Cara is an integral part of the education and professional growth of the CICU nursing team.  One of Cara’s greatest strengths is her ability to transform safety events into meaningful learning opportunities.  She reviews safety event reports and turns them into teaching moments that never feel punitive, but instead foster growth and accountability.  

This approach has made her a steadfast advocate for safe nursing practice and a true safety champion.  Cara also serves as the unit’s Magnet Champion, playing a pivotal role in preparing the cicu for Magnet surveyors. Her leadership and attention to detail ensured the team felt confident and ready for this important achievement.

Always proactive and innovative, Cara continually seeks creative solutions when processes need improvement. For example, she recognized that new nurses required more bedside clinical time and less classroom instruction. To address this, she pioneered a hybrid video lecture series, allowing orientees to watch recorded lectures on their own schedule and spend more time at the bedside.

Cara’s dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to safety and professional development make her an exceptional educator.