Apr 08, 2025

Carla V Wade

  • Clinical Registered Nurse
  • Spring, Texas
Full time Intensive Care Unit

Personal Summary

I am a highly experienced and dedicated Registered Nurse with over 30 years of expertise in acute care, critical care, and telehealth services. I am adept at providing patient-centered care, managing complex clinical cases, and leading multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal outcomes. My proficiency in advanced procedures such as cardiac and neurocritical care, forensic nursing, and telemedicine technologies, including Cerner, Epic, and Meditech, sets me apart. As a certified medical-surgical, neuroscience, and forensic nursing leader, I am committed to evidence-based practice and patient advocacy. I excel in delivering care in hybrid and remote environments, ensuring seamless care coordination and proficient patient experiences. I am dedicated to leveraging my clinical knowledge and leadership to excel in the evolving field of telehealth.

Skills

  • Vasopressor, Sedation, & Paralytics Administration
  • Heart Failure Patient Care
  • Surgical Craniotomies Care
  • Acute Thrombolytic & Hemorrhagic Stroke Care
  • Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Care - Heart Mate III
  • Cerner, Epic, and Meditech
  • Tracheostomy & Ventilator Care
  • Relationship Building & Management
  • Chest Tube Care
  • Post-Surgical Drain Care
  • Hypothermia Care
  • Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Adaptability & Flexibility
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Advocacy
  • Team Work
  • Wound & Ostomy Care
  • Cross-functional Collaborations
  • Diagnostics
  • A-V Fistula Care

Licenses and certifications

  • ANCC Certified Medical-Surgical Nurse (RN, C)
  • IAFN Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Adult/Adolescent (SANE)
  • State of New Jersey Forensic Nurse Sexual Assault (F-SA)
  • AANN Certified Neuroscience RN (CNRN)
  • AHA Basic Life Support, PALS, and Advance Life Support
  • ENA Trauma Nurse Core Course Provider (TNCC)

Awards and achievements

  • Member, American Nurses Association
  • Member, New Jersey State Nurses Association
  • Member, International Association of Forensic Nurses
  • Member, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
  • Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
  • Member, American Society of Law and Ethics
  • Member, National Black Nurses Association
  • Member, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
  • Member, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
  • Member, Emergency Nurses Association
  • Member, National Black Nurse Practitioner Association

Work Experience

Clinical Registered Nurse VI Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Mar 2024 - Present University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

- Support post-surgical patients on vasopressor and antiarrhythmic medication, resulting in decreased complications for patient-optimized recovery. - Perform post-care of fem-pop bypass, Trans catheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), pacemakers, and percutaneous coronary intervention, improving vascular integrity and early complication detection. - Provide pre and post-care of Congestive Heart Failure patients’ cardiogenic shock, enhancing hemodynamic stability and reducing mortality risk by 40%. - Support patients with left ventricular device (LVAD) Heart mate III, improving patient survival rate; perform Post-Coronary Bypass and carotid Endarterctomy, quickening patient recovery and improving outcome. - Execute pre-and post-procedure care for cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology patients, including Telemetry patients with chronic cardiac conditions, reducing the complication rate by 40% and aiding faster recovery.

Clinical Charge Nurse
Feb 2010 - Feb 2024 MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

- Managed the daily operations of in-patient nursing units, providing business strategies that resulted in meeting and exceeding financial goals. - Collaborated with a cross-functional team to address patient’s needs and improve nursing efforts, leading to a 50% increase in efficiency and patient satisfaction. - Supervised and enhanced staff performance per professional principles and practices that facilitated non-punitive performance accountability. - Liaised with physicians, patients, and patients' families to plan care and evaluate outcomes, enhancing patient outcomes, increasing satisfaction, and increasing recovery rates. - Managed oncologic emergencies and provided adequate care to adults with septic shock, malignant hypocalcemic emergencies, and tumor lysis syndrome, resulting in a 60% improvement in critical patient outcomes. - Improved efficiency and overall productivity by promoting care continuity, clinical competency, technology use, and optimum emergency management.

Clinical Nurse RN II, Neuro Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Nov 2010 - Present The Methodist Hospital-TMC, Houston, Texas

- Led continuous hemodynamic monitoring and support for critically ill patients, resulting in a 70% reduction in morbidity and mortality. - Manage and monitor patients' cardiopulmonary, facilitating patient outcomes and a 50% reduction in adverse events. - Monitor, record, and communicate patient condition, employing computerized documentation systems that improve accuracy and lead to a 60% increase in efficiency and patient safety. - Maintain an excellent level of care for patients with acute thrombolytic and hemorrhagic strokes, minor head traumas, neuro-surgical patients, and other critical neuromuscular issues. - Care for multiple patients with Neuro-Oncology Post Tumor Resections, spinal cord injuries, acute strokes, craniotomies, etc., improving functional recovery rates and patient outcomes. - Provide post-operative care, manage ventilators, and prevent complications, resulting in a 65% improvement in patient stabilization, recovery rates, and reduced ICU stays.

Forensic Registered Nurse II
Dec 2015 - Apr 2019 Harris Health System, Ben Taub, Houston, Texas

- Conducted and documented a comprehensive, unbiased, and objective clinical forensic history and assessments on sexual/domestic violence victims, advancing legal accuracy and case strength. - Maintained chain of custody for all specimens collected during the sexual assault nurse examination, enhancing evidence integrity and strengthening legal outcomes. - Coordinated hospital, law enforcement, and patient advocacy for sexual assault/domestic violence patients as a forensic nurse examiner, enhancing patient support and case resolution rates. - Provided court testimony on behalf of patients seeking justice in the legal system, enhancing the credibility of the evidence and improving case outcomes. - Conducted forensic medical examination, improving evidence accuracy and leading to a 60% increase in legal case success and victim support. - Collaborated with law enforcement agencies and legal teams, improving legal process efficiency, patient recovery, and satisfaction.

Clinical Charge Nurse RN III, Neuro-Trauma Intensive Care Level I January 2005 – August 2011 Clinical Charge Nurse RN III, Neuro-Trauma Intensive Care Level I
Jan 2005 - Aug 2011 Memorial Hermann TMC, Houston, TX

Responsible for coordinating the management functions of quality delivery of care, as well as adherence to the nursing practice and the standards of care of the trauma patient. Maintain continuous hemodynamic monitoring and support for level I critically ill patients, with an overall goal in delivering this care to minimize morbidity and mortality as well as to facilitate optimal patient outcomes.  Supervised intensive care functions while maintaining clinical nursing practice skills and unit specific expertise. Served as a role model/Coach and clinical resource to colleagues, staff, patients, and others. 
Experienced in rendering care to post-operative aneurysm clippings patients with ventriculostomies, lumbar drains and ventilators tumor resections and craniotomies. 
 Assisted in conscious sedation, bedside procedures of tracheostomies, chest tubes, emergency cut-downs. Educated and communicated families regarding patient care and pending procedures. 
Collaborated with Physicians and educated families in regard to life gift and end of life decisions. 
Headed nursing activities, leading by example and providing an environment of calm in a fast paced 
environment

Education

Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner
Jan 2019 - May 2021 Wilkes University, Wilkes, Barre, PA
Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Organization
Jan 2013 - May 2015 Grantham University, Kansas City, MO
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Aug 1986 - Jul 1992 Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga.
Post Bachelor Certificate in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Jan 1996 - Jan 1997 Rutgers the State University, New Brunswick, NJ
Continued Education in Legal Studies
Aug 1993 - Jan 1995 Mercer County College West Windsor, NJ