Kaelee Dingus, BSN, RN
Kaelee Dingus, BSN, RN, is a dedicated critical care nurse, educator, and emerging healthcare leader with a decade of experience in high-acuity clinical environments. Currently serving as an ICU Assistant Nurse Manager and Critical Care Nurse Educator at Trinity Health in Minot, North Dakota, she plays a vital role in supporting one of the region’s only critical care units, providing care to a wide rural population. Kaelee began her nursing career in a step-down unit before stepping into the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she quickly established herself as a skilled and compassionate clinician in both COVID and general adult intensive care settings.
Driven by a passion for education and clinical excellence, Kaelee has made a significant impact in developing and strengthening nursing training programs. She has designed comprehensive onboarding and orientation programs for new ICU nurses, helping both new graduates and experienced clinicians build confidence while understanding the “why” behind critical care practices. Her work also includes developing specialized education for post-operative cardiac surgery patients and collaborating with PACU teams to better prepare nurses transitioning into higher-acuity care. Committed to maintaining her clinical edge, she continues to work bedside shifts, ensuring her leadership and teaching remain grounded in real-world patient care.
Kaelee is also a strong advocate for patient safety and quality improvement, particularly in the area of skin and wound integrity. She founded the SWAT Team (Skin and Wound Assessment Team) at her facility, promoting best practices and increasing awareness around prevention and treatment. Currently pursuing her CCRN and CME certifications, she remains focused on advancing her expertise and is considering further education through a master’s degree in nursing education or a dual MSN/MBA program. Inspired by her mother, an emergency room nurse, Kaelee brings a lifelong commitment to learning, leadership, and compassionate care—continually striving to elevate both patient outcomes and the next generation of nurses.
• Union Adventist University - BSN- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, 2015
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• BSN
• RN
• BLS
• ACLS
• PALS
• TNCC
• NIH
• Working on CCRN
• Working on CME
• Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society - Issued by Nu Rho Chapter · Apr 2015
• National Pressure Injury Panel
• Muscular Dystrophy Association Advocacy
• Skin and Wound Assessment Team (SWAT) Leadership
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Critical Care
- ICU Nursing
- Nurse Education
- Post-Op CABG Care
- Advanced Hemodynamics
- Skin and Wound Integrity
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I have a real passion for teaching and learning new things. I love teaching because things are different than when I graduated nursing school 10 years ago. I'm not the kind of person that says 'this is the way we've always done it, so this is the way we're gonna do it.' It's an ever-evolving learning process, and I try to pass that on. I really like being at the bedside too, and even as an educator and assistant manager, I enjoy taking my own patients. That way I can keep up on my skills, and it gives me perspective because as a manager, you can get out of touch from what the bedside is like. It's nice to work alongside my staff, and I think it helps with staff morale too when they see that I'm out there helping. My philosophy as an educator is, if I'm teaching people how to do it, I should be able to do it on my own as well.