Kara Balzano, APRN, CNP

When I was growing up, my mom had health problems, and I always admired the nurses and doctors who took care of her. I started working as a patient care assistant (PCA) at Cincinnati Children’s, and I knew this is where I would stay because I found a passion for working with children.

I worked at Cincinnati Children’s as a PCA while I studied for my registered nurse (RN) license, and then became a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse. When I got my advanced practice nurse (APN) license, I became a nurse practitioner in the pulmonary unit. I am also certified in pediatric acute care.

All of these experiences helped me be a better provider because each has shown me a different side of the relationship with the families and patients. I use my NICU knowledge to care for my ventilator-dependent patients and use the critical care experience to help patients through serious illnesses.

I always include the family in my care, since they know their child the best. I also try to be as understanding as possible since these families are going through such a difficult time.

I have studied nursing abroad in Mexico and Tanzania, and I was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau international honors society of nursing. I love traveling and studied Spanish in Spain.