This document is a resume for Karen A. Ahearn, an experienced nursing administrator with over 20 years of experience in management roles. She has held positions such as Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer and Director of various services. Her resume outlines her educational background, certifications, work experience in various hospitals, professional affiliations, recognition, and publications. It provides a high-level overview of her career accomplishments and qualifications in nursing leadership.

1. Karen A. Ahearn, RN, MPA, NEA-BC
569 Scotland Road
Union, New Jersey 07083
(908) 358-6528
ahearn569@comcast.net
OVERVIEW
A dynamic nursing leader with 20 years progressive management experience. Accomplishments include:
multi project planning, implementation and evaluation, successful union contract negotiations.
Committed to quality patient care and positive outcomes in a financially responsible manner.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
 M.P.A. Healthcare Management; Kean University, Union, New Jersey, 2000
 B.S.N. Summa cum laude; St. Peters College, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1995
 A.A.S. Nursing; College of Staten Island, Staten Island, New York, 1985
 ANCC Certification in Nursing Administration, Advanced,
EXPERIENCE
Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer 2012-2015
Community Medical Center, Toms River, New Jersey
• Responsible for the provision of nursing care and budget for patient care services at
Community Medical Center, a 600 bed community hospital.
• Implemented Cerner electronic health record
• Reduced sitter usage by 30%
• Improved hand washing rates
• Decreased CLABSI and CAUTI rates
• Redesigned the delivery of care model
• Established programs for the training of nursing assistants and continuing education for nurses
• Achieved re-certification in 5 disease specific Joint Commission programs
• Decreased readmissions for AMI and pneumonia through the development of a Transition of
Care program and DSRIP program
• Initiated multiple patient satisfaction initiatives including bedside report, hourly rounding and
First Nurse.
Director of Women and Children’s Services 2002-2012
Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey
• Administrative responsibilities for the provision of all aspects of care for Women and
Children’s services inpatient and outpatient including Valerie Center, 56 bed NICU, PICU and
specialty clinics for the largest provider of obstetric and pediatric care in New Jersey.
• Fiscal responsibility for budgets totaling 25 million dollars. Eliminated agency usage
• Improved billing processes in outpatient areas which resulted in significant decreases in lag
time and improved collections in outpatient areas.

2. Karen A. Ahearn, RN, MPA, NEA-BC
• Submitted application for membership in Children’s Oncology Group
• Implemented Institute for Healthcare Improvement quality measures to improve obstetric care.
• Chairperson of Barnabas Health Obstetric subcommittee. Successfully oversaw the
implementation of standardized policies and supplies.
• Administrative management of 356 FTE’s in a union environment including 5 Nurse
Managers.
• Participated in the preparation, submission and approval of PICU and NICU Certificate of
Need.
• Administrator on call for Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
• Redesigned L&D and OB outpatient charge masters to capture lost charges.
• Implemented a computer based OB documentation and archival system, NICU documentation
system and e-mail system for the transfer of prenatal records.
• Initiated a Certified Nurse Midwifery program which reduced wait times in the Obstetric triage
area and improved patient satisfaction
• Assisted in the design and implementation of an Obstetric hospitalist program to provide 24
hour in-house physician coverage.
• Decreased vacancy rates in all areas. Improved retention in all areas through the development
of staff committees, huddles and involving staff in decision making.
Administrative Director Nursing Administration 1998-2002
Community Medical Center, Toms River, NJ
• Responsibilities include day to day operations of Ambulatory Services, Women’s and
Children’s Services, Nursing Department staffing, Nursing Recruitment and Retention,
Nursing Patient Satisfaction and off shift Administrative Clinical Coordinators.
• Revised staffing patterns in the maternal child division based upon nursing hours per patient
day.
• Redesigned community outreach program to meet the healthcare needs of women in the
community.
• Standardized Pediatric emergency equipment hospital wide.
• Identified nursing recruitment needs and developed recruitment strategies in conjunction with
human resources resulting in vacancy rates lower than the state average.
• Participated in the preparation for Magnet status.
Director of Nursing 1997-1998
Saint Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey
• Administrative responsibility for Ambulatory Services, Maternal Child Health, Blood
Research Institute, Credentialing of Allied Health Professionals and Ryan White Inpatient
grant.
• Participated in the successful negotiation of two union contracts.
• Established credentialing process for Advanced Practice Allied Health Professionals.
• Planned and implemented an after-hours Pediatric clinic.
• Provided consulting services to hospitals in the Gateway Consortium and Cathedral Healthcare
System.
• Responsible for the budget, contract negotiation and program development of satellite women
and children centers.
• Prepared a RFP for a county grant to provide pre-natal services to women enrolled in
methadone programs.

