Maria DiCaro

Compassionate and highly experienced Registered Nurse with 24 years of healthcare and nursing experience, including extensive direct patient care, home health nursing, infectious disease, public health, patient education, medication management, clinical assessment, care coordination, and nursing leadership. Brings 17 years of infectious disease and public health experience with a strong foundation in infection prevention, patient assessment, medication reconciliation, treatment education, medical documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and management of patients with complex healthcare needs. Early nursing experience includes approximately seven years in home health, providing independent nursing assessment, medication management, patient and family education, care coordination, and compassionate one-on-one care.

Currently practices as a Forensic Nurse with Safe Harbor and serves as Founder & Clinical Director of MD Wellness Services, LLC. Holds dual master's degrees in Nursing and Public Health and an active Registered Nurse license with Nurse Licensure Compact privileges.

Forensic Nurse - Safe Harbor - Layton, Utah

(2026-01)

• Provide compassionate, trauma-informed nursing care to patients experiencing complex and sensitive circumstances.
• Perform nursing assessments and document patient condition, care provided, patient responses, and relevant communications in the medical record.
• Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, healthcare professionals, advocates, law enforcement, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide patient education regarding examinations, treatment recommendations, follow-up instructions, and available resources.
• Maintain infection-prevention practices, objective and legally defensible documentation, patient confidentiality, and professional nursing standards.
• Apply independent clinical judgment while providing patient-centered and trauma-informed care.

Founder & Clinical Director / Registered Nurse - MD Wellness Services, LLC - Utah

(2025-08)

• Provide and coordinate mobile and telehealth-based nursing and wellness services under appropriate provider oversight.
• Conduct patient assessments, obtain and document vital signs, review health information, perform medication reconciliation, and monitor treatment response.
• Educate patients regarding prescribed treatment plans, medications, follow-up requirements, potential adverse effects, and self-management strategies.
• Monitor patients longitudinally and communicate significant findings, concerns, and treatment-related issues to the appropriate provider.
• Maintain accurate EHR documentation and coordinate care with nurse practitioners, pharmacies, and other healthcare professionals.
• Develop nursing protocols, standing orders, clinical workflows, patient education materials, and safety procedures while maintaining HIPAA, infection-prevention, medication-storage, and quality-assurance standards.

Nursing Supervisor / Lead Public Health Nurse / Laboratory Director - Salt Lake County Health Department - Salt Lake County, Utah

(2008-06 - 2025-06)

Completed 17 years in infectious disease and public health nursing, providing direct clinical care while progressing into nursing leadership and supervisory responsibilities.

• Assessed patients, obtained comprehensive histories, reviewed medications, allergies, treatment histories, laboratory findings, symptoms, and relevant health information under established protocols and standing orders.
• Provided treatment and nursing interventions; educated patients regarding diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, follow-up care, infection prevention, and self-management.
• Documented assessments, treatment, patient response, education, follow-up instructions, and communications; coordinated care and referrals with providers, laboratories, pharmacies, public health agencies, and community resources.
• Managed reportable communicable disease activities and participated extensively in infectious disease surveillance, investigation, case management, prevention, COVID-19 outbreak response, and contact tracing.
• Supervised approximately eight healthcare employees, served as a clinical resource, developed standing orders and workflows, trained and evaluated staff, and precepted approximately 24 nursing students annually.
• Served approximately two years as Laboratory Director, overseeing specimen testing, microscopy, documentation, quality assurance, competency, infection control, and CLIA regulatory readiness; achieved 100% compliance during CLIA audit activities.

Home Health Nurse / Licensed Practical Nurse - Brookside & Love Home Health Care - Utah

(2001-10 - 2008-05)

Provided nearly seven years of individualized nursing care to patients in their homes, including ongoing assessments and monitoring for changes in condition.

• Administered and managed medications according to provider orders; reviewed medication regimens and communicated concerns or discrepancies to healthcare providers.
• Educated patients and families regarding medications, treatment plans, safety, follow-up care, and management of health conditions.
• Documented nursing assessments, interventions, patient responses, and communications; coordinated care with physicians, nurses, family members, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Practiced independently in the home environment, recognized changes requiring provider notification or escalation of care, and developed strong patient and family relationships through compassionate care.

Physician Substitute / Licensed Practical Nurse - Serologicals Plasmapheresis Center - Salt Lake City, Utah

(2000 - 2001)

• Performed medical assessments and evaluated donor eligibility for plasmapheresis procedures according to established medical protocols and regulatory standards.
• Obtained and reviewed health histories, vital signs, medications, and relevant clinical information; identified contraindications and donor-safety concerns within scope of practice.
• Monitored donors for adverse reactions, provided appropriate nursing interventions and emergency response when indicated, and maintained accurate clinical documentation.
• Upheld infection-control, bloodborne-pathogen, patient-safety, confidentiality, and quality-assurance standards.

Certified Nursing Assistant

Began healthcare career providing hands-on patient care before advancing through practical nursing, registered nursing, bachelor's-level nursing education, and graduate education. Built a strong foundation in compassionate care, activities of daily living, patient dignity, safety, communication, and recognition of changes in patient condition.

Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Grand Canyon University of Arizona (2017)

Master of Public Health - Public Health - Grand Canyon University of Arizona (2017)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Excelsior College (2012)

Associate Degree in Nursing - Nursing - Excelsior College (2007)

Licensed Practical Nursing Program - Nursing - College of Eastern Utah (2000)