For more about me.

Ms. Kristin L. Eckland, ACNP-BC
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Board certified
“enfermera calificada para ejercer la medicina”
k.eckland@gmail.com

Licenses and Certifications

Board Certified, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, ANCC, expires 10/2021 with
prescriptive authority and DEA number.

 

Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

West Virginia State certified Medicolegal Death Investigator.

Registered Nurse First Assistant in Surgery (RNFA).

Multiple state licensure.

 

Clinical Experience – Advanced Practice Nursing

Barton & Associates, CT-Assist.com

locum tenens

December 2012 – present

Acute care nurse practitioner in cardiothoracic surgery specializing in locum tenens assignments for temporary coverage of maternity leave, and other short-term placements.  Let me grab my stethoscope and I am ready to go.

 

Clinical Rotation in Thoracic Surgery – student

Clinica de Marly

Bogotá, Colombia

September 2012 – December 2012

Dr. Ricardo Buitrago

With special emphasis on the use of the DaVinci Robot in thoracic surgery, and the effects of high altitude on thoracic surgery patients.  Designed and coordinated research project on surgical outcomes in high elevation cities; traveling to and recruiting surgeons from La Paz, Bolivia, Bogotá, Colombia and Mexico.  Developed mobile application for data submission.

Clinical Rotation in Thoracic Surgery – student

Mexicali General Hospital

Mexicali, Baja California

March 2012 – August 2012

Dr. Carlos Ochoa, MD

Currently studying the endemic thoracic diseases of Northern Mexico.  Completing case reports, patient education projects, and articles on thoracic surgery topics while attending rounds, thoracic surgery clinics and observing surgery.  You can read more about my student experiences here.

 

Cardiothoracic Surgery, Nurse Practitioner,

Heart and Vascular Center of Northern Arizona

Flagstaff Medical Center

1200 North Beaver, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

September 2011 – March 2012

Dr. Steven Peterson, MD

In-patient consultations, hospital rounds, clinic visits.

 

Medical Writer

Latin American Surgery.com

on location whenever possible.

 

Colombia Reports.com 

Author of a new series of articles on surgery, medicine and healthcare in Colombia.   Colombia Reports.com is the largest source of English-language news in Latin America.

 

Hidden Gem series

‘mini-gem’ guide to Mexicali on location (March 2012 – December 2012).  Published January 2013.

on location in Bogotá, Colombia (Jan 2011 -May 2011) researching and writing the second in the Hidden Gem surgical tourism guidebook series. Published and released on Amazon.com, other on-line retailers and selected bookstores, August 2011.

Guide to Cartagena published July 2010.

 

Cirugia de Torax.org

(April 2011 – present) On-going contributor to Cirugia de Torax.org – web blog featuring interviews, articles and discussions of thoracic surgery topics.

Examiner.com – Calexico Health Examiner

Articles on health, medicine and surgery.

 

Cardiology, Nurse Practitioner

Virgin Islands Heart

St. Thomas, USVI

Dr. Roy Flood, MD

July 2010 – December 2010.

A solo physician cardiology practice on St. Thomas caring for both the tourist and local population.  Specializing in aggressive management of cardiac disease and co-morbid conditions.

 

Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Nurse Practitioner

Duke Cardiovascular Surgery of Danville,

Duke University affiliated practice

Duke University PDC, Danville, Virginia

Dr. Ulyssee McCann II, MD

Dr. Richard P. Embrey, MD

May 2007 – June 2010

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner for a sole physician surgical practice in a Duke University affiliated cardiovascular and thoracic surgery practice. Responsible for the medical management and post-operative care of intensive care, step-down and floor patients, as well as in-patient consultations. Maintain accurate and detailed documentation required for insurance reimbursement and legal record keeping; including daily progress notes, history and physicals, discharge summaries, bedside procedure notes.

On call two nights per week and one weekend per month.

Designed and implemented standardized thoracic surgery post-operative care orders & thoracostomy tube orders to improve patient care.

Conducted teaching sessions / educational presentations to improve the care of cardiovascular and thoracic patients.

Standardized emergent CABG surgery procedures to minimize errors and delays from cath lab to OR.

Submitted evidenced based practice guidelines for use of blood products in
surgical patients for hospital use.

Coordinated and created “Cardiothoracic Surgery Week at DRMC,” August 2008. Arranged for expert speakers on cardiovascular topics for healthcare personal.
Delivered two lectures including a patient education lecture offered to the public.

