Cara Ward
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Accomplished nurse leader excelling in clinical leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration. Managing daily operations and driving high quality care. Expert in staff development, performance improvement and mentoring. Adept at managing crises, notably during the COVID19 pandemic and cyberattack of 2024.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
2001 West 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46260
08.2017 - Current
- Maintain daily operations of 46 bed bi-level inpatient Ortho Trauma Progressive Unit. Including balancing staffing schedules, budget, supply chain.
- Led quality improvement initiatives to enhance overall patient care experience within the unit. Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes and coordinate care.
- Supervised, directed, and motivated high-quality performance from nursing staff.
- Served as a key point of contact between nursing staff, physicians, administration, and other healthcare professionals. Managed issues at hand by leveraging clinical judgment and unit management expertise.
- Unique Experience: Successfully operationalized entire department during COVID19 pandemic and cyberattack of 2024.
Nurse Educator
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
05.2015 - 07.2017
- Served as an education specialist for 23 bed Orthopedic Unit and 37 bed Trauma Progressive Care Unit.
- Assessed competency levels among nursing staff, identifying areas of improvement for targeted interventions.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for the development and implementation of evidence-based practice initiatives.
- Served as a subject matter expert in clinical practice areas, offering specialized instruction to enhance skill sets among nurses.
- Organized short-term educational programs such as lectures and workshops to address specific clinical topics.
Staff Nurse, Trauma Neuro ICU
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
04.2013 - 05.2015
- Exhibited strong critical thinking skills when assessing complex medical situations and determining appropriate interventions.
- Demonstrated excellent time management skills while handling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment with critically ill patients.
- Communicated with healthcare team members to plan, implement and enhance treatment strategies.
- Collaborated with leadership to devise initiatives for improving nursing satisfaction, retention and morale.
- Precepted student nurses and oriented new hires, providing guidance and mentorship when teaching on hospital policies, emergency procedures, and nursing best practices.
Staff Nurse, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Froedtert Hospital
900 North 92nd St., Milwaukee, WI 53226
08.2011 - 04.2013
- Administered medications via oral, IV, and intramuscular injections and monitored responses.
- Performed various nursing interventions such as wound dressing, vital sign monitoring, and specimen collection.
- Assessed physical, psychological, physiologic, and cognitive status of patients.
- Monitored patients' conditions and reported changes in physical presentation, appearance, and behavior to discuss treatment with physicians.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD07.2011
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN05.2010
Skills
- Clinical Leadership
- Staff Development
- Clinical Quality Improvement
- Compliance Monitoring
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Resource Allocation
- Performance Improvement
- Coaching and Mentoring
Accomplishments
First RN in Ascension Indiana market to obtain Trauma Certified Registered Nurse status through the Board of Certification of Emergency Nurses.
Certification
- Trauma Certified RN, BCEN - 2016-current
- ACLS, American Heart Association-2006-current
Timeline
Nurse Clinical Supervisor
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
08.2017 - Current
Nurse Educator
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
05.2015 - 07.2017
Staff Nurse, Trauma Neuro ICU
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital
04.2013 - 05.2015
Staff Nurse, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Froedtert Hospital
08.2011 - 04.2013
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
Purdue University