Caitlin Yerkes, MPH, BSN, RN, SANE-A/P, is a forensic nurse who works clinically and as a forensic nurse educator. She specializes in trauma-informed, patient-centered care for individuals who have experienced violence. She is currently completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice, with a scholarly focus on restorative approaches to nurse well-being and sustainability.
Her DNP scholarship aligns closely with the mission of the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being by advancing evidence-informed, restorative practices that support resilience, purpose, and connection among forensic nurses. Funded by an Innovation Grant from the VNA/VNF, she developed a series of restorative workshops integrating reflective practice, narrative medicine, and nature-based interventions. This work addresses burnout, compassion fatigue, grief, and vicarious trauma while promoting sustainable well-being, professional meaning, connection, and collective care. They have the ultimate goal of helping nurses thrive professionally amid the complexity and uncertainty within healthcare systems, as well as in their personal lives.