3. Karen A. Ahearn, RN, MPA, NEA-BC
• Developed a student nurse extern program in collaboration with the vice president of human
resources.
Nurse Manager 1992-1997
Saint Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey
• Responsible for the daily operations of a 32 bed Pediatric unit, 20 bed LDRP unit and 8 bed
Community Intermediate Nursery.
• Revised nursing documentation to comply with regulatory standards.
• Developed a program in conjunction with inpatient psychiatric and detox unit to provide detox
services to pregnant women including policy and staff education for the care of the pregnant
woman.
• Redesigned and implemented care delivery system from traditional obstetrics to LDRP system.
• Developed collaborative undergraduate nursing programs with Seton Hall University and
Rutgers University.
Nursing Supervisor 1995-2004
Union Hospital, Union, New Jersey
• Provide administrative coverage for the entire institution on the 3-11 shift on a per diem basis.
Per diem Staff Nurse 1991-1993
United Hospitals Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey
• Assigned to the Pediatric Emergency Room.
Patient Care Coordinator 1990-1992
St. Mary Hospital, Hoboken, New Jersey
• Responsible for a 20 bed Pediatric unit and Same Day Surgery Unit.
• Participated in the development of a Pediatric Emergency Nursing continuing education series.
Staff Registered Nurse 1985-1990
Elizabeth General Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey
• Charge and staff nurse on a 32 bed general pediatric unit with a 4 bed pediatric step down
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
University of Phoenix Facilitator 2005-2011
• Online instructor for MBA program
Elsevier Publishing Reviewer 2004-2006
• Conduct test book review
• Develop questions for NCLEX review test
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT
• ONE/NJ

4. Karen A. Ahearn, RN, MPA, NEA-BC
• AWOHNN
• Northern New Jersey Perinatal Consortium
• Vermont Oxford Network Publications Committee
• New Jersey Hospital Association Perinatal Quality Initiative
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
• Excellence In Caring Award 2007
• Who’s Who in American Nursing 1996-1997
• Michaelmas Award for academic excellence, 1995
• Nursing Leader of the Year, nominee 1997
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
• “Pediatric Emergency Management”. Signorelli, Catherine and Ahearn, Karen. Saint Mary
Hospital, a CEU offering, 1991.
• “Taking Care of Baby”. Shaw, Valerie and Ahearn, Karen. Saint Michael’s Medical Center.
1997.
• “Infants of Drug Using Mothers – A Case Study”. Nursing Grand Rounds. Saint Michael’s
Medical Center. 1997.
• “Making the Transition into Nursing Management”. Leadership Institute Saint Barnabas
Healthcare System. 1999.
• “Evidenced Base Nursing Practice – A Case Study”. Poster Presentation. Organization of Nurse
Executives Annual Conference. 2000.
• “Interdisciplinary FMEA in the NICU”. Poster Presentation. March of Dimes Annual
Conference. 2003
• “Evidenced-based guidelines for the management and care of pregnant substance-abusing women
and drug exposed neonates”. Authors: Judith Morales, MSW, LCSW, CPAS, Sharlene Wolfe,
MS, RN, CNA, BC, Ilise Zimmerman, MPH, MS, Karen Ahearn RN, MPA, CNAA, BC, Pat
DeBernardo, RNC, BSN, Heidi Z. Brenner, BS, RNC, FACHE, Pam Martin, RN, MSN. APHA
conference. 2005
• “IHI Perinatal Improvement Project – One Hospital’s Experience”. NJHA Perinatal
Collaborative. New Jersey Hospital Association, 2009
• “Leading and Empowering Change”. Conference sponsored by the Regional Perinatal Consortium
of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Inc. 2010