Kasha K. Pinkerton
Prairie Grove,AR
Summary
Quality management professional with robust background in driving process improvements and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, consistently adapting to changing needs. Skilled in quality assurance, risk management, and operational efficiency. Known for reliability, leadership, and strategic vision.
Overview
1
1
Certification
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Quality and Research
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
06.2026 - Current
- Oversee daily operations of the quality department
- Analyzed safety events within the hospital and determined required actions based on findings
- Review and facilitate any root cause analysis for the system
- Collaborate with departments to develop action items to prevent safety issues following events
- Joined daily safety huddles to discuss ongoing safety issues and solutions
- Work directly with the quality team to ensure data is reliable and meaningful
- Report quality data up to executive leadership and board
- Ensure the quality departments report regulatory data to meet deadlines
- Encouraged safety practices among staff to enhance overall workplace safety
- Oversee daily operations of the research department
- Work directly with research coordinators to ensure clinical trials remain compliant and within the standards
- Oversee daily operations of the Centers of Excellence – Comprehensive Stroke Center, Advanced Spine, and Advanced Total Hip & Knee programs
- Collaborated with program coordinators to ensure compliance with Joint Commission standards and requirements
- Communicate with providers regarding changes to the program
- Facilitate committees for each program
- Reviewed outcomes and implemented processes to address gaps in care
Joint Commission Disease Specific Reviewer – Stroke
Joint Commission
01.2025 - Current
- Review hospitals for their Joint Commission stroke program onsite or virtual once a month
- Review documents prior to the site visit provided by the hospital to ensure quality measures and program requirements are being met
- Identified gaps and opportunities in patient care, enhancing overall stroke program effectiveness
- Collaborated with hospital leadership to recommend process improvements that align with quality standards
- Facilitate discussions amongst providers, nurses, and executive leadership
- Engage with hospital staff to review stroke care in a collaborative manner
- Discuss evidence-based care to help the hospital better patient care
- Discussed evidence-based care practices to support hospitals in delivering optimal patient outcomes
- Provide same day report on areas of improvement
Director of Nursing - Centers of Excellence
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
08.2024 - 06.2026
- Comprehensive Stroke Program, Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery, Total Joint Center Program
- Oversaw development and maintenance of stroke, spine, total joint, and perinatal programs to ensure high-quality patient care
- Managed all facets of program operations, planning, and execution.
- Responsible for all aspects of program operations, planning and execution
- Engages with the interdisciplinary team and key stakeholders for all programs
- Monitored performance improvement activities to enhance program effectiveness and compliance
- Collaborates and maintains engagement with program medical directors
- Partners with clinics and departments for execution of program standards
Director of Neuro Services
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
01.2020 - 08.2024
- Managed daily operations of 40 beds, including 20 in NSICU and 20 in Progressive care, ensuring optimal patient care and safety
- Oversee daily operations of Advanced Spine Program certified by Joint Commission
- Oversee daily operations of 40 beds – 20 NSICU and 20 Progressive
- Strategic planning for neuro services
- Launched new patient services, enhancing care delivery and patient satisfaction
- Partnered with educator and manager to enhance training programs
- Create, monitor, and analyze operational budget
- Directed research trials for Stroke Program, contributing to advancements in treatment protocols and patient outcomes
- Report to Chief Nursing Officer and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer
Manager of Neuro Surgical ICU, Neuro Progressive, and Comprehensive Stroke Program
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Manage daily operations of Primary Stroke Center – average 800 strokes annually
- Maintain compliance of guidelines for Primary Stroke Center set by Joint Commission
- Comprehensive Stroke Center survey preparedness
- Managed daily operations of 40 beds – 20 NSICU and 20 Progressive, ensuring optimal patient care and resource allocation
- Ensured readiness of Comprehensive Stroke Center for surveys to maintain accreditation and quality standards.
- Collaborated regularly with Neuro Coordinators to enhance patient care and streamline processes.
- Directed the efforts of Stroke Coordinators
- Assist with leading Neuro Surgical ICU Committee and Carotid Committee
- Lead monthly Stroke Committee and Stroke Case Review
- Responsible for interviewing and hiring process for all nursing/CNA positions amongst units/program
- Oversaw the interview and hiring process for nursing and CNA positions in various units and programs
- Oversaw the management of RNs and CNAs across the units
- Work closely with educator
Stroke Program Coordinator
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
05.2016 - 01.2018
- Educated patients on stroke prevention and management strategies
- Monitored daily compliance with core measures for stroke population to ensure quality care
- Instructed nurses and EMS agencies on advanced stroke life support as a certified educator
- Stroke Clinical Research Coordinator
- Prepared weekly patient case review
- Scheduled follow up appointments
- Coordinated stroke clinical research activities
Stroke Program Data Abstractor
Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR
12.2014 - 05.2016
- Conducted daily stroke census for hospital to monitor patient flow
- Performed daily assessments of stroke core measures for compliance
- Participated in daily grand rounds to discuss patient care strategies
- Reported data outcomes at monthly Stroke Committee
- Presented data outcomes at monthly Stroke Committee to inform decision-making
- Educated nurses and EMS agencies on ASLS Class as certified instructor to enhance stroke care
- Submitted quality metrics to Joint Commission for accreditation reporting
- Delivered monthly reports of stroke measurements to Quality Council for evaluation
Nursing Supervisor
Austin Regional Clinic at Quarry Lake
Austin, TX
07.2012 - 12.2014
- Supervised 17-20 clinical staff including MA, LVN, and RN
- Oversaw Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and General Surgery
- Coordinated annual flu clinics, ensuring efficient vaccination delivery to community
- Developed Tuberculosis protocol, enhancing patient safety and compliance across organization
- Lead monthly staff meetings
- Managed schedules and time off requests
- Educated staff on policies and procedures
- Organized in-services for staff, such as IV and splint training
- Resolved patient complaints, improving satisfaction and trust in clinic services
- Created Tuberculosis protocol for organization
- EMR Pilot Clinic - first to Go Live with EMR out of 18 clinics. Led team to success.
