Nicole Cadro, registered nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, has been named employee of the month for June by Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH).

Cadro began her career at Day Kimball Hospital in 2018 as a UR/PCT on the intensive care unit while attending nursing school. She was offered a position as a graduate nurse at DKH before passing the National Council Licensure Examination. Upon graduating with her bachelors of science in nursing, she was offered a position as a registered nurse on the intensive care unit in December 2020.

In her current role as a registered nurse on the intensive care unit, Cadro is responsible for helping to coordinate and monitor patient care, administering medications, advocating for patients, and providing comfort and support to their families.

According to Cadro’s supervisor, Daniel Durand, BS, RN, nurse manager, intensive care unit, Day Kimball Hospital “Nicole is the epitome of a ‘homegrown’ DKH employee. She began her career working as a UR/PCT while putting herself through nursing school. Nicole’s transition to a registered nurse seems to have come naturally to her, which makes her a valuable member of the ICU team. Her work ethic and dedication to patient care is exceptional, and she has proven her skills in the critical care setting. Nicole is highly regarded by her peers and has a very bright future ahead of her here at DKH.”

In response to being named employee of the month, Cadre said, “Being named employee of the month at Day Kimball is such an honor. It came very unexpectedly, but I could not be more grateful. I started as a UR/PCT in the ICU right when I was first considering nursing. Everything I have learned I owe to my incredible coworkers, support staff, and Day Kimball itself. I am so grateful for my DKH ICU family.”

When asked what she likes most about her job, she shared, “I know firsthand what it’s like to have a loved one who is critically ill. It was the nursing staff who really helped to ease our family’s minds. They not only cared for my ill loved one, but my entire family. That was something that stuck with me for a long time and motivated me to become a nurse. Being a part of someone’s worst days and doing everything we can to help them and their family is truly a privilege and one I will never take lightly. Leaving an impact on the lives of patients and their families is by far my number one reason for becoming a nurse and my favorite part of being a nurse.”

Cadro earned a bachelor’s of arts in biology from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, in 2019. In 2020, she graduated from the accelerated certificate entry into nursing program at the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s of science in nursing.

A Northeast Connecticut native, Cadre grew up in Brooklyn, Connecticut. She currently resides in Plainfield, Connecticut with her boyfriend, Gage, and their two rescue dogs, Niner and Roise.  

Day Kimball Healthcare’s employee of the month program is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. “The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino has been focused on taking care of the people that serve within our community, and we appreciate everything Day Kimball Healthcare does,” said Foxwood’s Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships Roy Colebut-Ingram. “Supporting meaningful employee recognition programs like that at DKH is just one way that we feel we can express our appreciation.”