Vanessa Nichols
Teaching Experience
2012-Present ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, Austin Community College in Austin, TX School of Nursing, Vocational Nursing Program
- Mental Health/Illness, Foundations of Nursing, Skills lab, Clinical in med/surg, rehab, LTC, and mental health settings.
- Facilitate learning through lecture, skills lab practice, supervision in a clinical setting, and tutorials
- Write test questions, proctor exams, exam review, and assist with skills assessments.
- Quality Matters Peer Reviewer for online courses. Acting as liaison for college distance learning course reviews (hybrid and online).
- ACEN accreditation team member.
2012-2012 ADJUNCT FACULTY, Austin Community College in Austin, Texas
School of Nursing, Vocational Nursing Program
- Clinical skills lab OB lab simulation instructor for students; also provided general orientation to the OB rotation
- Tutored students and assisted Vocational Nursing program faculty with skills check offs
- Coordinated nursing students for OB and Pediatric clinical experience at Blackstock Family Health Center
2007-2011 NURSE EDUCATOR, Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) in Austin, Texas
Austin State Supported Living Center
Facility Administration
- Administrator for state facility with over 400 residents, and more than 200 nurses (RN and LVN)
- Created and revised health services policies and procedures. Managed Continuing Education (CE) program
- Used evidence-based practice to design and present learning activities
- Worked collaboratively with the QA Department to advocate for an environment that promotes high consumer care standards
- Cultivated nursing informatics and supported transition of nursing department to integrate electronic documentation system
Positions in Administration
2015-2015 UTILIZATION REVIEW, Seton Shoal Creek (Behavioral Health Hospital) Austin, Texas
- Obtained payment authorization for behavioral health admission and services for the patients, acting as liaison between the member, physician and other providers of behavioral health care services
2001-2006 SUPERVISOR, Hospital of Corporation of America (HCA): Ft. Lauderdale, Florida University Medical Center
- Supervised more than 40 nursing and support staff
- Co-created a new detox unit; developed, managed and implemented all aspects of project timelines
1999-2000 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Coordinated Care Solutions: Elder Solutions (Medicare program) Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Assisted in all phases of operation including provider credentialing, finance, budget, personnel and operations
- Ensured the consistent and appropriate management of the delivery of services to patients/members
- Provided assessments, education, and coordination of appropriate and cost-effective health care services
- Oversaw the 24-hour, 7-day a week Care Coordination Center
- Charged with supervision of ANPs, RNs and marketing personnel
- Charged with tracking, trending and analysis of key indicator data for monthly, quarterly and annual reporting
1998-1999 MANAGER OF CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield New York, NY
- Reviewed RN Case Managers’ caseload, and assessed appropriateness of referrals, timeliness of contact with providers and external resources and interventions, accuracy of data entry and adherence to professional standards of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA)
1996-1998 DIRECTOR, PRE-CERTIFICATION, Elderplan (Medicare HMO) Brooklyn, New York
- Designed a precertification program including the development of policies and procedures
- Designed computerized methods to report and analyze utilization data
- Coordinated medical services for the geriatric population, acting as liaison between the member, physician and other providers of health care services
- Assisted with provider credentialing and supervised and performed ongoing quality review of support staff responsible for data entry
- Chaired the Staff Advisory Quality Committee to address challenges in work environment and quality of work
Clinical Positions
2011-2012 FAMILY PRACTICE NURSE, Blackstock Family Health Center (Seton Family of Hospitals) Austin, Texas With University of Texas Southwest, School of Medicine, Residency Program
- Lead team of medical assistants and resident physicians
- “Super User” for EMR: educated clinicians and healthcare administrators with functionality of EMR technology to convert paper workflow to electronic charting