- Served as key resource for EMR system, enhancing staff proficiency and ensuring accurate data entry.
- Member of Safety Committee
- Collaborated with Clinic Manager and Business Office Supervisor
Registered Nurse/Admissions Coordinator/Daily Operations
Center for Child Development and Family Education
Alma, AR
09.2011 - 06.2012
- Administered medications based on patient schedules
- Verified prescriptions
- Checked Medicaid and insurance numbers to ensure accurate patient billing
- Verified prescriptions for accuracy and compliance with medical standards
- Ensured children meet qualifications for enrollment
- Arranged parent/staff meetings
- Oversaw daily office operations
- Maintained staff files to ensure up-to-date employee records and compliance
- Entered weekly billing for therapy and nursing services
Registered Nurse
Washington Regional Hospice Department
Fayetteville, AR
05.2010 - 09.2011
- Cared for patients in the home setting and inpatient hospice setting
- Assessed patients emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually
- Collaborated with patient and family to uphold dignity in end-of-life care
- Provided comfort care for patients including physical, mental, and emotional
- Provided education on home medications, oxygen care, wound care, and nutrition
- Worked with patient and family to maintain a plan of care that slowed dignity in death
- Counseled family members and patients during the grieving process
- Coordinated multidisciplinary care team, including social worker, chaplain, medical director, and volunteer coordinator, to address patient needs
- Supported families by coordinating final arrangements for patients, providing guidance and compassion
Registered Nurse-Medical Surgical
Sparks Regional Medical Center
Fort Smith, AR
01.2009 - 05.2010
- Conducted thorough patient assessments to identify individual care needs
- Collaborated with care team to ensure patients needs were met
- Collaborated with care team to address patient needs
- Provided patient education
- Dispensed medications as scheduled
- Collaborated with nursing team and aides to ensure comprehensive patient care
- Responded promptly to emergency medical situations
Patient Care Assistant-Medical Surgical
Sparks Regional Medical Center
Fort Smith, AR
06.2007 - 12.2008
- Supported patients with daily living activities to enhance their well-being
- Conducted hourly patient health checks to ensure safety and comfort.
- Tracked and recorded patient intake and output to support care plans
- Assisted patients in walking to promote mobility and independence.
- Changed bed linens in patient rooms to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing- Clinical Nurse Leader
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL08-2019
Bachelors Degree - Nursing
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, TX08-2016
Certified - Holistic Health Counselor
Institute for Integrative Nutrition
New York City, NY04-2012
Associate Degree - Nursing
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR12-2008
Skills
- Quality risk assessment
- Quality assurance techniques
- Corrective and preventive actions
- Data Analysis
- Epic EMR
- Cerner EMR
- Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel
Affiliations
- Professional Memberships:
- American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)
- Association of Neurovascular Clinicians (ANVC)
- American Association of Critical Care Society (AACN)
- Neurocritical Care Society (NCS)
- National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON)
Certification
BLS, ACLS, RN Licensure, Arkansas, Stroke Certified Registered Nurse, Clinical Nurse Leader – Board Certified
Disclaimer
Professional references available upon request.
Personal Information
Title: MSN, RN, SCRN, CNL-BC
Timeline
Director of Quality and Research
Washington Regional Medical Center
06.2026 - Current
Joint Commission Disease Specific Reviewer – Stroke
Joint Commission
01.2025 - Current
Director of Nursing - Centers of Excellence
Washington Regional Medical Center
08.2024 - 06.2026
Director of Neuro Services
Washington Regional Medical Center
01.2020 - 08.2024
Manager of Neuro Surgical ICU, Neuro Progressive, and Comprehensive Stroke Program
Washington Regional Medical Center
01.2018 - 01.2020
Stroke Program Coordinator
Washington Regional Medical Center
05.2016 - 01.2018
Stroke Program Data Abstractor
Washington Regional Medical Center
12.2014 - 05.2016
Nursing Supervisor
Austin Regional Clinic at Quarry Lake
07.2012 - 12.2014
Registered Nurse/Admissions Coordinator/Daily Operations
Center for Child Development and Family Education
09.2011 - 06.2012
Registered Nurse
Washington Regional Hospice Department
05.2010 - 09.2011
Registered Nurse-Medical Surgical
Sparks Regional Medical Center
01.2009 - 05.2010
Patient Care Assistant-Medical Surgical
Sparks Regional Medical Center
06.2007 - 12.2008
Associate Degree - Nursing
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Certified - Holistic Health Counselor
Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Bachelors Degree - Nursing
University of Texas Arlington
Master of Science - Nursing- Clinical Nurse Leader
University of Alabama