At ACLS Academy, one of the things we are most proud of is our instructors and their impeccable qualifications. Let us introduce you to Kristine DiCarlo, an experienced practitioner, and educator in Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
What do you teach at ALCS?
I teach the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), which I have taught for over ten years at various hospitals.
Tell us about your medical career experience & your current employment:
I’m the Nurse Educator for the NICU and Special Care Nursery at South Shore Hospital. I have almost 20 years of experience as a maternity nurse, including as the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Maternal Newborn Pavilion at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. I am Board Certified in Nursing Professional Development and Certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing.
What is your educational background?
I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina. Then I obtained my Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Framingham State University. I just recently received my Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Aspen University.
What inspired you to become a nurse educator?
I didn’t think I would enjoy teaching as I was a super shy person through high school and college. My hospital co-workers encouraged me to become an NRP instructor, leading me to become a nurse educator pursuing my Master's and Doctorate. It's been the best thing I've ever done!
Why a Maternity Nursing specialty?
I became interested in the maternity nursing specialty after having both of my daughters with a midwife in a birth center instead of a hospital. I loved my personalized, supportive relationship with my midwife during my pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. The experiences of my two deliveries piqued my desire to support and care for other women similarly.
How does your educational background prepare you as an instructor?
It reinforces the importance of education and provides a higher level of thinking to bring the course content to different types of student learners. I’m approaching the instruction both as an educator and as a practitioner.
What do you love about your current role?
The opportunity to advance nursing practice on my unit as the Nurse Educator while still having the ability to be at the bedside. I love being an educator in the hospital setting because I can still be involved in direct patient care if needed. While I no longer take a patient assignments, I will jump in and help if they need it. It’s great to step in and be the baby nurse for that delivery or help you get the sick baby admitted to the NICU.
When did you join ACLS?
About four years ago.
What is the typical background of your ACLS Academy NRP students?
I have a wide range of participants, though typically, my students are individuals without any experience with NRP. I like to tailor the course to the needs of my students. For example, I teach nurses trying to get into maternity, student nurse midwives who require the class for their coursework, and paramedics looking to expand their knowledge. But I also teach travel nurses who need the course before their next assignment or midwives who do home births. Most of my students are not experienced practitioners, so they are very new to the course content.
What part of the NRP course is your favorite?
We practice all of the skills needed to resuscitate a baby. I love the hands-on piece; we have the mannequin, Ambu bag, and other equipment. The class ends in a mock code, putting it all together; here’s the scenario, here’s your baby, now resuscitate it for me – like a dress rehearsal for an event.
Why ACLS Academy?
I love how supportive Shelley and Chad are of their educators. They value the instructors, what we do, and the background we bring to the classroom. They just appreciate what we do regardless of the frequency of each instructor's classes.
Do you ever have a “Heartstrings moment” teaching at ACLS Academy?
Pretty much every class. I teach evenings after I’ve worked a full day, and sometimes you hit that low energy point, but I get into the classroom and love it. Because my students aren’t experienced in NRP, I’m making a difference by teaching them these procedures. I usually conclude all my classes with a question as to what they’ve learned in our evening together, and the feedback and excitement about the information and skills I’ve imparted to them make me feel good. It’s even better when I’ve heard nurses indicate their real excitement and interest in pursuing maternity because of my class.
When you aren’t working or teaching, what is your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do when I can is to travel. I have traveled to Italy, Spain, Aruba, Bermuda, and the Bahamas, just to name a few places. My next trip is to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Someday I hope to travel to Germany, Ireland, and Scotland!