Debbie McConnel
Queens Beach,QLD
Summary
Conscientious professional with extensive experience across maternity services and leadership advocating for social and economic well-being of individuals and families. Skilled at providing guidance, support and assistance. Strong communication and management skills and committed to inspiring community service.
Organised and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Service Director Women's Health Unit
Qld Health
12.2022 - Current
- Work collaboratively with peers and others to create a positive practice environment that achieves best practice outcomes for recipients of healthcare services.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and application of contemporary nursing/midwifery practice and theory and accountability for outcomes and achievement of service performance targets for Maternity Services.
- Monitor standards of nursing/midwifery practice and nurse sensitive indicators, and lead quality improvement activities, research, and education in alignment with the Maternity Unit and nursing and midwifery professional stream strategic direction to ensure high standard of consumer/person centred care.
- Develop and encourage a learning environment by mentoring and promoting team development and individual capacity building and application of the principles of succession management and mentoring to involve colleagues in ongoing career development and growth.
- Participate in and manage the performance and development planning of self and staff reporting to the position.
Acting Director of Nursing
Qld Health
08.2022 - 12.2022
- Monitored and evaluated nursing staff performance, providing feedback and guidance to support standards of care.
- Worked closely administration to develop and implement best practices to improve patient outcomes.
- Built and maintained positive working relationships with all staff to support seamless healthcare operations.
- Partners with nursing/midwifery executive members to operationalise clinical and corporate governance
Maternity Unit Manager
Qld Health
03.2022 - 08.2022
- Assisted in development and implementation of policies, procedures, and regulations for unit operations.
- Handled complaints from patients and families and immediately took steps for quick resolution and to prevent reoccurrence.
- Monitor standards of nursing/midwifery practice and nurse sensitive indicators, and lead quality improvement activities, research, and education in alignment with enter ward/unit and nursing and midwifery professional stream strategic direction to ensure high standard of consumer/person centred care.
- Lead the application and evaluation of contemporary human resource, material and financial management principles, including the Business Planning Framework and Nurses and Midwives Award provisions.
Generic Clinical Midwifery & Nurse Educator
Qld Health
01.2013 - 03.2022
- Organized short-term educational programs such as lectures and workshops to address specific clinical topics.
- Remained up to date on clinical protocols, procedures and developments within Maternity to serve as informational resource to students and new staff.
- Assessed educational needs of trainees and researched clinical instruction trends to develop educational curriculum and competency tools for clinical procedures.
- Facilitate the delivery of cost-effective quality patient focused care through the development, implementation and maintenance of education and professional development program and activities for all clinical and non-clinical staff.
Maternity Unit Manager
Qld Health
09.2021 - 02.2022
- Develop and encourage a learning environment by mentoring and promoting team development and individual capacity building and application of the principles of succession management and mentoring to involve colleagues in ongoing career development and growth.
- Participate in and manage the performance and development planning of self and staff reporting to the position.
- Lead the application and evaluation of contemporary human resource, material and financial management principles, including the Business Planning Framework and Nurses and Midwives Award provisions.
- Integrate organisational policies and guidelines with professional standards by maintaining a current knowledge and leading relevant policy review.
- Undertake, and participate in ethical decision making in the achievement of organisational goals.
- Comply with legislation and utilise procedures, policies, regulations and standards which impact upon the position, including contemporary human resource management requirements
Project Officer
QLD Health
04.2020 - 07.2020
- Development and published plans for COVID management across seven rural sites of Mackay Hospital Health Service
Acting Director of Nursing/Facility Manager
Qld Health
05.2020 - 07.2020
- Provide high level contemporary strategic, operational and professional nursing leadership and management
- Provide the coordination of and is accountable for service delivery, human and material management, expertise in the health care team, communication and highly developed data analysis and fiscal management to deliver safe, quality, effective and efficient healthcare provision.
- Work collaboratively and supports the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery (EDNM) strategic direction, vision and health service priorities and may have delegated responsibilities to support the role.
Acting Director of Nursing/Facility Manager
Qld Health
10.2019 - 12.2019
- Responsible for the achievement of operational and strategic performance targets, strategies and actions taken in response to evaluations and outcomes in line with operational plans, service targets and national and state benchmarks.
- Responsible for safe, compassionate care, integrating the Nursing and Midwifery Services which may include Professional Practice Model, quality frameworks and Person Centred Care
- Responsible for overarching direction, planning, coordination and evaluation of standards, policies, procedures, guidelines, business rules and protocols across service/s.
- Role model and actively promote compliance with legal, professional and organisational standards, frameworks, procedures and business rules
Clinical Safety Officer / Auditor
Qld Health
09.2018 - 12.2018
Acting Nurse Unit Manager
Qld Health
09.2011 - 11.2011
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Investigated and independently resolved complaints from staff, consumers and family members
- Manage Human Resources according to HRM framework, including team building, change management, recruitment, training, performance management and counselling.
Project Coordinator- Maternity Services
QLD Health
01.2007 - 08.2007
- Completed project and report for review of Maternity Services in the Whitsunday Health Service District.
Clinical Nurse / Quality Governance
Qld Health
01.2009 - 06.2011
- Responded to patient emergencies to provide prompt and correct intervention .
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team to evaluate patient data and determine patient care plans.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives to improve patient care outcomes.
- Management of the Safety and Quality action plan
Project Officer- Maternity
Qld Health
10.2009 - 06.2010
- Developed and deepened relationships with key stakeholders.
