Chrissie A. Smith
Southampton,UK
Summary
Dynamic healthcare professional with a proven track record of continuous career growth and progression, demonstrating exceptional clinical leadership and multidisciplinary team coordination. Adept at ensuring patient and staff satisfaction while maintaining high standards of healthcare quality and business-oriented decision-making. Skilled in proactive communication, resource management, budget control, team performance tracking, and understanding medical software to optimise operational efficiency. Committed to fostering compassionate care through good clinical judgement and a passion for excellence in healthcare delivery.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Ward Sister/ Charge Nurse
Circle Reading Hospital (Inpatients)
2025.08 - 2026.05
- Clinical Leadership and Patient Safety
- Provide visible, accountable clinical leadership in line with Circle Health Group’s purpose of delivering high-quality, safe, and compassionate care. Ensure all care delivery aligns with evidence-based practice, NMC Code (2018), and CHG governance frameworks. Lead on patient safety initiatives, including risk identification, incident investigation, and implementation of learning outcomes. Maintain oversight of clinical standards, including NEWS2 compliance, fluid balance accuracy, wound care management, and infection prevention practices. Act as the clinical escalation point for deteriorating patients, complex wound cases, and post-operative complications.
- Governance, Quality Improvement, and Assurance
- Lead and contribute to Clinical Governance Committees (CGC), presenting data on quality metrics, incidents, and improvement actions. Develop and present Hospital Leadership Team (HLT) reports/slides, providing assurance on ward performance, risks, and key achievements. Maintain and monitor risk registers, ensuring timely escalation and mitigation in collaboration with the Senior Management Team (SMT). Lead audits, spot checks, and documentation reviews to ensure compliance with CHG policies and regulatory standards (e.g., CQC requirements). Design and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and audit tools to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.
- Workforce Leadership and Management
- Undertake rota management and safe staffing oversight, ensuring appropriate skill mix and escalation of staffing risks in line with CHG safe staffing principles. Lead recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies to maintain a competent and sustainable workforce. Conduct annual appraisals, performance reviews, and ongoing competency assessments, aligning staff development with organisational goals. Manage staff wellbeing, supporting restorative clinical supervision, sickness management, and return-to-work processes. Actively foster a positive team culture, promoting psychological safety, inclusivity, and staff engagement.
- Current Roles
- Professional Nurse Advocate
- Venepuncture (Train the trainer)
- ALS trained
- Infection prevention and control champion/ link worker
- SLIP Assessor
- Tissue Viability Lead
Outpatient Clinical Nurse Lead
Circle Reading Hospital (Outpatients)
2024.10 - 2025.08
- Ensuring Clinical Governance: Uphold the highest standards of patient care and clinical governance, overseeing incidents and managing risks within the department.
- Promoting Quality Improvement: Lead and implement quality improvement programs, such as audits and service development initiatives, to enhance patient care and outcomes.
- Patient-Centered Care: Develop strategies to improve the patient experience and ensure services are delivered with the patient’s needs and views in mind.
- Day-to-Day Operations: Ensure the effective daily operation of the outpatient department, including managing patient flow and service pressures.
- Access Standards: Work with management to develop and implement action plans to meet required access standards for outpatient services.
- Resource Allocation: Participate in discussions and decision-making regarding the allocation of departmental resources to ensure financial sustainability.
- Visible Leadership: Be a visible and responsive presence in the department, acting as a role model for staff.
- Staff Support: Support and mentor clinical colleagues, promoting a culture of collaboration, engagement, and continuous learning.
- Professional Development: Create opportunities for staff to develop professionally, contributing to the team’s overall morale and well-being.
- Clear Communication: Communicate clearly and consistently with staff, patients, and other stakeholders.
- Cross-Service Collaboration: Work collaboratively across service boundaries to ensure a cohesive and patient-focused approach to care.
- Representing the Clinical Voice: Bring together and represent the clinical perspective of the department in discussions with management and other departments.
- Cases managed: Elective surgeries (TKR, THR, Myomectomies, Osteotomies, ACL reconstructions, Carpal Tunnel decompressions, colposcopies, banding) to name a few.
Senior Registered Nurse
Spire Healthcare (Orthopaedic Day case & Wards)
2024.06 - 2024.10
- Develop practice in the assessment of health and wellbeing needs.
- Develop practice in addressing individual’s health and well-being needs
- Provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information.
