Contact Information

Biography

Cara Morrill-Stoklosa joined Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing in January 2017 as adjunct clinical faculty before becoming a full-time Instructor in the Fall of 2019. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Carlow University in 2011, her Masters of Science in Nursing with a Nursing Education focus from Chatham University in 2013, and she is a recent graduate of Â鶹ֱ²¥ earning her DNP with a focus on hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE) and prophylactic compliance in 2020. Prior to her graduation in May of 2020, Cara was inducted into Â鶹ֱ²¥'s Sigma Chapter (Epsilon Phi) and Phi Kappa Phi. She was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society in May 2013 and Chatham University's Sigma Theta Tau International Chi Zeta Chapter in 2014. She was the recipient of the Penrod-Conwell Award for Excellence in Bio-Medical Ethics in 2011, received a DAISY Award in 2013 (with nominations in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017), and was awarded a Certificate for Teaching Excellence in 2016. Cara became a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in February 2023. 

Cara still actively practices as a Level III Senior Professional Staff Nurse DNP on a Medical-Surgical Step-Down unit, formally functioned as the co-chair of the hospital-wide VTE Council, and sits on the system-wide VTE Council for UPMC Health System, in addition to building unit-based new hire education for Medical-Surgical nursing staff. She has taught in both clinical and didactic settings since 2013. At Â鶹ֱ²¥, Cara primarily lectures on content areas surrounding Fundamentals of Nursing Practice, Adult Health, and Gerontology. She is a part of the DUSON Diversity & Inclusivity Council, serves as a Co-Counselor for Epsilon Phi Chapter of Â鶹ֱ²¥'s Sigma Chapter, and serves as a mentor for current MSN and DNP students throughout the University. 

Her current scholarly interests are related to prevention of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) and building and implementing formal education on VTE and the use/effectiveness of virtual deliberate nursing skills practice. Following the completion of her DNP in May 2020, she shifted her focus to care of the patient with Alzheimer's/Dementia after watching her grandfather succumb to the disease. In March 2023, Cara was named a "Dementia Friend of Pennsylvania" and is currently working toward becoming a Dementia Friend Champion to expand the community's understanding of communication with and providing care to those affected by Dementia. 

Education

  • DNP, Â鶹ֱ²¥, 2020
  • MSN, Chatham University, 2013
  • BSN, Carlow University, 2011

Research Interests or Expertise

  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Adult and Geriatric Populations
  • Care of the patient with Alzheimer's/Dementia
  • Improvement of bedside clinical education--Bedside Shift Report, Revision of CAM Assessment Tool, and Standardized VTE Education Tool

 

Profile Information

Â鶹ֱ²¥

  • Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women Scholarship - 2010
    Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Sigma Theta Tau Scholarship - 2010
    Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Oncology Nursing Society Leadership and Development Institute Conference Scholarship - 2010
    Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • The Penrod-Conwell Award for Excellence in Bio-Medical Ethics - 2011
    Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Above & Beyond in Nursing Recognitions - annually since 2011
    Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
  • DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses Recognition - 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
    Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
  • DAISY Award for Exceptional Nurses Recipient - 2013
    Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Certificate of Teaching Excellence - 2016
    Kaplan Career Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Oncology Nursing Society, 2010-2011
  • Clinical Work in Jukwa, Ghana, Africa, 2010
  • Chatham University Nursing Honor Society, 2013-present
    Sigma Theta Tau, Chi Zeta Chapter, 2014
  • Revision of CAM Assessment Tool and Implementation across health system, 2013
  • Delirium Assessment Videos & Commercials for UPMC, 2013-2014
  • Development & Implementation of Hospital-Based Formal VTE Prevention Tool, 2019

Utilizing Creative Teaching Strategies for Meaningful Virtual Deliberate Hands-On Nursing Skills Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sigma Theta Tau International Webinar: March 8th, 2022.

 

Effects of Formal Care Team Education on Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Compliance and Its Quantitative Outcomes. 46th Biennial Sigma Convention. November 2021.

 

Implementing Remote Fundamental of Nursing Labs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Virtual Deliberate Nursing Skills Practice. 46th Biennial Sigma Convention. November 2021.

Virtual Deliberate Skills Practice In the Time of a Pandemic. SIM-POW Conference. February 2021.