Created CTA guidelines for carotid patients to limit nephrotoxicity in coordination with radiology, and national guidelines.

 

Cardiothoracic Surgery, Nurse Practitioner

West Virginia University Hospitals, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery

University Health Associates, Morgantown, WV

Dr. Jose Cruzzavala , Dr. Kyril Choumarov, Dr. Geoffrey Graeber, Dr. Ronald C. Hill and Dr. Ganga Prabhakar

March 2006 – February 2007

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner for cardiac and thoracic intensive care step-down and floor patients. Assessment, interpretation of diagnostic data and physical findings, diagnosis and treatment of hospitalized patients on the cardiothoracic surgery service. Perform a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic bedside procedures as part of patient care. Administer and oversee an aggressive post-operative ambulatory and pulmonary program designed to prevent and limit the development of the most common post-operative complications.

Provide hospital-wide consultations at the request of other physicians, nurse practitioners.

Serve as a readily accessible contact person, and clinical resource for hospital and nursing staff during operating room hours.

Serve as an instructor, mentor and resource to interns, residents, medical and nursing students.

Provide in-depth patient education about disease processes, treatment modalities and other health topics.

 

Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, internship (unsalaried)

Middle Tennessee Cardiothoracic and Vascular Associates

Dr. John F. Pinkard, MD, FACS

December 2005 – February 2006.

Assisted with clinic visits, observed surgical procedures as part of a volunteer internship.

 

Clinical Experience – Nursing and Allied Health

 

Medical, Surgical, Orthopedics & Pediatrics, Registered Nurse, Float Pool

Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, WV

(July 2002 to June 2003)

Supervised and coordinated care of acutely ill hospitalized patients, including evidence based nursing interventions. Nursing assessment of patients, administration of treatments and medications.

 

Oncology, Nurse Apprentice

Washoe Medical Center, Reno, Nevada

(May to October 2001)

Cared for patients as part of a hospital position designed to transition nursing students into registered nurse positions after graduation on a patient-centered unit designed specifically for the needs of patients receiving primary or adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, or palliative treatment for advanced cancers.

 

Long term care, Activities Assistant

Washoe Progressive Care Center, Sparks, Nevada

(May 2000 to May 2001)

Provided room visits for tactile, auditory and other sensory stimulation for comatose patients.  Provided meaningful social interaction to non-ambulatory residents. Designed and implemented programs utilizing memory-retention tools in the Alzheimer’s ward. Conducted facility-wide recreational activities for ambulatory and mobile residents, and supervised outings to community activities.

 

Orthopedics & Surgical, Ward Clerk

Carson-Tahoe Hospital, Carson City, Nevada

(October 1999 to May 2000)

Transcribed orders, medication records and maintained patient charts.  Scheduled all
in-patient diagnostic and laboratory procedures.  Notified referrals and scheduled follow up appointments.

Education / Training

Multiple Internships including:

Cardiac Surgery, Sincelejo, Colombia (March 2014 – present)

Thoracic Surgery, with focus on Robotic surgery, Bogota, Colombia (Sept 2012 – December 2012)

Thoracic surgery clinical rotation,  Mexicali, Mexico – (March 2012 – August 2012)

Endemic thoracic diseases of Northern Mexico as mentioned above. 

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, OH.

Nancy Phillips, PhD-C, MEd, BSN, RN

October 2009

Completed clinical hours under the guidance of the attending physicians in Cardiothoracic surgery. Hours logged as part of CTSnet.

Master of Science in Nursing, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – August 2005

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

GPA 3.86 (out of 4.0 scale).

Studies have focused on surgical services including general, cardiac and vascular surgery.  Research project on the use of methylxanthines  in bradyasystolic arrest, review of available literature.

 

Associate of Applied Science, Nursing –  June 2002

Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno,  Nevada

GPA 3.44

Completed sociological study on the culture of  Christian Science and nursing implications on the care of Christian Science  juveniles.

 

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology – May 1996

Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Major emphasis: Health and Illness across  Cultures, Gerontology, Abnormal Behavior.   Transferred from University of Memphis, Memphis, TN in 1994.

Citadel Amateur Boxing Club, 1994-1996

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. – Treasurer and  Financial Secretary, 1993-4.

Pan-Hellenic Council, Secretary and  Vice-President, 1993 – 4.

