THEODORA KALATZI
San Jose
Summary
Accomplished Clinical Nurse Specialist and Stroke Program Leader with over 20 years of progressive experience in neuroscience and critical care. Proven track record in Joint Commission Stroke Centers operations and interdisciplinary performance improvement. Nationally certified in stroke and critical care. Adept at data-driven decision-making, leading large-scale QI initiatives, and translating complex standards into clinical excellence. Passionate about stroke care and deeply committed to reducing harm, I am humbled by the opportunity to improve quality of care, one stroke patient at a time.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Neuro Critical Care
Stanford Health Care
Palo Alto
05.2021 - Current
- CNS leader in a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Active member of stroke-related hospital and system-level interdisciplinary committees, contributing to quality and safety improvement, evidence-based practice, performance monitoring, and continuous survey readiness efforts.
- Led and supported multiple quality initiatives:
- Spearheaded the electronic health record practice alert implementation for stroke patients with feeding tubes, improving medication safety, documentation, and dysphagia screening compliance.
- Member of the hospital-wide MRI Safety Workgroup, contributing to process improvements, safety protocols, and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance MRI safety in high-acuity settings.
- Eliminated EEG lead-related pressure injuries.
- Developed workflows for intraventricular CAR-T cell infusion.
- Led the introduction of clinical care technologies in the NeuroICU: non-invasive cardiac output monitoring for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, multimodal neuromonitoring, and a portable point-of-care MRI program.
- Supported the pilot inpatient hospice program in the NeuroICU.
- Led the restraint reduction project in NeuroICU, achieving a 10% reduction during the pilot.
- Supported HAPI prevention initiatives in the NeuroICU, achieving zero reportable HAPIs for more than 12 months.
- Expanded the stroke content of the critical care training curriculum from 1 hour to 5 hours.
- Led the hospital-wide implementation of a standardized oral care program to reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including protocol development, staff education, and performance tracking.
- Contributed to the achievement of the Gold Beacon Award for the NeuroICU, recognizing excellence in patient care, a healthy work environment, and nursing outcomes.
Critical Care CNS / Educator
Good Samaritan Hospital
San Jose
06.2018 - 05.2021
- CNS/Educator leader in a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Active member of various interdisciplinary, hospital-wide, and stroke committees.
- Led and supported multiple projects and quality initiatives:
- Designed NeuroICU onboarding classes (ICU 101, Stroke 101, Dysphagia Screening Skills Lab).
- Supported comprehensive stroke program education across the ED, ICU, and stroke unit.
- Developed a normothermia protocol for neuro patients and introduced a non-invasive temperature management system technology.
- Standardization of nursing reports for ICU rounds.
- Supported the standardization of restraints documentation, the standardization of management of patients at suicide risk, and the individualization of nursing plans of care.
- Supported the alarm fatigue reduction project on the telemetry floor.
Sepsis Program Coordinator / CNS
El Camino Health
Mountain View
11.2019 - 08.2020
- Company Overview: Certified by TJC for Sepsis Care, Magnet Hospital.
- Performed sepsis program audits, analyzed, and presented data.
- Supported bundle compliance and clinical care of sepsis patients across the continuum.
- Led Sepsis Program performance improvement initiatives.
- Provided patient, family, and caregiver disease-specific education.
- Developed the patient satisfaction survey for the program.
- Spearheaded post-sepsis code debriefing.
- Participated in educational activities as a subject-matter expert.
Stroke Program Manager
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
San Jose
01.2017 - 05.2018
- Directed all aspects of the Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center, ensuring the Stroke Program's regulatory compliance, TJC certification standards compliance, and survey readiness. Achieved successful recertification within the first 6 months of hire.
- Maintenance of the stroke registry, data collection and analysis, and data presentations to multidisciplinary committees.
- Development and ongoing implementation of the program's performance improvement plan, maintenance of stroke program policies, and intranet site.
- Led community outreach and stroke awareness initiatives.
- Led various projects:
- Improvement of ED door-to-IV alteplase time in less than 45 minutes, from 20% to 50%, by improving ED stroke response workflows.
- Improvement of dysphagia screening compliance from 30% to 90%.
- Standardization of the inpatient stroke alert process.
- Creation of a patient stroke booklet.
- Development and teaching of ED and inpatient courses.
