Nicole Huhn
GLASTONBURY,CT
Summary
Accomplished and professional healthcare provider with a diverse clinical background, bringing valuable expertise gained from acute care, inpatient and outpatient practice. Strong commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for patients and families. Demonstrate adaptability in dynamic healthcare settings through leadership, collaboration with team and being solution-focused. Effective communication and partnering with multidisciplinary teams to implement complex and innovative treatment plans that enhance patient care and outcomes. Dedicated to continuous professional development, ensuring alignment with the latest advancements in the medical field.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Nurse Practitioner, Transplant
Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Hartford Hospital
05.2023 - Current
- Manage pre-operative evaluations for potential heart transplant candidates, ensuring thorough assessments and presenting candidates to the multi-disciplinary team for review.
- Conduct outpatient clinic visits for heart transplant recipients to provide comprehensive exam and ensure timely interventions for any complications.
- Responsible for immunosuppression management, treatment of acute and chronic rejection.
- Interpretation and analysis of high-level allograft surveillance testing with innovative modalities, including molecular gene expression testing.
- Coordinate and collaborate across the healthcare system with providers, specialists, and other medical staff to develop treatment plans for complex patients and conditions.
- Engaged in quality improvement projects focused on enhancing patient safety and care effectiveness in transplant services.
- Implement evidence-based protocols for immunosuppressive therapy management and diagnostic testing in post-transplant patients.
- Trained and mentored nursing staff and APRN students to foster professional development and clinical skills.
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
01.2022 - 05.2023
- Provide comprehensive medical and device-related care for patients with durable Ventricular Assist Devices.
- Responsible for creating, planning, implementing and launching a Mechanical Circulatory Support Program.
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Hartford Hospital
06.2008 - 10.2021
- Maintain all aspects of the VAD Program including, but not limited to: outpatient management and oversight of VAD patients, develop and lead outpatient clinic, equipment management/maintenance, advance patient safety initiatives, quality and process improvement, uphold programmatic regulatory requirements, data collection and analysis, collaborate and coordinate care with other providers and specialists, lead weekly multidisciplinary team meetings.
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Hartford Hospital
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Provide direct clinical management of post-operative cardiac surgical patients, including patients with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical circulatory support, orthotopic heart transplantation, continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, intra-aortic balloon pump, nitric oxide, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Hartford Hospital
01.2008 - 01.2009
Registered Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center
01.2005 - 01.2008
Combat Medic, 68W
U.S. Army National Guard
01.1999 - 01.2007
- Performed rapid patient assessments in high-pressure environments to triage medical needs and prioritize treatment, whether in the field, hospital or aircraft setting.
- Administered emergency medical care including CPR, wound care, and advanced trauma life support in combat settings.
- Executed tactical combat casualty care and mass casualty protocols to ensure timely evacuation and treatment of injured personnel.
- Maintained and repaired medical equipment and vehicles to ensure operational readiness and compliance with safety standards.
Registered Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
01.2003 - 01.2005
Education
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Nurse Practitioner Program
University of Connecticut, Graduate School of Nursing
01.2008
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
University of Connecticut, School of Nursing
01.2003
Skills
- Preventive care
- Chronic disease management
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment
- Health education and promotion
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Mastery of MCS and heart transplant
- Communication
- Empathy
- Leadership
- Autonomous, self-directed
- Critical thinking, problem-solving
- Data analysis, process improvement
Accomplishments
- Achieved Joint Commission Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Destination Therapy Accreditation for the Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Program at Hartford Hospital, the first center in Connecticut with this distinction.
- Volunteered for a 2-week cardiothoracic surgery medical mission in Peru. Worked in the ICU to recover cardiac surgical patients through their hospital stay. Also a focus on community support for local orphanages to provide skills and knowledge that promote independence and a means to support themselves over time.
- Participated in Hartford HealthCare Medical Missions in 2023, 2024, 2025.
- Created comprehensive data spreadsheet to collect data for the Mechanical Circulatory Support program. Analysis has allowed significant process improvement efforts, leading to current outcome metrics that exceed national standards.
- Project manager for Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate
Certification
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
CT Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society
American College of Nurse Practitioners
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification
Society of Critical Care Medicine
International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
International Consortium of Circulatory Assist Clinicians
Languages
English
Interests
I enjoy spending time outdoors in nature In particular, my passions are trail running and mountain biking with my dog I love to travel and explore the world through new experiences, people and food Of course, spending time with my daughter tops all
Timeline
Nurse Practitioner, Transplant
Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Hartford Hospital
05.2023 - Current
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
01.2022 - 05.2023
Nurse Practitioner, Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Hartford Hospital
01.2009 - 01.2014
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Hartford Hospital
06.2008 - 10.2021
Nurse Practitioner, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Coordinator
Hartford Hospital
01.2008 - 01.2009
Registered Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center
01.2005 - 01.2008
Registered Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
01.2003 - 01.2005
Combat Medic, 68W
U.S. Army National Guard
01.1999 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
University of Connecticut, School of Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing - Adult Nurse Practitioner Program
University of Connecticut, Graduate School of Nursing
PUBLICATIONS
Case Series Defining Role of External Chest Compressions (ECC) in Patients with Ventricular Assist Device (VAD). Journal of Cardiac Failure 21(8): S126-127. August 2015.
RESEARCH
- GUIDE-HF: Sub-investigator. This study was designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the CardioMEMS HF System in an expanded patient population, including patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, III or IV heart failure with an elevated N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) or elevated Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and/or a prior heart failure hospitalization.
- ANTHEM-HF/EF: Sub-investigator. A multi-center, open label, randomized controlled clinical trial with an adaptive design. Patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced LVEF are enrolled and randomized 2:1 to receive VITARIA system implantation on the right cervical vagus nerve in addition to stable guideline-directed medical therapy (therapy) or to continue receiving stable guideline-directed medical therapy alone (control arm).
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
CT Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License
American College of Nurse Practitioners
Society of Critical Care Medicine
International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
International Consortium of Circulatory Assist Clinicians