As we wrap up Nurses Month, RQI Partners is proud to shine a spotlight on the dedicated nurses within our organization who bring their passion and expertise to every facet of our mission. These professionals, with diverse backgrounds in clinical care, education, and leadership, exemplify the power of nursing by driving innovation in resuscitation education and patient care.
Kaylee Boyle, Impact Manager
Q: How long have you been a nurse?
A: For over a decade, I’ve been proud to be a nurse. It’s a role that let me care deeply for others, build strong connections, and be an advocate not just for patients, but for their families too.
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: I became a nurse because I truly wanted to help people, and I found real meaning in being there for them during some of life’s hardest moments. I also loved that nursing offered constant learning and growth.
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: I started out in the Pediatric ICU, working with infants, kids, and teens facing everything from trauma to surgery, sepsis, and respiratory failure. It was intense but incredibly rewarding. Over the years, I stepped into roles like Nurse Educator and Nurse Manager, where I discovered how much I loved supporting and developing other healthcare providers. Helping others grow into confident, capable clinicians became a passion of mine, just like finding ways to improve care and make meaningful changes that benefit both staff and patients.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: When my health system adopted RQI programs, I immediately saw the value it brought. I was drawn to how it improved outcomes and built provider confidence in a real, lasting way. Joining the RQI Partners team felt like a natural next step by allowing me to stay connected to what I loved about nursing, while reaching even more people. Now, I get to be part of something bigger: improving patient care, supporting healthcare teams, and continuing to learn and grow myself and others.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: I carry my nursing experience with me in everything I do. I’ll always be grateful for the lives I touched at the bedside and I’m excited for the ones I can still impact moving forward.
Sarah Doyle, Impact Manager
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: I began my nursing career as a night shift nurse on a heart failure floor, caring for some of our first heart transplant recipients. The unit saw a wide variety of complex conditions, providing an invaluable and fast-paced learning environment in my early years. From there, I transitioned to the pulmonary unit, specializing in cystic fibrosis care. It was in this role that I moved from bedside nursing into education.
Q: Looking back on your career, can you share an impactful moment that shaped you into the nurse and/or individual you are today.
A: Working in such a specialized area made education incredibly focused and personal. I had the privilege of supporting patients through complex infections, transplant preparation, disease management, and end-of-life care. During my time there, I also witnessed the transformative impact of a breakthrough medication that extended and enriched the lives of many of our patients.
Shortly after this medication was introduced, the COVID pandemic struck. Our unit—and much of the hospital—was transformed into a pulmonary and infectious disease hub. Being an educator during that time was both humbling and challenging. I leaned heavily on collaboration with colleagues to keep patients, families, and staff informed and supported through rapidly evolving circumstances.
Q: How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role at RQI Partners?
A: My journey in education eventually led me to resuscitation, serving as the AHA Training Center Coordinator and RQI System Administrator for The University of Kansas Health System. In that role, I coordinated system-wide education, supported orientation, managed course enrollment for all learners, and led both in-house and community resuscitation events. It was there that my passion for teaching evolved into a dedicated focus on resuscitation education.
Community resuscitation has become one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I’ve had the privilege of training local high school students, non-English-speaking groups, and even staff from the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs organizations. That experience ultimately led me to RQIP, where I continue advocating for resuscitation excellence—through program adoption, customer engagement, and organizing CPR events that empower the communities our partners serve.
Cindy Kugel, Senior Impact Manager
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: I started as a switchboard operator in a hospital to pay for college while getting my Journalism degree. I was immediately taken with healthcare, seeing the difference the nurses made in their patients’ lives. I worked as ED tech on my days off from the switchboard and eventually made it to nursing school.
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: Once a registered nurse, I worked in the ED, endoscopy, outpatient surgery, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and a healthcare SaaS company.
I eventually received my BSN and a Master of Science in Leadership and Ethics. After receiving my MS degree, I spent a large part of my nursing career as a chief nursing officer where I was able to mentor and advocate for my nurses and clinical staff teams. My most recent nursing position was at the Department of Veteran’s Health Administration where I was a nurse leader for an outpatient clinic.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: While at the VHA I was introduced to RQI. One of the nurse educators met me at the door of the clinic and said “here's your manikins for RQI, where do you want them, and I’ll show you where you to go on this computer since you will be the RQI contact for your clinic. We do this every quarter.” Ugh-every quarter? I needed a better understanding of RQI since I had to get buy in from my clinical team. I went on a search to find out what RQI was. I logged on and made it through my first session which was entertaining! If you’ll remember we didn’t have a skills station, just manikins laying around on the floor or a desk! Once I finished, I thought “wow, this is amazing!”
I continued to research RQI and presented this to my team who were initially not fans, but eventually it all came together; not only was the nursing team sold on it, but the providers also started doing it - yes, every quarter! With this success and gaining a better understanding of RQI I was hooked. I made inquiries of my former nurse executive colleagues to see if they had heard of this and were doing CPR the “same way we’ve always done it.” Some were, some had another digital program, but most hadn’t heard of RQI.
I couldn’t believe it and that’s when I decided I needed to work at RQI Partners to make sure every hospital knew about this because this plays to the foundation of nursing by building and improving skills - This saves lives!
