Hi, I am Dr. Deborah Karas, DNP, APN-BC, RN
Let me introduce myself and tell you about my background…
As a long term care nurse and nurse educator, the standard of nursing care has always been the mission. I have worked many hours and shifts, often double shifts of 16 hours on the floor to provide the care residents and patients needed. And with my experience in various health care settings, I bring my education and training to the review of medical records.
Since 1995 I’ve worked as a Nurse Expert reviewing medical records for nursing standard of care deviations and discrepancies, and I’ve provided testimony in depositions, state and federal courts.
As a Nurse Expert witness, the opportunity to review health care delivery helps assist other nursing professionals to improve the health care arena and improve patient care to promote quality of care and quality of life. By review of medical records and outcomes, it not only provides me with information to share for health care improvement, their clinical skills, documentation, but my own clinical skills.
Review of medical records also assists families and patients with health care questions and maneuvering the system.
I am a Board Certified adult advance practice and gerontological nurse. My practice includes clinical primary, long-term, and home care. I hold a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Nursing
I bring over 30+ years of diverse and successful nursing experience to my practice and patients. I am dedicated to providing and consulting the nursing standard of care to patients and clients.
My experience includes serving as Chair of the Content Expert Panel for the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the panel that administers the National Gerontological Nurse Board Certification exam, and a medical mission in Central America
I served as an adjunct faculty member at William R. Harper College as an educator and program coordinator of the Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program, receiving a Certificate of Recognition for “Outstanding Performance in Clinical Education.”
Over the years, I have received honors in Phi Theta Kappa—William R Harper College and Alpha Delta Omega — Human Services Honor Society.
Currently, I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau International — Honor Society of Nursing.; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing.
I have made numerous professional presentations and conducted many workshops for various groups and organizations, including the State of Illinois Police, St. Stephen Symposium–Archdiocese of Chicago, Good Shephard Hospital, Illinois Department of Labor, and the White House Health Care Advisory Panel…
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS / WORKSHOPS
- • Healthy Living series / workshop – No. Barrington, Illinois
- • Are our foods making us sick? Maui
- • Memory Loss-What’s Normal, What’s Not – AARP
- • Memory Loss-What’s Normal, What’s Not – Good Shephard Hospital, Barrington, IL
- • Center for Medicare / Medicaid Services – RAP subgroup panel
- • State of Illinois Police – staffing background checks, “Who is really working in the nursing home?”
- • White House Health Care Advisory Panel
- • St. Stephen Symposium, Riverside, Illinois,
- • Ombudsman Program, Springfield, Illinois
- • Illinois Nurses Association – Speaker, Delegation Issues
- • Illinois House on Aging Committee, Chicago, Illinois
- • Illinois Department of Labor, Chicago, Illinois
- • Mississippi Department of Human Services, Presentation
- • Older Americans Caucus, U. S. House of Representatives
- • National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform – Presentation Washington, DC
- Staffing Resolution and how to address the problem.
- • Mini White House Conference on Aging, March 1995• Aging Process and Resources Available to the Older Adult
- • Alzheimer’s and Related Disorder Training for Nursing Assistants
- • Alzheimer’s Awareness Training for Law Enforcement and Public Workers
- • Elder Abuse and Neglect, “Who is caring for your loved one?”
- • Miscellaneous above subject workshops to community citizen and church groups
“Dedicated to working with others and promoting the “Nursing Standard of Care.”