Cassandra Garhartt

Dr. Cassandra Garhartt, DNP, RN, Director of Nursing obtained her DNP at Capella University in August 2022, her MSN in Nursing Education from Western Governors University in 2017, and her BSN with a psychology minor from Russell Sage College in 2015. Dr. Garhartt has inpatient nursing experience in complex roles prioritizing patient quality care and best practice at St. Peter’s Health Partners. Dr. Garhartt began her nursing career at St. Peter’s Hospital as a registered nurse on a cardiac/telemetry unit. She spearheaded several quality improvement projects aimed at improving nursing care including stroke accreditation, pressure injury reduction, and unit based shared-governance committee leading her to Level III advancement on the clinical ladder. Her exceptional bedside care led to three separate nominations for the DAISY award, with one DAISY award recognition in 2017. She transitioned to the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) coordinator in 2018 in which she advanced the hospital to Senior-Friendly status in the care provided to older adults. 

Dr. Garhartt’s experiences uniquely qualify her to lead the students to understand how compassion and empathy serve as the foundation of nursing, while using evidence as building blocks to empower critical thinking, clinical judgment, and leadership in nurses. Her experience in education at the associate and bachelor degree prelicensure levels have provided ample opportunities for curriculum development and educational leadership. 

Upon completion of her DNP, Dr. Garhartt utilized her study findings to provide education to novice nursing students to bridge the gap for exceptional care. Dr. Garhartt conducted a bundled approach to improve pain reassessment documentation compliance focusing on educational and organizational guidelines to improve patient satisfaction and quality care. She presented her findings at the ATI National Nurse Educator Conference in Seattle, Washington in April 2022. Dr. Garhartt has a research interest in emotional intelligence and inter-professional education to support student transition to professional practice. Her academic and professional journey has empowered her to continue to engage, guide, and mentor nursing professionals. 

Research Interests:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Inter-professional Education
• Simulation
• Undergraduate pre-licensure education
• Quality Patient Care
• Gerontology
• Cardiology and telemetry