Bakas & Associates
8275 S. Eastern Ave.
Suite 200 – #269
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Founder
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
Bakas & Associates
Professional Experience
Andrea brings over 20 years of experience in health care to the helm of Bakas and Associates. She is a nurse practitioner who has served as a multi- specialty surgical assistant, with an abiding interest & expertise in the workings of the operating room. She is the author of “OR Circulating in the Outpatient Setting”, a hybrid 4-session course designed to teach nurses how to function in the outpatient operating room setting. Her professional background includes ventures in public health research, project management & teaching. In 2016, she served as Clinical Advisor for incoming nurse practitioner students at her alma mater.
In addition to her certification in Legal Nurse Consulting, she is board certified in Family Practice & has earned Master’s degrees in both Public Health & Nursing. She is a certified RN First Assistant & certified Operating Room nurse. She served as a surgical assistant on volunteer surgery missions in Honduras, Guatemala & Nicaragua. In 2016, she was part of a team of healthcare providers who traveled to northern Greece to provide critical medical care to persons displaced by conflict & instability in Syria, Afghanistan & Iraq.
She is the recipient of awards for Professional Leadership & Academic Achievement during her graduate nurse training.
Education
2015
2006
1993
2002
Professional Certifications
2015
2015
2012
Professional Certifications
Pediatric Life Support (PALS)
American Heart Association
2015
2015
2012
2015
2024
Professional Licensure
Registered Nurse
Nurse Practitioner
State Board of Nursing
California
Nevada
Professional Affiliations
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants
2024
Professional Experience
RN, OR Circulator
Specialties: Orthopedics, Spine, Pain Mgmt, General, GYN
Parkway Surgery Center, Henderson, NV
Surgery Center of the Pacific, Santa Monica, CA
DISC, Marina del Rey, CA
Wilshire SurgiCenter, Beverly Hills, CA
Center for Ambulatory Surgical Treatment, Los Angeles, CA
Prepare the operating room; ensure all necessary equipment & supplies are available, functional & sterile. Monitor patient safety & comfort. Manage the overall environment of the operating room to maintain aseptic conditions. Troubleshoot & document surgeries, patient data & any notable events during the surgery. Act as a liaison between the surgical team & other medical staff & patient family members.
2024
2007-2017
2003-2006
NP & Surgical Assistant, Orthopedics
Santa Monica Orthopedic Group
Center for Hip & Knee Replacement, Santa Monica, CA
Assessed & diagnosed hip & knee injuries &conditions. Ordered & interpreted diagnostic tests. Developed & implementing treatment plans, including non-surgical & pre/post-surgical care. Assisted in surgeries. Educated patients about their conditions, treatment options & rehabilitation plans. Prescribed medications, therapies, or assistive devices. Collaborated with surgeons & clinical & administrative team.
2018-2024
RN First Assistant
Specialties: Orthopedics, General, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery
Providence St. John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA
Sierra View Medical Center, Porterville, CA
Valley Children’s Hospital, Madera, CA
Assisted surgeons accomplish surgeries. Prepared & positioned the patient; assisted with tissue handling, suturing, wound closure & dressing. Maintained sterile field. Monitored patient condition & provided support as needed. Provided patient education & post-operative wound assessment. Collaborated with surgical team to ensure optimal outcomes.
2012-2018
RN, Cardiothoracic Telemetry
UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA2002-2004
Assessed, monitored & managed cardiothoracic surgery postoperative patients.
Coordinated patient care with healthcare clinical & administrative team. Administered
oral, enteral & parenteral therapies. Initiated & managed intravenous lines. Managed
chest tubes & drains. Performed wound care. Educated patients & families.
RN Research Project Manager
Evaluation of “Transforming Care at the Bedside”
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project
UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA2006-2008
Coordinated research project activities: data collection, analysis & report preparation.
Developed project work plans. Managed team member task completion. Managed
research budget & expenditures. Ensured compliance with sponsor & human subjects
committee requirements. Hired, trained & supervised support staff.
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Faculty
Clinical Advisor, FNP Program
Western University of Health Sciences
College of Graduate Nursing2016
Shepherded student cohort through their clinical experience. Conducted weekly
discussions to problem solve, encourage, offer resources & evaluate student clinical
report submissions. Interviewed preceptors & facilitated student clinical skill evaluations.
Teaching Assistant2012
Suture & Tying Workshop2015
National Institute of First Assisting2024
Helped teach RN First Assistant students how to perform hands-on surgical skills such as suturing, tying, handling tissue & instruments; & how to function as a high-value OR team member. Assisted with workshop coordination, set-up & take-down.
Course Creator & Instructor
“OR Circulating in the Outpatient Setting”2012
Course designed to teach RNs how to be OR circulators in the outpatient setting. Students
learn basic working principles. They learn to perform the essential functions to ensure
patient safety, monitor the sterile field & manage case flow; be responsive to the needs
of the OR team, properly document, see the patient safely to the recovery room & properly
hand-off care.
Community Service
OR RN Volunteer, Surgical Missions
Aloha Medical Mission
Faith in Practice
Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua2012-2018
Served as surgery scrub & assistant for general, pediatric & gyn surgical cases.
Collaborated with health care team to ensure required instruments were sterilized
& available.
Nurse Practitioner Volunteer, Primary Care Mission
“Project Hermes”, Team Rubicon initiative
Elpida Home for Refugees, Thessaloniki, Greece2016
Volunteer medical professionals gathered to provide critical medical care to persons
displaced by conflict & instability in Syria, Afghanistan & Iraq. Treated acute & chronic
conditions. Worked to ensure access to medications, managed communicable diseases,
& provided health education.
Presentations
“Layers of Complexity: Reflections on the Elpida Home for Refugees”
2017
Keynote Speaker
The Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies
Annual Conference, Wichita, KS
Guest Speaker
The Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Guest Speaker
Philoptochos Society
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA
“One Nurse’s Experience & Perspective on Nursing & How You Can Best Meet the Needs of Nurses for the Sake of Patients”
2006
Guest Speaker
Library Science Graduate Students
The Department of Library Sciences
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Honors & Awards
Awardee
Professional Leadership Award2015
Western University of Health Sciences
College of Graduate Nursing
Awardee
Academic Achievement Award2014
Western University of Health Sciences
College of Graduate Nursing
Member
Delta Omega National Public Health Honors Society2006
Member
Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society2002
Ranking & Scholastic Achievement
Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society2002
ASN Program
Albuquerque TVI
Ready to take the next step in strengthening your case with expert healthcare insights? We’re here to help. Whether you need a detailed medical record review, expert analysis, or a consultation to discuss your case, our team is just a message or call away. Reach out today to schedule a consultation or ask any questions you may have about how we can support your legal team. We look forward to partnering with you to achieve the best possible outcome for your clients.
