Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Olivia Nicastro, PhD, ACNP-BC, recently stepped down from her role as Director of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship at RWJBarnabas Health, a program she restructured in 2017 and subsequently expanded within the system, including accreditation. As a dedicated advocate for APPs, she held one of only two APP seats on the medical executive board. Dr. Nicastro structured monthly didactics for all APPs within the system and spearheaded the creation of the first Acute and Critical Care APP Symposium, bringing together faculty from multiple hospitals. She also established an annual ultrasound education program open to the public and served as a consistent educator for Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) courses.
Currently serving on the Board of Directors for the NJ Chapter of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), Dr. Nicastro has over a decade of experience in emergency and critical care. In 2024, she was honored with the prestigious Award of Excellence from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), recognizing her contributions to the advancement of APP practice and education. She is passionate about education, mentorship, and advancing the knowledge and practice of medicine. She has mentored numerous newly graduated Nurse Practitioners, creating robust onboarding strategies to support the transition into advanced practice roles.
A lifelong learner, Dr. Nicastro recently earned her PhD, having previously completed her BSN and MSN at Columbia University. Her research focuses on modernizing APP practice through innovative strategies, including competency-based assessments, simulation-based training, and the utilization of ultrasound to enhance clinical efficiency. She is especially passionate about fostering a culture where interprofessional collaboration is not just encouraged but expected for the betterment of patient care. Outside of her professional endeavors, Olivia enjoys camping, knitting, and engaging in a highly competitive game of running bases with her husband and two children, Jack and Adelle.