Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

Collaborating with our intensivists are advanced practice clinicians we collectively refer to as mid-level practitioners (MLPs). These clinicians come from two training disciplines: acute care nurse practitioners (ACNP) and physician assistants (PA). Clinicians are board-certified in their discipline.

In addition to their initial training and experience prior to coming to our service, clinicians undergo six months of specialized training in surgical critical care. Each clinician receives supplemental training in:

• Neurosurgical critical care
• Advanced hemodynamic management, including intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and ventricular assist devices and pharmacology
• Ventilator operation and management
• Procedural training in vascular access (including ultrasound guided access)
• Chest tube thoracostomy and airway access and management
• Nutritional support
• Diagnostic imaging and laboratory interpretation
• Infectious disease management
• Renal and endocrine support

Regardless of background, clinicians fulfill the same role and bring their rich clinical experience and prior training with them.

These clinicians are on the staff of our cardiovascular recovery room (CVRR) and our Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICUs). They fill the role of house officers on their assigned unit. To the bedside critical care nurse, house officers are the immediate resources for changes in our critically ill patients. Each patient is seen daily in detail by the mid-level practitioners (MLPs), and assessments and plans are shared in daily multidisciplinary rounds. The multidisciplinary group discusses the assessments and plans and modifies them if necessary. The MLP then ensures plans are executed, and follows up on pending results and procedures.

Meet our Mid-Level Practitioners:

Robert E. Molyneaux, PA-C, Chief
Mr. Molyneaux has been a PA since 1982, initially in surgery. His practice has been full-time in critical care since 1990, in addition to 20 plus years of experience as a paramedic and EMS provider. He joined Surgical Critical Care in 1995.

Kristen Nelson, ACNP-BC, MSN, lead NP
Ms. Nelson has been a nurse since 1987, a critical care nurse since 1995 and a critical care nurse practitioner since 2000. She joined Surgical Critical Care in 2003. As our lead NP, she is actively involved in performance improvement initiatives and training orientees, as well as sharing scheduling coordination. She is also studying for an MBA.

Kathleen Strotheide, PA-C, MPH, lead PA
Ms. Strotheide has been a PA since 1995. She has been practicing critical care since 1995, joining our Surgical Critical Care in 2003. As our lead PA, she is actively involved as our student coordinator, training orientees and residents, as well as sharing scheduling coordination.

Bim Akintade, ACNP-BC, MS
Mr. Akintade has been a nurse since 2001, a critical care nurse since 2002 and a critical care nurse practitioner since 2006. Mr. Akintade was a clinical instructor for nursing at a local college and is pursuing a PhD.

Laura Carlson, ACNP-BC, MS
Ms. Carlson has been a nurse since 1997, a critical care nurse since 2000, and a critical care nurse practitioner since 2008, when she joined Surgical Critical Care. In addition, she brings her military leadership experience as a U.S. Army Nursing Corps officer.

Janet Jumper, ACNP-BC, MSN
Ms. Jumper has been a nurse since 1997, a critical care nurse since 1999, and a nurse practitioner since 2006, specializing in transplants of liver, kidney and pancreas. She joined Surgical Critical Care in 2010. She brings her additional experience as a flight nurse and is an active reservist in the U.S. Air Force.

Elizabeth Katz, ACNP-BC, CCRN, MS
Ms. Katz has been a critical care nurse since 2002 and a nurse practitioner since 2004. She joined Surgical Critical Care in 2005. She is a published author in multiple peer-reviewed clinical journals.

Kelly Kumar, ACNP-BC, MSN
Ms. Kumar has been a critical care nurse since 1998 and a critical care nurse practitioner since 2005, when she joined Surgical Critical Care.

Anna Lisa Namata Licud, ACNP-BC, MSN
Ms. Licud has been a critical care nurse since 1999 and a critical care nurse practitioner since 2006, when she joined Surgical Critical Care.

Sheryl Orwig, PA-C
Ms. Orwig has been a PA since 1989 and part of Surgical Critical Care since 1990, including five years as the Senior PA from 1995 to 1999.

Kristine Pace, PA-C
Ms. Pace has been a PA since 2000 and part of Surgical Critical Care since 2002.

Lindsey Parrish, ACNP-BC, MSN
Ms. Parrish has been a critical care nurse since 2001 and a nurse practitioner since 2004. She joined Surgical Critical Care in 2005. Ms. Parrish served as a consultant to other institutions developing programs similar to Washington Hospital Center critical care experience. In addition, she served as a clinical instructor at a regional university.

Margaret Ruggiero, ACNP-BC, CCRN, MS
Ms. Ruggiero has been a nurse since 1987 and a critical care nurse since 1991. A nurse practitioner since 2007, she joined Surgical Critical Care as a critical care nurse practitioner in 2008.

Amanda Stieglitz, PA-C
Ms. Stieglitz has been a PA since 2004. She comes with several years of experience as a cardiothoracic/critical care PA. She joined the Hospital Center’s Surgical Critical Care practice in 2008.

Thomas VanDruff, ACNP-BC
Mr. VanDruff has been a critical care nurse since 1997. He became a critical care nurse practitioner in 2006 and joined Surgical Critical Care the same year. In addition, Mr. VanDruff comes with many years of experience as an instructor.

Kathryn Younghans, PA-C
Ms. Younghans has been a PA since 2004. She came to Surgical Critical Care shortly after her stellar training experience with our service. She has been actively involved in our Quality Enhancement & Safety Team (QUEST) and other process improvement initiatives.

Andrea Bourquin Ryan, RN, MSN
Ms. Ryan has been our clinical data coordinator since 2000. As nurse practitioner, her collection and analysis of outcome data using Critical Outcomes allows us to focus on areas needing improvement. She serves as a QUEST leader and is an active member of hospital-wide committees on sepsis, early ICU mobility and health information management.