- Development of the 'Management of Post-Alteplase ICH Guide' for the ICU.
ICU RN– Neuro/Trauma/Medical ICU
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
San Jose
01.2013 - 12.2017
- TJC-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
- Primary RN for high-acuity stroke and trauma patients, including post-IR thrombectomy/coiling, SAH, and ICP/EVD management.
ICU Charge RN
Naval and Veterans Hospital of Athens, Greece
07.2001 - 12.2012
- Medical/Surgical/Neuro/Trauma ICU teaching, military hospital
Research Assistant
UCSF
01.2010 - 12.2010
- "Palliation of Thirst in ICU Patients"
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Executive Track
University of Nevada, Reno
01.2026
Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA) -
National And Kapodistriako University of Athens, Greece
01.2012
Master of Science in Nursing (MS) - Critical Care/Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neurosciences CNS Residency (SFGH)
University of California San Francisco
01.2011
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) -
Officers’ School of Nursing, Greece
01.2001
Affiliations
- American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN): Reviewer for AANN Clinical Practice Guideline on Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Neurocritical Care Society (NCS)
- Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
Publications
- Eliminating EEG Lead-Related Pressure Injuries, AANN 2024, Poster Presenter
- Optimizing Neurosciences GIP Hospice, 11th World Patient Safety Conf. 2022, Abstract Co-Author
- Defining Antibiotic Levels in ICU Patients, Clin Infect Dis, 2014, Research
- CRRT Quality Indicators, CRRT Conf. 2011, Poster Presenter
Certifications And Licensure
- SCRN, Stroke Certified Registered Nurse, ABNN, 2016-2024
- CCNS, Certified Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, AACN, 2012-2027
- CCRN, Certified Critical Care RN, AACN, 2014-2025
- RN, CNS, California Licensure, RN since 2010; CNS since 2011
- ENLS, ACLS, BCLS, Current
- CPHQ eligible, Committed to earning within 1 year of hire
Accomplishments
Malinda S. Mitchell Quality Award 2024
- Awarded for the outstanding cross-disciplinary efforts to reduce CLABSI
Certification
▪ RN Registered Nurse, California
▪ CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist, California
▪ SCRN Stroke Certified RN, by ABNN
▪ CCNS Certified Critical Care CNS, by AACN
▪ CCRN Critical Care RN, by AACN
▪ ENLS Emergency Neurological Life Support, by NCS
▪ IHI Open School Basic Certificate Program
▪ BCLS, ACLS/AHA
Timeline
Clinical Nurse Specialist – Neuro Critical Care
Stanford Health Care
05.2021 - Current
Sepsis Program Coordinator / CNS
El Camino Health
11.2019 - 08.2020
Critical Care CNS / Educator
Good Samaritan Hospital
06.2018 - 05.2021
Stroke Program Manager
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
01.2017 - 05.2018
ICU RN– Neuro/Trauma/Medical ICU
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
01.2013 - 12.2017
Research Assistant
UCSF
01.2010 - 12.2010
ICU Charge RN
Naval and Veterans Hospital of Athens, Greece
07.2001 - 12.2012
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Executive Track
University of Nevada, Reno
Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA) -
National And Kapodistriako University of Athens, Greece
Master of Science in Nursing (MS) - Critical Care/Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neurosciences CNS Residency (SFGH)
University of California San Francisco
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) -
Officers’ School of Nursing, Greece
Similar Profiles
Alexander King Schaap VAlexander King Schaap V
Senior Service Desk Agent at Stanford Health Care & Stanford School Of MedicineSenior Service Desk Agent at Stanford Health Care & Stanford School Of Medicine
Arlene LegaspiArlene Legaspi
Food Service Worker at Stanford Health Care, 300 Pasteur Dr, StanfordFood Service Worker at Stanford Health Care, 300 Pasteur Dr, Stanford
MAILAH F. RAPADA, PT, DPTMAILAH F. RAPADA, PT, DPT
Senior Physical Therapist at Stanford Health Care/Cisco Life Connections Health CenterSenior Physical Therapist at Stanford Health Care/Cisco Life Connections Health Center
Rebecca ValentineRebecca Valentine
Clinical Laboratory Technician at Stanford Health CareClinical Laboratory Technician at Stanford Health Care