Alumna publishes DNP Scholarly Project

Dr. Christina Craigo, DNP, MSN, ACNP, AACC, published her DNP Scholarly Project titled Integration of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in a Nurse Practitioner–led Heart Failure Clinic in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in November 2024. 

"The integration of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a nurse-practitioner-led post-discharge clinic aims to improve patient outcomes by providing immediate diagnostic information at the bedside," stated Dr. Craigo. "This approach enables early detection and management of conditions that might otherwise require hospital readmission, thus supporting a smoother transition from hospital to home. By empowering nurse practitioners with POCUS skills, the clinic enhances accessibility to imaging diagnostics, particularly beneficial in under-resourced settings. Overall, this initiative has the potential to lower healthcare costs, reduce readmission rates, and improve patient satisfaction by facilitating timely, patient-centered care."

Christina Light Craigo earned her Bachelor of Science in economics from Vanderbilt University, Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from UCLA in 2024. Her doctoral project explored the utilization of point-of-care ultrasound in a post-discharge heart failure clinic and assessing correlation between proBNP level and inferior vena cava diameter. Dr. Craigo currently leads Enhanced Heart Care at Cedars-Sinai, a program designed to improve outcomes in the Medicare cardiac care bundle population. 

Dr. Craigo is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCLA School of Graduate Nursing and enjoys working with students. She is an active member of American College of Cardiology (ACC) and is the past president of the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, West Los Angeles chapter. She is currently serving as the ACC Cardiovascular Team California Representative.