In 2016, Cara received her Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree from the University of Utah College of Nursing. She began her nursing career as a medical/surgical float nurse for the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She remained in this position for almost five years, rotating through 17 unique medical/surgical units within the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Hospital.

While working, Cara returned to the University of Utah College of Nursing to complete her Doctorate of Nursing degree, with a focus on Family Practice. Clinical experiences during the program included primary care, urgent care, student health, dermatology, and LGBTQIA+ health care. She received her DNP in 2020, with a doctoral project: Improving the Provision of Health Care for LGBTQIA+ Patients. Upon graduating during a global pandemic, Cara continued to practice as an inpatient RN, while concomitantly practicing as a Nurse Practitioner for the University of Utah Health’s Community Physicians Group, practicing within University of Utah Urgent Cares. She continues to practice in this setting on a PRN, weekend basis.

In 2021, Cara began her career at the University of Utah College of Nursing in the Practice and Community Collaboration Division, serving as a Nurse Practitioner for the Juvenile Justice & Youth Services contract. Within this role, she provides health care to incarcerated youth in the state of Utah. She has particular interest in sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, as well as human trafficking. In 2022, Cara joined the College of Nursing as faculty, where she splits her time between teaching in the Doctorate of Nursing program, Master's of Nursing Education program, and practicing with Juvenile Justice & Youth Services.