Cara Morrill-Stoklosa, DNP, MSN, Ed., RN, CMSRN

Cara Morrill-Stoklosa joined Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University'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 Duquesne University, 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 Duquesne University'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, Duquesne University, 2020
• MSN, Chatham University, 2013
• BSN, Carlow University, 2011

• 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