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: I’m here because I want to make a difference for that one nurse to be confident in their resuscitation skills by using RQI! I am very grateful to be here to help drive our mission!
Anna McCollum, Senior Impact Manager
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: I wanted a career where I could make a difference, always learning new things, and fed my love of Human/Biological science. I also loved the wide variety of areas that I could work in as a nurse.
Q: How long have you been a nurse?
A: I have been a nurse for 20 years.
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: Trauma/ER/ Flight Nurse/ CVICU.
Q: Looking back on your career, can you share an impactful moment that shaped you into the nurse and/or individual you are today.
A: I won’t ever forget the first time I took care of a “famous Celebrity” and the impact that had on my career. The impact was not that they were a celebrity, but the fact that despite all their money and fame, what they really valued was their life. At that point, I realized the real impact of being a nurse to be able to impact really what everyone values most, their life and their family.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest challenge a nurse faces in today’s healthcare environment?
A: Burnout for sure. The field of nursing has dramatically changed moving away from caring for the patient to meeting quotas, long hours, hard schedules. Also, with the heightened attention to the financial benefits of legal claims, nurses have become so scrutinized they are choosing to leave their love for caring for others to avoid the constant “big brother” looking over your shoulder pressure. Lastly, with cutbacks in the healthcare system, more and more are being added to the nurse with the compensation for this getting further and further away from physicians or ELT.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: Since 2020. Having a clinical background helps me really connect and understand the many competing priorities and pressures of the RQI Admins. Also, I can understand how difficult it can be for change management or the emotional connection between a clinician and their patient when they go into cardiac arrest.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: We all speak the same language, it is a connection, even though we all have different specialties, we all can relate to the many sacrifices we all had to take to become a nurse. We can see the customer through the same nurse lenses and really understand their needs. It’s our own family!
Erin Mender, Impact Manager
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: When I graduated from Purdue University in 2017, my mom suddenly became very ill. She was experiencing worsening symptoms and receiving countless misdiagnoses, with no real answers. Desperate for help, my dad took her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Within a week, they diagnosed her with a rare autoimmune disease—something other providers had missed. That experience changed everything for me. Watching my mom suffer without answers, and then seeing the incredible care she received at Mayo, inspired me to return to school to become a nurse. I wanted to be the kind of support for other patients and families that the Mayo team had been for us—especially for those who are scared and don’t understand what’s happening to their loved ones. Thanks to the expert care at Mayo Clinic and Northwestern University, my mom’s life was saved. And after graduating from nursing school, I was proud to return to Mayo—this time as a cardiovascular nurse—where I could begin giving back in the same place that gave so much to my family.
Q: How long have you been a nurse? What was your field or specialty you practiced in?
A: 6 years, Cardiac Progressive Care
Q: Looking back on your career, can you share an impactful moment that shaped you into the nurse and/or individual you are today.
A: Looking back on my career, there have been so many patients who have touched my life, but one in particular stands out. During my time at Mayo Clinic, I had the privilege of caring for a war veteran who spent five months on our unit. I be-came one of his primary nurses, and in that time, I witnessed firsthand his unwavering determination, his deep love for his wife and children, and his constant willingness to keep trying, even on the hardest days. One moment I’ll never for-get was the day I was finally able to get him outside to the courtyard for some fresh air. It was during the height of COVID restrictions, and he had been stuck inside for over a month. Seeing the sun on his face and the peace that moment brought him reminded me how powerful even the smallest victories can be for our patients. He was a true fighter and a remarkable human being. I still think about him often, and the strength he showed continues to inspire the kind of nurse—and person—I strive to be every day.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest challenge a nurse faces in today’s healthcare environment?
A: One of the biggest challenges I believe nurses face today is balancing high patient loads while still providing compassionate, high-quality care. This often leads to burnout and emotional fatigue, making it harder to stay connected to the heart of the profession.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: I joined the team at RQI Partners four months ago. My clinical background spans from working as a cardiovascular nurse at Mayo Clinic to spending three years as a travel nurse across the West Coast, giving me a wide range of experience in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. One defining moment in my journey came last October, when I had to perform CPR on an EMT during an Alabama football game. That experience deeply reinforced the importance of high-quality resuscitation training—not just in the hospital, but in every setting. It was a wake-up call that led me to RQIP. I wanted to be part of a mission that helps ensure healthcare providers everywhere are ready to act when seconds matter. My nursing background has taught me how critical that readiness is, and now I’m proud to be supporting clinicians from a different angle—by helping improve the systems and training that can save lives.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: My favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this new setting is the opportunity to support them in a way that feels proactive and empowering. As a bedside nurse, I was often in the moment, responding to critical situations. Now, I get to be part of the bigger picture—helping clinicians feel more prepared, confident, and supported before those moments even happen. It’s incredibly rewarding to collaborate with people who are so dedicated to patient care and to know that the work we’re doing helps them deliver better outcomes when it matters most.
Q: Any closing statement you would like included?