- Develop knowledge and practice in own area of work.
- Develop a working environment and culture that actively improves health, safety and security.
- Develop and improve services.
- Improve quality.
- Enable people to exercise their rights and promote their equality and diversity.
- Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice.
- Plan, allocate, assess and provide feedback to team members.
- Maintain and support the efficient use of physical and financial resources.
- Undertake Human Resource Activities.
- Bed capacity: 33 rooms (Orthopaedic Day case & Wards)
- Nurse to Patient Ratio: 1:6/8
- Cases Managed: Spinal fusion, Laminectomy, Microdiscectomy, Scoliosis correction, Knee replacements, Hip replacement, MUA, Arthroscopies (Hip,Knee,Shoulder), Arthroplasties, Foot & Ankle procedures, Managing Spinal epidurals, PCA Pumps, removing drains from knees/hips/ spines post op, Re-infusing of blood from drains, Hip/ Knee/ Spinal steroid injections to name a few.
Staff Nurse
Circle Reading Hospital (Outpatients)
2023.05 - 2024.06
- Assessing and recording patients’ observations, calculating BMI, ECG’s and carrying out blood tests (Pre assessment interventions)
- Assessing wounds post operatively, Suture removal, staple removal
- Removing plaster casts / back slabs, assisting with applying casts/ back slabs.
- Management of post op complication wounds.
- Liaising with consultants - In events of post op wound complications
- Chaperoning clinics - Gynaecology, ENT, Rheumatology, general surgery
- Supervising colleagues in the absence of the manager or Deputy.
- Supporting colleagues by escalating issues to manager
- Patient experience champion (support and investigate complaints and feedback of patients)
- Infection control and prevention champion
- Support safe readmissions through the outpatient department
- Assist and support manager with departmental schedules and room allocations of consultants
- Support and induct new members of staff
- Take part in SWARM’s throughout the hospital
- Support all patients with queries or issues with their wounds; provide guidance on managing wounds at home.
- Assist in outpatient minor operation procedures; excisions of lesions, punch biopsies, cryotherapy, mole excisions
- Bed capacity : 15 Consulting rooms, 8 Examination rooms, 1 wound clinic
- Nurse to Patient Ratio: 1:Multiple
- Cases managed : Elective surgeries (TKR, THR, Myomectomies, Osteotomies, ACL reconstructions, Carpal Tunnel decompressions, colposcopies, banding) to name a few
Staff Nurse
Guys & St Thomas Hospital: Astley Cooper Dialysis Unit (Guys site)
2022.08 - 2023.05
- Checking and recording patients’ vitals before, during, and after dialysis treatment. Ensuring that haemodialysis treatments are administered to patients correctly.
- Monitoring patients during dialysis treatment to identify any adverse reactions. Preparing and updating nursing care plans.
- Promptly notifying the appropriate medical practitioner of any problems that occur during dialysis treatments.
- Maintaining ANTT
- Assessing AV fistulas/grafts and CVHC’s
- Safely carry out admissions to sister wards to patients needing hospitalization
- Administer intra dialysis medications (Oral & intravenous)
- Bed capacity : 35+
- Nurse to Patient ratio : 1:3 / 1:4
- Cases managed : Acute and Chronic Kidney Failure patients needing to be dialyzed.
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.03 - 2022.08
- Assessing, monitoring and recording of vital signs.
- Assessing, planning, Implementing, and evaluating patient care plans in consultation with healthcare professionals.
- Preparing, administering and recording prescribed medications as ordered.
- Changing dressings, inserting catheters, nasogastric tubes and starting IV’s.
- Withdrawing blood samples for lab studies.
- Carrying out EKG’s, placing patients on cardiac monitors.
- Safely administering blood products to patients.
- Maintaining and recording fluid intake and output.
- Evaluating medical information as well as providing direct and individualized bedside nursing care to pre and post op patients.
- Maintaining and updating patient files, medical charts and health records.
- Maintaining a safe environment for staff, patients and their families.
- Administer supplemental oxygen to patients.
- Preparing patients for surgery.
- Receiving and caring for patient who are post op.