- Partnered with project team members to identify and quickly address problems.
- Kept senior management well-informed by preparing and presenting project status reports.
- Identified and resolved project issues and mitigated risks, reducing challenges and improving project results.
- Monitored deadlines and milestones to keep team on track with project schedule.
Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant / Generic Nurse Educator
QLD Health
01.2009 - 12.2009
- Collaborated with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to devise and manage individualized patient care.
- Interacted effectively with department managers to promptly correct problems and improve services.
- Evaluated nursing staff's performance and developed education programs and professional development opportunities to improve individual and team competencies, clinical knowledge and delivery of care.
- Oversaw training, staffing and education of all nurses and staff.
- Supervised professional and paraprofessional nursing staff and delegated tasks to maintain continuum of care.
Level 2 Clinical Nurse Registered Nurse/Midwife
QLD Health
01.2006 - 01.2009
Acting Nurse Unit Manager
Qld Health
02.2008 - 08.2008
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Fostered improvement in staff development, personnel training, and standards of patient care.
- Promoted professional development opportunities to encourage nurses to pursue continuous training.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
Level 1 Registered Nurse and Midwife
Qld Health
01.2004 - 01.2006
Acting Clinical Nurse
Delivery Suite Mater Mother's Hospital
01.2003 - 01.2004
Research Assistant
Mater Mother's Hospital
01.2003 - 01.2004
Registered Midwife (Level 1)
Delivery Suite Mater Mother's Hospital
01.1995 - 01.2003
Clinical Nurse (Level 2) Respiratory/Oncology Ward
Qld Health
01.1994 - 01.1995
Education
Master of Science - Education
James Cook University
Townsville, QLD12.2017
Diploma - Business
Organisation Development
Brisbane02.2009
No Degree - Immunisation Course
Australian Catholic University
Brisbane, QLD01.2007
Bachelor of Science - Nursing- Postgraduate
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, QLD07.1995
No Degree - Certificate of Midwifery Nursing
Mater Misericordia Mother's Hospital
Brisbane, QLD11.1993
No Degree - General Nursing
Princess Alexandria Hospital
Brisbane, QLD11.1991
Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Team Management
- Strategic Planning
- Process Improvement
- Operations Oversight
- Workforce Management
- Customer Service
- Problem-Solving
- Excellent Communication
- Customer Relations
Additional Information
2018 Certificate of appreciation: Rural trauma Enhancement project
2017 Nurses award (Proserpine)
2017 CKN Champion
2017, 2016 Certificate of Appreciation: Proserpine High and Whitsunday Christian College for providing work experience program for secondary school students.
2016 Certificate of Appreciation from CQU for contribution and support to Midwifery Practice.
2012 : Mackay District award for Mentor, 2012
2012 Nominated for District award for Academic Excellence.
2011 Nominated for Leader Ward for International Nurses Day
2007 Nomination Johnson and Johnson's Midwife of the Year
REFERENCES
Karen Wade
Executive Director of Education & Research
Mackay Health Hospital Service
(07) 4885 6760
Karen.wade2@health.qld.gov.au
Nicola Young
Director of Nursing
Proserpine Hospital
(07) 4813 9426
Nicola.young@health.qld.gov.au
Timeline
Acting Service Director Women's Health Unit
Qld Health
12.2022 - Current
Acting Director of Nursing
Qld Health
08.2022 - 12.2022
Maternity Unit Manager
Qld Health
03.2022 - 08.2022
Maternity Unit Manager
Qld Health
09.2021 - 02.2022
Acting Director of Nursing/Facility Manager
Qld Health
05.2020 - 07.2020
Project Officer
QLD Health
04.2020 - 07.2020
Acting Director of Nursing/Facility Manager
Qld Health
10.2019 - 12.2019
Clinical Safety Officer / Auditor
Qld Health
09.2018 - 12.2018
Generic Clinical Midwifery & Nurse Educator
Qld Health
01.2013 - 03.2022
Acting Nurse Unit Manager
Qld Health
09.2011 - 11.2011
Project Officer- Maternity
Qld Health
10.2009 - 06.2010
Clinical Nurse / Quality Governance
Qld Health
01.2009 - 06.2011
Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant / Generic Nurse Educator
QLD Health
01.2009 - 12.2009
Acting Nurse Unit Manager
Qld Health
02.2008 - 08.2008
Project Coordinator- Maternity Services
QLD Health
01.2007 - 08.2007
Level 2 Clinical Nurse Registered Nurse/Midwife
QLD Health
01.2006 - 01.2009
Level 1 Registered Nurse and Midwife
Qld Health
01.2004 - 01.2006
Acting Clinical Nurse
Delivery Suite Mater Mother's Hospital
01.2003 - 01.2004
Research Assistant
Mater Mother's Hospital
01.2003 - 01.2004
Registered Midwife (Level 1)
Delivery Suite Mater Mother's Hospital
01.1995 - 01.2003
Clinical Nurse (Level 2) Respiratory/Oncology Ward
Qld Health
01.1994 - 01.1995
Master of Science - Education
James Cook University
Diploma - Business
Organisation Development
No Degree - Immunisation Course
Australian Catholic University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing- Postgraduate
Queensland University of Technology
No Degree - Certificate of Midwifery Nursing
Mater Misericordia Mother's Hospital
No Degree - General Nursing
Princess Alexandria Hospital
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