- Provided educational activities, and infection prevention systems for this large family practice
- Coordinated care for patients with complex conditions
2006-2007 AMBULATORY SURGERY RN, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Austin, Texas St. David’s Medical Center
2004-2005 EMERGENCY ROOM RN, Hospital of Corporation of America (HCA): Ft. Lauderdale, Florida University Hospital Medical Center
1992-1998 MEDICAL SURGICAL RN, Millard Fillmore and Columbus Hospitals Buffalo, New York
Consultation
1998-2003 Independent Contractor, Health Care Consultant for Insurance and Legal New York, New York
- Consulted on legal cases involving health insurance/managed care companies
- Health Care Consultant to third party payers (HMOs), performing comprehensive prospective and retrospective utilization review, including medical necessity review, quality audits, ICD9/CPT coding and DRG validation
Memberships in Professional Organizations
2018-Present Certified Nurse Educator (NLN)
2017-Present Golden Key Honors Society
2016-Present Tau Upsilon Alpha, Alpha Chi honor society/ National Organization for Human Services (NOHS)
2013-Present Texas Association of Vocational Nurse Educators (TAVNE)
2010-2012 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)
2010-2012 Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA)
2009-Present Sigma Theta Tau International (Honor Society of Nursing)
2008-Present American Nurses Association (ANA)
2008-Present Texas Nurses Association (TNA)
2000-Present National Association of Nurse Massage Therapists (NANMT)
Service to Professional Activities
2018-present Member of and current ALLY trainer for Austin Community College LGBTQ+ eQuity Committee
2018-2019 Member of Austin Community College Distance Learning Committee
2016-2017 Member of Austin Community College Faculty Senate. Served as parliamentarian
2009-2011 Volunteer Regional Wellness Coordinator for Austin State Supported Living Center employees
2008-2015 Volunteer for Meals on Wheels and More Food Delivery and Care Calls program
Professional meetings/ workshops attended
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2021 2020 2020 2020 2019
2015 |
Equity in Faculty Hiring. ACC Becoming An Equity-Minded Instructor and Serving Men of Color, ACC Equity in Assessment & Culturally Responsive Teaching. Presented by Erick Montenegro of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. ACC Lilly Conference, Austin, TX Teaching and Learning Academy: Teaching to the Brain, Building A Community of Learners, Assessing Students Learning and Engaging Students for Learning. ACC Texas Association of Vocational Nurse Educators (TAVNE), Workshop |
2014 Texas Association of Vocational Nurse Educators (TAVNE). Austin, Texas
2013 Critical Thinking and Test item Writing, presented by Elsevier. San Antonio, Texas
2011 Crucial Conversations. Austin, Texas
2009 Texas State Agency Worksite Wellness Conference: Moving Agencies Into Action. Austin, Texas
2006 Understanding and Managing Potentially Aggressive Patients in a Behavioral Health Setting. University Hospital Medical Center. Tamarac, Florida
2005 “Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid Addiction: A Counselor’s Guide.” Tamarac, Florida
1997 “Navigating NCQA Accreditation; A Comprehensive Review of NCQA Standards” National Committee for Quality Assurance. Dallas, Texas
1997 “The Art and Science of Case Managing: How to Solve Problems and Save Resources.” Amer. Healthcare Institute. New York, New York
1994 “Therapeutic Touch.” D’Youville College Buffalo, New York
INVITED PAPERS, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS
2018 Dissertation: The impact of performance anxiety on student nurses in the simulation setting (qualitative study).
2016 Wellness for Women presented at the 12th annual Women's Health, Motivation, & Empowerment Conference. Austin, Texas
2013 Getting Along With Difficult People. Provided this workshop for ACC faculty and employees (ACC General Assembly), Austin, Texas
2010 “Communication: Moving from Rough Waters to Smooth Sailing.” CE activity for nurses at Austin State Supported Living Center. Austin, Texas
2009 “Wellness Committee.” Article published in The Main Street News published by DADS (2009 and 2010.)
2009 “Stress in Nursing and the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN).” Lecture for nursing students at Austin Community College. Austin, Texas
2004 “Massage Therapy for Patients’ Health.” CE activity for nurses at University Hospital. Tamarac, Florida
Published: January 23, 2025