A: Throughout my nursing career, from the bedside to the broader systems level, my goal has always been the same: to make a meaningful impact on patient care. Whether I’m supporting a team in a hospital or helping implement life-saving training programs, I carry with me the experiences, lessons, and passion that first led me into nursing. I’m proud to be part of a mission that empowers healthcare professionals to deliver their best, because at the end of the day, it’s about saving lives—and there’s nothing more important than that.
Stephanie Proffitt DNP, RN, Senior Impact Manager
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: I was inspired to be a nurse by my Aunt. Every year as a kid she gave us our flu shots and was there when I needed stitches.
Q: How long have you been a nurse? What was your field or specialty you practiced in?
A: I have been a nurse for 24 years. I was a Cardiac ICU nurse for 12 years working night shift for 8 of those years. I also spent one year as a Rehab nurse. I moved to education and simulation twelves years ago.
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: My favorite area of practice is Resuscitation. In 2017 my team and I implemented the RQI program for 23,000 BLS users. Once we had all our regions implemented in RQI, I focused on all our hospital locations participating in American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Program.
Q: Looking back on your career, can you share an impactful moment that shaped you into the nurse and/or individual you are today.
A: In 2008 my oldest daughter passed-away at her work site because people did not know how to do CPR. I became passionate about teaching CPR, evaluating code blue team performance, and improving in-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest challenge a nurse faces in today’s healthcare environment?
A: Nurses today are faced with sicker patients and higher patient loads. The daily demands have increased, admissions and discharge teaching, and documentation takes longer. The day-to-day demands are exhausting and can lead to burnout. Connecting with the patients and family helps to provide satisfaction in nursing.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: I feel like I have been part of the RQI family for many years. Really, it’s only been 6 weeks.
Understanding the many areas of healthcare will help me connect with others to provide high-quality training options that meets the needs of caregivers and improves patient and community outcomes.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: I am a huge advocate for the RQI program. I love to see when the light comes on for the caregiver seeing how their skills have improved over time.
Q: Any closing statement you would like included?
A: This passage is focused on nursing; however, it can be applied to how we connect with our accounts and how people feel working with us daily.
“As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget our name, but they will never forget how you made them feel”.
— Maya Angelou
Sarah Waltz, Impact Manager
Q: What inspired you to enter the field of nursing?
A: The human body has always been interesting to me as a young child, so naturally healthcare was the career path I was most likely to pursue when I grew older. Whether the excitements of Grey’s Anatomy sparked the interest, or something else, I do know that I always had a strong desire to help people in some way. Because we aways see sick people around us and health disparities in our communities and affecting our loved ones, seeing these things as a young girl inspired me to make a difference in a capacity within the healthcare sector.
Q: How long have you been a nurse?
A: I have been in the nursing field since 2019 and completed my Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) license a little over a year ago.
Q: What field or specialty of nursing have you practiced in?
A: I began my career in the Emergency Room, following with Critical Care ICU and Cardiac Surgical ICU. As a Nurse Practitioner I went into the field of Emergency Medicine.
Q: Looking back on your career, can you share an impactful moment that shaped you into the nurse and/or individual you are today.
A: While one single moment would be difficult to pinpoint, there are many impactful moments that have shaped me into the nurse and into the person I am today. Sometimes a simple smile, thank you, or hug from a patient truly goes a long way. These little (yet big) gestures give the indication of gratitude even when a situation makes it hard to see that you are making a positive difference in someone’s life.
Q: What do you believe is the biggest challenge a nurse faces in today’s healthcare environment?
A: Arguably the biggest challenge nurses across the United States collectively face is the challenge of tending to needs of patients with minimal supplies and minimal autonomy. As a nurse you often know what the patient needs—their needs, however, oftentimes must be met utilizing the least amount of resources, in the least amount of time. This is challenging yet something nurses across the globe face every day.
Q: When did you join the team at RQI Partners? How has your clinical background prepared you for your current role?
A: I joined RQI Partners almost a year ago. My clinical background has allowed me to understand the effects of doing CPR on a patient and has allowed me to personally see each patient as if they were my own loved one. Sometimes good outcomes, sometimes bad outcomes, it is good to be able to personally understand the impacts of proper technique and resources when it comes to saving the lives of a human being. There is something different about talking to a patient one minute and coding them the next that just resonates with you. It hits different. Taking the many experiences and lessons I have learned in the field helps me resonate with the mission of RQI Partners and gives me confidence and assertiveness when teaching CPR to new or prospective clients.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting?
A: Working at RQI Partners is definitely working in healthcare, but from a unique perspective. It is cool to see many clinical backgrounds and professionals come together with one aligned mission. My favorite aspect of working alongside nurses and healthcare professionals in this different setting is seeing how we are all connected with the same desire to help patients, make a difference in various capacities, and the willingness to be a part of a growing mission to save more lives today than we did yesterday.
Q: Any closing statement you would like included?
A: While Nurses Week is a good time to consider and thank those healthcare professionals who have chosen to make a difference, it is important to consider the impacts all healthcare professionals make in their communities. It takes a village of knowledgeable professionals working as a team to give a patient the best chance at positive outcomes. So, I wanted to say thank you to my fellow nurses and all healthcare workers.
