Who is Nurse Caroline from The Cider House Rules and what is their importance?

Nurse Caroline is a nurse at the local hospital. She helps the women who come in for abortions to have some, but illegal abortions. When Homer sees what she does, he provides the nurse with information about St. Cloud's and Dr. Larch to pass on to the pregnant woman. Nurse Caroline is later employed at St. Cloud's to work for Dr. Larch.