified needs in-service for all departments.   Maintain all in-service records and education files for facility staff.  Assess the impact of programs and learning activities on staff. Develop and implement preceptorship programs.  Currently work “Per Diem”, with direct patient care, allowing Nursing Skills to stay current for educational and training purposes.                                                                                                                                                                    

North-West College – Pasadena, CA                                                                                                           

Conduct classes in patient care to nursing students and instructed students on the principles and application of physical, biological, and psychological subjects related to nursing. Provided instruction of the highest standards, evaluated student progress, and assisted in course content development. Promoted activities furthering the work of the institution, communicated necessary information to students, and provided academic advice to students as needed

Kindred Hospital – West Covina, CA                                                                                                            

Led and directed all quality management activities including patient care and relations, JHACO compliance, risk management and safety, performance improvement. Developed strategic plans and policies that supported the clinical practice of nursing and other professional practices based on knowledge in Title 22, JCAHO as well as for improved quality throughout the hospital.  Collaborated with top management to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies.. Provided accreditation/certification in-service training and coordinated survey activities for JCAHO, CMS, and State Licensure

Kindred Hospital – La Miranda, CA                                                                                                              

Coordinated education for different disciplines in the facility. Participated in departmental budget and contributed to cost containment policies and planning. Created and modified educational programs including general and clinical orientation

Planned, organized, and oversaw staff in providing patient care; evaluated care and ensured customer satisfaction. Managed the department’s daily staffing requirements; oriented new staff to their job responsibilities; and provided leadership in clinical problem solving. Ensured clinical skills can meet the standards in clinical nursing and assisted nurses in patient diagnosis. Supervised all employees to ensure optimum hospital functionality and process. Supported the Chief Clinical Officer in patient care by providing key leadership in fiscal management, program planning, and optimizing of resources.

Kindred Hospital – West Covina, CA                                                                                                            

Trained all nursing personnel on Protouch.. Participated in quality improvement through preparation of audit reports. Provided troubleshooting and remediation of computer issues

Cedars Sinai – Los Angeles, CA                                                                                                                    

Provided direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules and evaluating patient progress. Collaborated with a variety of interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for their patients. Educated patients’ families about their conditions and how to create a supportive environment for the patients for long-term care and recovery.

Specialty Hospital – West Covina, CA                                                                                                          

Coordinated with health care team members to assess, implement and evaluate patient care plans. Prepared and administers (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and recorded prescribed medications. Reported adverse reactions to medications or treatments in accordance with hospital policies. Provided bedside care for a wide variety of medical patients, including pre- and post-surgery patients. Initiated patient education plan as prescribed by physician. Taught and counselled patients and significant others how to manage their illness/injury by explaining: post-treatment home care needs

Education, Credentials and Professional Organizations

• Masters in Nursing Education at Mount Saint Mary’s University (2015)
• Public Health Nurse #84529
• B.S. in Nursing at California State Dominguez Hills, Graduated with Honors (2012)
• ADN at Mt. St. Mary’s College, Graduated with Honors (1997)
• Nursing Honor Society – Sigma Theta Tau- Inducted 2011
• Graduate Assistant with Dr. Darlene Levy at Mount Saint Mary’s University
• American Psychiatric Nursing Association