About

Confident woman in glasses and black dress smiles with arms crossed.

Meet Christina Scalese

With over 14 years of diverse nursing experience, Christina Scalese brings both expertise and heart to the foundation of Boutique Nursing Services, LLC.

Christina began her career as a SWAT nurse within the UPMC health system, where she was deployed to Level I trauma centers across the region. In this fast-paced, high-stakes environment, she provided critical care to some of the most complex patients, learning to think quickly, stay composed under pressure, and deliver exceptional care in every circumstance.

Her experience extends beyond the hospital setting to include long-term care and home health—giving her a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare continuum. Through these roles, she developed a deep appreciation for the importance of continuity of care and the growing need for compassionate, personalized services as patients transition from hospital to home.

Driven by a passion to fill this gap, Christina founded Boutique Nursing Services, LLC to bring high-quality, customized nursing care directly into the homes of those who need it most. Each care plan is tailored through a detailed medical assessment, ensuring patients receive the attention and support they deserve—right where they’re most comfortable.

At Boutique Nursing Services, our mission is simple: to provide seamless, therapeutic care that promotes healing, enhances quality of life, and supports patients and families as they navigate today’s complex healthcare landscape.

Professional Summary

Highly experienced and versatile registered nurse with over a decade of diverse clinical and leadership experience across acute care, skilled nursing, and legal consulting. Proven ability to rapidly adapt in high-pressure environments as a SWAT nurse in Level I trauma centers. Strong communicator and critical thinker with a demonstrated passion for merging clinical knowledge with legal systems as a certified legal nurse consultant. Adept at identifying risk, ensuring compliance, and improving patient outcomes. Seeking opportunities to leverage expertise at the intersection of medicine and law.

Caregiver assisting elderly woman with medication.

Core Competencies

  • Acute & Critical Care Nursing (SWAT)
  • Legal Nurse Consulting & Case Review
  • Multisite & High Acuity Adaptability
  • Clinical Documentation & Risk Mitigation
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Leadership & Staff Supervision
  • Policy & Compliance Oversight
  • Patient & Family Advocacy

Certifications

  • RN, State of Pennsylvania
  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • CPR Certified
  • Trauma Nurse Certified
  • NIH Stroke Scale Certified
  • SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Certification
  • Medical Surgical Certification (In progress)
Stethoscope on stacked books, wooden table.

Education

  • Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
    Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 2001
    SANE Nurse Certificate, 2018

  • Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA
    Associate of Science in Nursing, 2013

  • Duke University, Durham, NC
    Certificate in Legal Nurse Consulting, 2015

Professional Experience

SWAT RN – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

Pittsburgh, PA
2017 – Present

  • Provide high-acuity, float coverage across multiple UPMC hospitals, including Mercy and Presbyterian, serving units in trauma, med-surg, and telemetry.
  • Adapt to diverse clinical settings with zero onboarding, maintaining continuity of care and compliance across changing protocols.
  • Consistently scored in the top 10% of peer evaluations for clinical adaptability and patient communication.
  • Recognized for ability to stabilize short-staffed units during crisis surges, improving shift coverage efficiency by 30%.

RN Supervisor & Staff Nurse – Cranberry Place/Sherwood Oaks

Cranberry Township, PA
2013 – 2017

  • Oversaw 125+ resident facility during night shifts, managing staff coverage, medication reconciliation, and compliance reporting.
  • Reduced medication error rate by 20% through improved shift report processes and training.
  • Improved onboarding efficiency for new hires by creating a structured mentorship program adopted facility-wide.
  • Liaised with families, physicians, and hospice during patient transfers, deaths, and admissions to ensure all legal and emotional needs were met.

Staff RN – BrightStar Home Health

Pittsburgh, PA
2014 – 2016

  • Delivered home health care and chronic disease management to over 100 patients across the region.
  • Provided wound care, IV therapy, and patient education; reduced hospital readmissions for enrolled clients by 15%.

Legal Nurse Consultant (Independent)

2015 – Present

  • Provide case reviews and medical record analysis for attorneys across Pennsylvania.
  • Identify breach of standards of care, causation, and merit in personal injury and medical malpractice claims.
  • Translate complex clinical data into accessible reports and chronologies for litigation use.
  • Work collaboratively with legal teams to inform discovery and deposition strategies.
Person in scrubs working on laptop.
Doctors discussing with digital interface overlay.

Additional Highlights

  • Fluent in EMR/EHR systems, including Epic and Cerner.
  • Skilled IV placement and blood draws; consistent positive patient feedback.
  • Known for exceptional poise under pressure and seamless interdisciplinary communication.

*References available upon request