 

Associations/ Affiliations

Member of the American Academy of Nurse  Practitioners (AANP)

Member of the American College of Nurse  Practitioners (ACNP)

Affiliate member of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSnet.org)

Allied Health member of American College of Chest Physicians

Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, former Central Region Representative

American College of Cardiology, affiliate membership.

 

Presentations/Papers (partial listing)

1. Chest Tube Management and Lung Pathology. Presentation to Intensive Care
Unit nursing staff, Schneider Regional Medical Center, St. Thomas, USVI, 30
December 2010.

2. Featured speaker, Diabetes and cardiac disease. Diabetes Health Fair, Schneider Regional Medical Center, St. Thomas, USVI, November 12, 2010.

3. Community presentation and discussion, diabetes and risk factor reduction, St. Andrews Church, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, November 7, 2010.

4. Hyperglycemia in acute myocardial infarction. CME Presentation at the
cardio-pulmonary symposium at Schneider Regional Medical Center, St.Thomas, Virgin Islands, on October 23, 2010.

5. Lung pathology with presentation and discussion of radiographic findings and surgical management.  Presented to Danville Community College nursing students, May 12, 2010.

6. Cardiac Complications of Diabetes.  Lecture presented to Diabetic education class at Danville Regional Medical Center on November 18, 2009.  Presentation of existing data, national guidelines and treatments available for risk reduction.  Repeat presentation January 18, 2010.

7. Carotid endarterectomy in the elderly.  Presentation of existing data, diagnosis and treatment modalities of carotid stenosis with discussion of practice surgical outcomes.  March 5, 2009, Riverside Rehabilitation Center, Danville, VA. Open to the public.

8. Poster Presentation, “Small Town CT Surgery: Role of the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner” Presented at the American College of Nurse Practitioner’s annual conference, October 2008.

9. Chest Tube Management in Thoracic Patients. Presentation on the care of
thoracic patients to nursing staff, telemetry unit, Danville Regional Medical
Center, 18 September 2007.

10. Heparin – Induced Thrombocytopenia with local skin necrosis with enoxaparin injection A case report.  Accepted August 2008, e-published 29 December 2009 in Advance Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Available at: http://nurse-practitioners.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=212802

11. Music Therapy in Post-Surgical Cardiac Patients in the SICU: A Limited Application at Tennessee Valley Veteran’s Administration Hospital. (2005, April, unpublished).

12. Vascular Surgery: Critical Limb Ischemia. Case presentation, Vanderbilt
School of Nursing. (2005, February 18).

13. The Use of Theophylline in Bradyasystolic Arrest: A Review of the Literature. Presentation of findings, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. (2005, July10).

14. Eckland, K. & Klein, A. (2010). Hidden gem: A guide to surgical tourism in cartagena, colombia. ISBN # 9781452842721. Published July 20, 2010. Revised 2011 August.

15. Cartagena, Colombia as an emerging medical tourism destination. Colombia Reports. Com.  Published on-line (2010, September 20.)

16. Bogota hospital offers hope to patients with abdominal cancers. Colombia
Reports.com.  Published on-line (2011, April 16.)

17. Eckland, K. & Klein, A. (2011, July). Bogota! a hidden gem guide to surgical tourism.  ISBN-13: 978-1456497514. 

18.  Eckland, K. (2011, July). The Thoracic Surgeons: Bogota, Colombia.  A brief
narrative.  ISBN-13: 978-1463595791.  Available on Amazon.com

18.  Poster presentation, “Use of social media to promote specialty practice,”  27th annual national conference of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Orlando, Florida, June 2012.

19.  Lecture presentation, “Management of hyperglycemia in surgical patients,”  annual conference of the Bolivian Society of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgeons/ Latin American Society of Vascular Surgery and Angiography, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, October 2012.

Hoja De Vida

Licensias y Certificaciones

Enfermera practicante de cuidados intensivos
(ACNP) – certificado de junta, ANCC – enfermera calificada para ejercer la
medicina

Enfermera registrado assistante en cirugia
(RNFA)

Soporte vital cardiaca avazado (ACLS)

Soporte vital basico (BLS)

 

La experiencia clinica

Enfermera calificada para ejercer la medicina en cardiologia

Virgin Islands Heart con Dr. Roy Flood, cardiologica

San Tomas, islas virgin de los estados unidos

julio 2010 – deciembre 2010

Diagnosticar, tratar y manejar enfermedades
cardiaca y enfermedades cronicas.  La
educacion del pacientes, diagnosticar y tratamiento de la diabetes.

