Alum’s Career Journey Shows Diverse Opportunities Nursing Experience Offers
In 2014, URI College of Nursing graduate Kerin Da Cruz was working as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Lawrence + Memorial Healthcare in New London, Conn., when she was presented with the biggest challenge—and biggest opportunity—of her nursing career: Fix an underperforming hospital.
“We purchased Westerly Hospital, which was in receivership at the time,” Da Cruz said. “I was in nursing leadership, and now I was being asked to go to Westerly as the Chief Administrative Officer and lead the organization. I took the opportunity because not only could I help nurses and make sure they had everything they needed to do their job, but I could help the entire organization, and that’s when I really was inspired to lead beyond nursing. I will always be a nurse, but I really felt I could make a bigger impact, and I did there.”
Da Cruz, who earned a Master of Science in Nursing from URI, has undeniably made an impact in every stop of her career, showing along the way the myriad career opportunities available to nurses in the healthcare field. After beginning as a bedside nurse in oncology and the intensive care unit at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Da Cruz quickly expanded to nurse manager, before moving to Rhode Island Hospital to serve as director of nursing. Her extensive leadership experience includes various roles as vice president of operations, chief administrative officer, and chief nursing officer. She has also held numerous nursing and leadership roles throughout Rhode Island, including as an adjunct professor for the URI College of Nursing.
She took her leadership career to the next level in 2024 when she was named senior vice president and chief nursing officer for University of Florida Health Jacksonville, where she was quickly promoted to chief operating officer and vice president of the Northeast Florida Region for UF Health overseeing the day-to-day operations of a health system that includes four hospitals, one of which is an academic medical center, and four freestanding urgent and emergent care centers.
“I always say I became a nurse to take care of people, and then I became a nurse leader to take care of nurses,” said Da Cruz, who has overseen expansions in the health system’s operations and service lines including cardiovascular, orthopedic, and oncology. “As my leadership journey evolved, so did my vision for the impact I could make. My commitment to caring for nurses grew into a deeper calling to create an environment where every person across the organization could thrive. Each new role expanded my perspective, from supporting individual teams to shaping strategies that strengthen the organization. My journey has always been about the same principles of compassion, service, and connection. The difference is continuously expanding to be able to impact the entire team and make a meaningful difference.”
Da Cruz continues to expand her skills as she works toward her ultimate goal of chief executive officer, helped by her MSN from URI, which she realized was necessary to take the next step.
“Early in my nursing leadership career, I was convinced that experience alone was enough,” Da Cruz said. “But then I found myself surrounded by remarkable leaders whose knowledge, education, and perspectives challenged me to think bigger. I realized growth wasn’t about proving what I already knew. It was about investing in what I could become. Initially, I earned credibility through experience, hard work, and results. I soon realized that formal education could open doors, expand my influence, and strengthen my ability to lead. Pursuing my master’s degree was about embracing the next chapter of my professional journey and unlocking opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.”
Her degree at URI was the catalyst that propelled her through the leadership ranks. However, she said it was the initial skills learned at the bedside that have positioned her so well in the healthcare field. Those skills can translate into multiple opportunities beyond traditional nursing, and allow nurses to be influential voices in the healthcare industry.
“Nursing didn’t just prepare me for leadership—it shaped the foundation of how I lead,” Da Cruz said. “It taught me the power of meaningful conversations, the courage to speak up when it matters most, and the responsibility to advocate beyond the boundaries of any title or position. As a nurse, my purpose was to be a voice for my patients. Today, that same commitment drives me to advocate for my team, so they have what they need to care for the patients we are honored to serve.”
Da Cruz also advocates strongly for new and future nurses, allowing anyone who asks to shadow her to help show them the opportunities their nursing talent can lead to.
“The best advice I would give is where you start your career does not have to be where your career has to finish,” Da Cruz said. “Embrace the journey and all the opportunities. If they ask for volunteers, raise your hand. Find the right mentors because those relationships—and being a people-first leader—is what is going to carry you beyond any barrier or challenge that’s ahead of you. Your path will unfold in unexpected ways, shaped by new experiences, challenges, and opportunities to grow, learn, and discover. Every step, whether planned or unforeseen, contributes to your story and can lead to places you never imagined. The beginning of your journey is only one chapter, not the final definition of where you are capable of going.”