Caitlin Hozie, BSN, RN, VA-BC
For Caitlin Hozie, nursing has always been about seeing possibilities where others see challenges. Whether helping a patient through a difficult IV placement, mentoring fellow nurses, or building an entirely new vascular access program from the ground up, she believes that innovation begins with asking one simple question: How can we do this better? As a 2026 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Awardee, Caitlin continues to improve patient care through creativity, collaboration, and a passion for solving problems.
Inspired by One Patient’s Determination
Caitlin’s nursing journey began as an activity aide in a local nursing home, where one patient’s determination to recover and return home forever changed her perspective on healthcare. Watching that journey unfold taught her that nursing is often built on small victories moments that may seem ordinary but can completely transform a person’s future.
After earning her Certified Nursing Assistant credential, Caitlin joined her local hospital in 2007, beginning a career that has remained rooted in serving her community. She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Illinois Valley Community College in 2014 before briefly working on a medical-surgical unit. While there, she discovered two things: she loved starting IVs, and her true calling was elsewhere. That realization led her to the Intensive Care Unit, where she spent five years caring for critically ill patients while earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Purdue University.
Turning an Idea into Better Care
As Caitlin’s career evolved, she transitioned to outpatient gastroenterology, where she became cross-trained in vascular access procedures, including PICC and midline insertions. It didn’t take long for her to recognize an opportunity to improve care across her healthcare system.
When regionalization created increasing demands on a small group of nurses providing vascular access services across multiple hospitals, Caitlin saw the need for a dedicated solution. Rather than accepting the status quo, she developed a business plan, completed a cost-benefit analysis, and proposed the creation of a Regional Vascular Access Team.
Leadership embraced her vision, and in late 2025, Caitlin stepped into a role she helped design from the ground up. Today, the program continues to grow, expanding access to specialized vascular care while improving patient outcomes and supporting nurses throughout the region. Earning her Vascular Access Board Certification (VA-BC) remains one of her proudest professional accomplishments, but her greatest reward is making difficult procedures easier for patients and helping fellow nurses build confidence in their skills.
Leading with Creativity and Compassion
Caitlin believes nursing requires equal parts compassion, innovation, education, and perseverance. She enjoys finding practical solutions to complex challenges while encouraging others to think creatively about improving patient care.
Outside of work, Caitlin is a devoted wife and mother of three, often found cheering on her children at the ballfield or enthusiastically supporting the Oregon Ducks. She also proudly embraces what her friends affectionately call her “meemaw hobbies,” including hand embroidery, cross-stitch, and painting. Those creative outlets reflect the same patience, attention to detail, and determination that have shaped her nursing career.
Looking back, Caitlin remains grateful for the patient whose determination inspired her to pursue nursing years ago. Today, she continues to honor that inspiration by creating opportunities that help patients, nurses, and entire communities experience better care.
The Illinois Nurses Foundation proudly recognizes Caitlin Hozie as a 2026 40 Under 40 Awardee for her dedication to vascular access nursing, innovation, patient care, and nursing leadership. Through her vision, determination, and commitment to improving healthcare, she continues to make a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and rural communities across Illinois.
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