Cristina Sykes, MSN, CCRN-CSC, CVRN-BC completed her master’s degree at Briar Cliff University and a cardiology speciality certificate from Duke University.

Cristina has practiced bedside in Cardiac surgery and coronary intensive care units since her nursing career begin. Her passion and love is Cardiac Surgery and cardiogenic shock patients. Caring for these complex patients is what lead her to complete her masters degree hoping to provide more advanced care. Cristina has worked for Abiomed with the Impella device for the past few years overseeing cases and ICU check ins. Bedside she has worked with heart transplants, lung transplants, LVAD, ECMO, and many complex cardiac and vascular surgeries.

Cristina serves on the AACN board as the President of the Denver Chapter. She also has volunteered on the exam writing committee for the cardiac surgery certification exam with AACN and helped prepare the ECCOS critical care course for new nurses to the ICU. Education is very important to her and she loves teaching. She strongly values team work and is proud to join UCSF in Cardiothoracic Surgery as a Nurse Practitioner.