Expertise:
Ms. Aalund's expertise is in psychiatric nursing.
Hobbies/Sports:
Deep-Sea Fishing, Visiting her Family, Keeping up with the grand nieces and nephew and other extended family. Following the LA Lakers, OSU Beavers and other sports. Traveling,
Education Degrees:
Diploma, Crosby High School, (1962)
College courses at local colleges
Psychiatric Technician training program
Ongoing CEU's (Continuing Education Classes)
Affiliations Awards:
Disbled Adivisory Committee (State & Local level)
Affirmative Action Committee (State and Local level)
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The Stepping Stones Program which was the first off unit treatment center established at Metropolian and served individuals from several Programs at the hospital.
Number Of Years In Profession:
41
Number Of Years In Current Position:
37
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to the support of her mother, her faith in God and excellent mentors.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession through her desire to help others.and her Mother's interest and work at Fairview State Hospital
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Aalund is now retired after spending 40 years working at the state hospital level. She worked at the Fairview State Hospital for six years and Metropolitan State Hospital for 34 years.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Working her way up the career ladder Ms. Aalund served in the following positions:
Shift lead (SPT1) providing supervison of the staff assigned to her shift and ensuring a clean, safe therapeutic environment for the clients assigned to her unit.
Unit Supervisor/: 24 hour 7 day a week responsibility for an assigned unit. Working with the nursing and ckinical staff to provide the needed care and treatment for the individuals served. Involved in the interviewing of mulitidisciplinary staff, providing ongoing evaluations, recommendations for hiring and firing of staff.
Staffing Coordinator: Working with the Nursing Coordinators, and Unit Supervisors to ensure adequate staffing (nursing) of all of the units in the hospital. Providing scheduling and supervision or the Registry staff, and Forensic Escort Service staff. Interviewing candidates for open positions, making recommendations for the hiring, disciplinary actions, and firing of staff I supervised. Completed required evaluations, scheduling needed training of assigned saff.
Maintained staffing records and other required data, generated ongoing reports and provided this information as needed.
Utilization Review Coordinator: Working with 3rd party payees, making sure that the appropriate documentation is present to justify continued stay and at the proper level of care
Treatment Unit Coordinator/Supervisor: Providing leadership and supervison for a multidisciplinary team that provided individaul and group treatment in an off unit setting for clients from various Progrms within the hospital.
Resource Coordinator: Ordering Supplies, Review and distribution of Manuals, Books and Other Materials, Working with Patients and Clients, Coordinating Staff, Collaborating with the Information Technology Department Worked in coordination with other Resource Coordinators within the Department Of Mental Health in the development of statewide criteria to be used at the Treatment Malls /Training Centers.
In most of the above positions Ms. Aalund maintained contact with the clients and provided individual and group interactions.
She also established and maintained contacts within the community that were able to assist in enhancing the services provided. Ms. Aalund also set up many ongoing donations to the hospital.
Ms. Aalund has also been active and interacted with various governing agencies such as DOJ (Dept. of Justice), JCAHO, and State Licensing Board
Education Certifications:
Certified Psychiatric Technician; Licensed Psychiatric Technician
Awards/Honors:
Calfornia State Merit Award
MSH Outstanding Employee award
Also too many other other certificates and awards to list, although she states the most meaningful were the awards presented by the staff she supervised for her "supervisory and leadership skills".
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. Aalund intends to do voluntary work in the nonprofit industry.