Donna Clark
Flagstaff
Summary
Compassionate Palliative Care Nurse with extensive experience at Flagstaff Medical Center, adept at individualized patient services and psychosocial evaluations. Proficient in facilitating goals of care discussions with patients and families. Proven advocate for patient autonomy, fostering collaborative decision-making and promoting holistic care strategies.
Qualified Social worker with strong foundation in clinical social work. Demonstrated success in providing comprehensive support to individuals and families, enhancing their well-being through tailored interventions. Additional training in Grief Counseling, CBT, EFT, Medical Trauma, Family Systems, and addictions.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Palliative Care Nurse
Flagstaff Medical Center, NAH
11.2016 - Current
- Advocated for patient autonomy in decision-making regarding treatment options and end-of-life care planning.
- Conducted family meetings to discuss goals of care, facilitating collaborative decision-making processes among all involved parties.
- Managed complex symptoms using evidence-based practices, resulting in increased patient satisfaction.
- Enhanced patient and family understanding of illness progression through clear communication and education.
- Established and maintained successful relationships with patients, families and physicians by utilizing exemplary communication and active listening skills.
- Demonstrated cultural competence in providing palliative care services tailored to the unique needs of diverse patient populations.
- Educated fellow healthcare professionals on the principles of palliative care, enhancing their ability to provide comprehensive care.
- Participated in quality improvement projects focused on enhancing the delivery of palliative care services within the organization.
- Maintained current knowledge on best practices in palliative nursing through regular continuing education opportunities.
Palliative Care Coordinator
Flagstaff Medical Center, NAH
07.2007 - 11.2016
- Streamlined interdisciplinary collaboration by organizing regular team meetings to discuss patient progress and adjust care plans accordingly.
- Reduced hospital readmissions through effective coordination of symptom management strategies and implementation of comprehensive discharge planning.
- Collaborated closely with primary healthcare providers to ensure cohesive treatment plans that align with patients' goals of care.
- Increased access to palliative care services by identifying eligible patients and providing prompt referrals for appropriate care interventions.
- Monitored program data to identify areas for improvement, implementing changes accordingly to ensure ongoing quality enhancement.
- Served as a trusted resource for information on advanced directives, assisting patients in completing these documents accurately.
- Provided ongoing education to staff members on the principles of palliative care, fostering a supportive environment for both patients and colleagues.
- Advocated for the needs of patients and families in interdisciplinary team meetings, ensuring their voices were heard during decision-making processes.
- Promoted a holistic approach to patient care by integrating medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural components into personalized treatment strategies.
- Evaluated program effectiveness using quality improvement measures and implemented necessary adjustments for optimal service delivery.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Cancer Center of Northern Arizona
10.1999 - 07.2007
- Improved client outcomes by implementing evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
- Enabled smoother transitions between levels of care by effectively communicating with referring providers about client progress and treatment recommendations.
- Delivered culturally sensitive counseling services, fostering inclusivity and respect within diverse client populations.
- Advocated for client needs within interdisciplinary team meetings, ensuring adequate representation and access to necessary resources.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions, promoting positive peer support and mutual learning experiences.
- Collaborated with community resources for effective case management, optimizing the support network for clients.
- Implemented cognitive-behavioral techniques to help clients change negative thought patterns and improve their coping strategies.
- Expanded professional knowledge through ongoing continuing education and training opportunities in the field of clinical social work.
- Promoted the integration of self-care practices and stress management techniques among clients, fostering resilience and overall wellbeing.
- Increased patient satisfaction through providing empathetic and compassionate counseling services.
- Performed short-term therapy, provided education and responded to crisis situations.
- Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
- Facilitated family meetings to discuss patient care plans.
- Developed individual treatment plans and provided counseling to patients.
- Facilitated support groups for patients and families dealing with chronic illnesses.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Northern Arizona Hospice
03.1995 - 10.1999
- Advocated for client needs within interdisciplinary team meetings, ensuring adequate representation and access to necessary resources.
- Provided crisis intervention services, stabilizing clients experiencing acute symptoms or distress.
- Facilitated skill-building groups for clients, focusing on coping strategies, stress reduction techniques, and self-care practices.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Developed and led Bereavement support groups
- Volunteer coordinator, responsible for training and supervision of volunteers
Clinician III
Virginia Beach Mental Health Services
02.1991 - 05.1994
- Implemented crisis intervention strategies when needed, ensuring immediate safety measures were in place for at-risk patients.
- Delivered high-quality patient care by conducting thorough assessments, developing treatment plans, and providing ongoing therapeutic support.
- Advocated for patients within the healthcare system to ensure access to appropriate resources and services when needed.
- Developed tailored treatment plans to address the unique needs of each patient and promote optimal recovery.
- Participated in case reviews with multidisciplinary teams to discuss complex cases and develop collaborative solutions for individualized care plans.
- Conducted group therapy sessions to facilitate skill development, coping strategies, and emotional processing among participants.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based clinical practices and interventions.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge on industry best practices, attending conferences and participating in continuing education opportunities.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VABachelor of Science - Psychology
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VAMaster's in Social Work -
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA01-2006
Skills
- Individualized Patient Services
- Psychosocial Evaluation
- Stress Management Strategies
- Facilitating Family Meetings
- Supportive Strategies for Caregiving
- Therapeutic Grief Support
- Holistic assessment
- Critical Thinking in Care
- Compassionate care
- End-of-life care
- Family counseling
- Patient-centered care
- Advance care planning
- Interpersonal and written communication
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Palliative Care Certificate from University of Colorado
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
Timeline
Palliative Care Nurse
Flagstaff Medical Center, NAH
11.2016 - Current
Palliative Care Coordinator
Flagstaff Medical Center, NAH
07.2007 - 11.2016
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Cancer Center of Northern Arizona
10.1999 - 07.2007
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Northern Arizona Hospice
03.1995 - 10.1999
Clinician III
Virginia Beach Mental Health Services
02.1991 - 05.1994
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Old Dominion University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Old Dominion University
Master's in Social Work -
Norfolk State University
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