 

Enfermera calificada para ejercer la
medicina en cirugia

cardiovascular y torax

Universitario de Duke, la clinica cirugia de
Danville

con Dr. Richard Embrey, cirujano
cardiovascular

Danville, Virginia, los estados unidos

mayo 2007 – junio 2010

Diagnosticar, tratar y manajar enfermedades
cronico y post-operativo en los pacientes antes and despues cirugia. Manajar
problemas post-operativo en cuidado intensive, para eliminar tubos thoracic y
mediastinal. Escribir recetas, la educacion del pacientes antes lleva a la
casa. Post-operativo manajar de insulina y diabetes. Assiste cirujano en
cirugia thoracic.

Diseño e implementación de las órdenes de la
cirugía torácica estándar de cuidado post-operatorio y las órdenes de tubo de
toracostomía para mejorar la atención al paciente.

Se realiza sesiones de enseñanza y
presentaciones educativas para mejorar la atención de pacientes
cardiovasculares y torácicos.

Procedimientos normalizados emergentes cirugía
de bypass coronario para

minimizar los errores y los retrasos del laboratorio de cateterismo a la sala

de opere.

Enviado demuestra directrices basadas en la
práctica para el uso de productos sanguíneos en los pacientes quirúrgicos de
uso hospitalario.

Coordinado y creó “Semana de la Cirugía
Cardiotorácica en DRMC”, agosto de 2008. Organizado por ponentes expertos en
temas cardiovasculares de

la asistencia sanitaria personal. Pronunció dos conferencias incluyendo una educación
del paciente conferencia ofrecida al público.

Creado directrices de la CT scan y angiografia
de la carotida para los

pacientes carótida para limitar nefrotoxicidad en coordinación con la

radiología, y directrices nacionales.

Enfermera calificada para ejercer la
medicina en cirugia

cardiovascular y torax

Universitario de West Virginia con los
cirujanos cardiovascular:

Dr. Jose Cruzzavala, Dr. Ganga Prabakhar, Dr.
Ronald Hill, Dr. Geoffrey Graeber y Dr. Kyril Choumarov.

marzo 2006 – febrero 2007

Agudo Cuidado Enfermero para pacientes
cardiacos y torácicos de cuidados intensivos de bajada y el piso. Evaluación,
la interpretación de los datos de diagnóstico y los hallazgos físicos, el
diagnóstico y el tratamiento de los pacientes hospitalizados en el servicio de
cirugía cardiotorácica. Realiza una variedad de procedimientos diagnósticos y
terapéuticos en el marco de la atención al paciente. Administrar y supervisar
un programa agresivo ambulatoria y pulmonar postoperatoria diseñado para
prevenir y limitar el desarrollo de las complicaciones más comunes después de
la operación.

Proporcionar consultas en todo el hospital, a
petición de otros médicos, enfermeras practicantes.

Servir como una persona de contacto de fácil
acceso, y los recursos clínicos de hospital y personal de enfermería durante
las horas de quirófano.

Sirve como instructor, mentor y recursos a los
internos, residentes, estudiantes de medicina y enfermería.

Proporcionar la educación del paciente en
profundidad sobre los procesos de la enfermedad, tratamiento y otros temas de
salud.

 

Educacion y instruccion

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)
/ Enfermera registrado assiste en cirugia

Lakeland Community Universidad en Kirtland,

Ohio. EE UU

La profesora, Dr. Nancy Phillips, PhD, RN

Completo una programa clinica de cirugia de
120 horas con los cirujanos

cardiovascular y thoracic.

Masters of Science in Nursing, Acute
Care Nurse Practitioner program/ Maestros de grado scientifica en enfermeria –
una

programa de cuidado intensive
calificada para ejercer la medicina

Universidad de Vanderbilt en Nashville,
Tennessee EE UU

Grado 3.86 de 4.0

Una programa de cuidado intensivo avanza en
cirugia cardiovascular, toracic y general. Anatomia, fisiologia, farmacologia
avanzada, diagnosticos, tratamientos y manajar de cirugia y medicina.

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
/ grado de

asociado en cienca aplicada,
enfermeriaTruckee Meadows Community College en

Reno, Nevada EE UU

Grado 3.44 de 4.0

Licentura en arte, Sociologia

Universidad de Dalhousie en Halifax, Nova
Scotia, Canada

Sociologia de salud y enfermedades

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