- Bed capacity : 110 bedded Hospital
- Medical-Surgical Ward : 32 beds; Surgical ward 16 beds, Nurse to Patient ratio medical ward 16 beds : 1:8
- Cases managed : Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis, Diabetes, Meningitis, Epilepsy, Bursitis, Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Severe gout, Breast Cancer, Cervical cancer, Colon cancer, Endometrial cancer, Lung cancer, Ovarian cancer, Prostate cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Leukemia, Thyroid cancer, Gestational diabetes, Peptic ulcers, Congenital Heart Failure, Myocardial infarction, Cardiomegaly, Coronary Artery Disease, Pain management, Asthma, Bronchitis, COPD, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, Hernias, Bowel obstruction, Appendicitis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary embolism, Infected wounds.
Senior Staff Nurse
St Jude Hospital
2020.10 - 2022.04
- Creating weekly staff rotas with allocation of staff to various outpatient clinics.
- Attend HoD meetings in the absence of the charge nurse
- Effective triaging of patients to the emergency room or general outpatient clinic.
- Assist with stabilizing fractured limbs by applying back slabs and or casts.
- Prepare patients needing hospitalization from specialist clinics.
- Assessing, monitoring and recording of vital signs.
- Safely administering prescribed medications as ordered.
- Effectively triage patients using the ESI.
- Using sterile techniques to place Foley catheters for patients requiring support in urination. Withdrawing blood samples for lab studies. Assist physicians in surgical procedures, Incision & Drainage, wound debridement, chest tube placement, and abdominocentesis.
- Carrying out pre-operation assessments and orders.
- Bed capacity : 110 Bedded Hospital
- Outpatient Department (Nephrology, Psychology, Urology, Internal Medicine, Diabetic, Pediatrics, Diabetic foot assessment, Surgical, Orthopedics, Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology); 10 to 25 patients per clinic daily.
- Nurse to Patient ratio : 5 beds for outpatient general clinic; 30 to 50 patients daily with 15 beds for specialty clinics : 1:30/50 general outpatient clinic; 1:25 Specialty clinics
- Cases managed : Fractures, Sprains, Dislocations, Hypertension, DM, Appendicitis, Kidney stones, Conjunctivitis, Arthritis, PCOS, Urinary Tract Infections, Lacerations, Abscesses, Enlarged Prostate, Hyperlipidemia, Dyslipidemia, Acute Gastroenteritis, Sinusitis, Headaches and migraines, dyspepsia, GERD, Atopic dermatitis, Back pain, Gouty arthritis, Anxiety disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression, Infected wounds, Congestive Heart Failure.
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.06 - 2022.02
- Assessing, monitoring and recording of vital signs.
- Administering prescribed medications as ordered.
- Assessing and planning nursing care.
- Withdrawing blood samples for lab studies.
- Carrying out EKG’s, placing patients on cardiac monitors.
- Maintaining fluid intake and output/ rehydrating patients.
- Starting IV’s, inserting catheters, changing dressings.
- Carrying out admission orders and transferring of admitted patients to specific wards/units.
- Report writing and accurate documentation
- Maintaining a safe and clean environment for staff, patients and their families.
- Liaising with physicians for specified patient care.
- Discharge teaching, making appointments for follow up visits at clinics.
- Bed capacity : 110 bedded Hospital
- Emergency Department : 5 beds for emergency with 7 beds for observation and admitted patients pending transfer to ward, 50-100 patients per day : 1:10
- Cases managed : DM, hypertensive emergency, Cerebrovascular accidents, Motor vehicular accidents, Burns, Myocardial Infraction, Deep vein thrombosis, Pulmonary embolism, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in early pregnancy, Asthma/ Bronchitis attacks, Unconscious/ altered level of consciousness, anaphylaxis, COPD
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.03 - 2020.05
- Assessing, monitoring and recording of vital signs before, during and after treatment in addition to weighing.
- Teaching patients about their conditions and answering any questions.
- Overseeing the dialysis treatment from start to finish.
- Administering prescribed medications as ordered during treatment.
- Assessing and evaluating patients reactions to treatment and medications administered.
- Ensure that dialysis machines are correctly set for each patient and are functioning properly.
- Prepare and update nursing care plans tailored to each patient.
- Maintaining a safe and clean environment for staff, patients and their families.
- Accurately document on each patient.
- Schedule appointments for the renal clinic.
- Bed capacity : 110 bedded Hospital
- Dialysis Unit : 9 Dialysis Chairs (3 shifts = 27 patients)
- Nurse to Patient ratio : 1:3-4
- Cases managed: Chronic/ End stage Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Lupus
Education
Associate Degree - Nursing
Spartan Health Sciences University
St. Lucia 2015.01 - 2018.01
Certificate of Higher Education - Tissue Viability
Wound Management & Tissue Viability
2019.04 - 2019.11
Diploma of Higher Education - Nursing Leadership & Care Management
Alison
2023.06 - 2023.09
Certificate of Higher Education - Minor Procedures
Outpatients Minor Procedure Course Level 6
2025.01 - 2025.01
Certificate of Higher Education - Leadership
Learning to Lead
2025.06 - 2025.06
Certificate of Higher Education -
Advanced Life Support
2025.10 - 2025.10
Certificate of Higher Education - Nursing Advocate
Professional Nurse Advocate, Level 7
2026.01 - 2026.03
Certificate of Higher Education - Mentorship
Supporting Learners in Practice, Level 5
2023.09 - 2023.09
Certificate of Higher Education - Venepuncture
Venepuncture Train the Trainer
2025.11 - 2025.11
Skills
- Continuous career growth and progression
- Compassionate and empathetic
- High Drive & Determination
- Passionate
- Patient and staff satisfaction
- Business oriented
- Multidisciplinary team coordination
- Healthcare quality standards understanding
- Resourceful
- Good clinical Judgement
- Proactive communication
- Understanding of medical software
- Budget control
- Team performance tracking
- Clinical leadership
References
Available on request.
Candidate Information
- Candidate: Chrissie A. Smith
- Position Applied for: Outpatients Clinical Services Manager (Internal Vacancy)
- Department: Outpatients
- Nationality: St Lucian
- Country of Residence: Southampton, UK
- NMC Status: NMC Registered
Career Gap
- Career Gap: July 2018 – March 2020
- Throughout this career gap while looking for employment, I taught French at a primary school for roughly 2 months. Soon after, I started working at a call centre “OJO Labs” where I was employed for 6 months. During that time, I started to work sessions as a resort nurse at the three Sandals Resorts in St. Lucia through a Jamaican owned company called Omega Medical Services Ltd. I soon became employed with the company on a contractual basis which lasted 6 months. This job entailed serving guests and staff who needed medical attention. Some of the conditions I came across were fractures, intoxication, lacerations, bruises, hematomas, seizures, burns, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, colds and flu’s. My duties included assessing and recording vital signs, calling the on call resort physician, administering prescribed medications, transferring guests who needed hospital care, documentation of incidents and report writing, wound dressings, starting IV’s, inserting catheters and applying braces.
Affiliations
- Reading & watching medical/nursing programmes
- Long walks in the park; Explore nature
- Sudoku
Accomplishments
Recognition for always going above and beyond
Languages
french
Intermediate
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Certificate of Higher Education - Nursing Advocate
Professional Nurse Advocate, Level 7
2026.01 - 2026.03
Certificate of Higher Education - Venepuncture
Venepuncture Train the Trainer
2025.11 - 2025.11
Certificate of Higher Education -
Advanced Life Support
2025.10 - 2025.10
Ward Sister/ Charge Nurse
Circle Reading Hospital (Inpatients)
2025.08 - 2026.05
Certificate of Higher Education - Leadership
Learning to Lead
2025.06 - 2025.06
Certificate of Higher Education - Minor Procedures
Outpatients Minor Procedure Course Level 6
2025.01 - 2025.01
Outpatient Clinical Nurse Lead
Circle Reading Hospital (Outpatients)
2024.10 - 2025.08
Senior Registered Nurse
Spire Healthcare (Orthopaedic Day case & Wards)
2024.06 - 2024.10
Certificate of Higher Education - Mentorship
Supporting Learners in Practice, Level 5
2023.09 - 2023.09
Diploma of Higher Education - Nursing Leadership & Care Management
Alison
2023.06 - 2023.09
Staff Nurse
Circle Reading Hospital (Outpatients)
2023.05 - 2024.06
Staff Nurse
Guys & St Thomas Hospital: Astley Cooper Dialysis Unit (Guys site)
2022.08 - 2023.05
Senior Staff Nurse
St Jude Hospital
2020.10 - 2022.04
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.06 - 2022.02
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.03 - 2022.08
Registered Nurse
St. Jude Hospital
2020.03 - 2020.05
Certificate of Higher Education - Tissue Viability
Wound Management & Tissue Viability
2019.04 - 2019.11
Associate Degree - Nursing
Spartan Health Sciences University
2015.01 - 2018.01