KP Santa Rosa has a long-standing tradition of professional governance, with front-line nurses leading meaningful change at both the unit and medical center levels. In 2024, the organization focused on strengthening this structure by ensuring that every department had its own Unit Practice Council (UPC) — giving every nurse a voice in shaping practice and improving care.
By 2025, after a successful year with more than 16 active professional governance councils, the focus shifted to building even stronger, more effective teams. To support this, an educational session was developed and led by Magnet Program Director Gigi Gaytan, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNL, alongside subject matter experts including Chief Nurse Executive Rebecca Taylor-Ford, DNP, RN, NEA-BC; Nursing Professional Development Director Kory McGuire, MSN, RN, CNS, NPD-BC; Clinical Nurse Specialist Teresa Buhagiar, MS, RN, GCNS-BC, CEN, NPD-BC; Director of Program Management and Strategy Execution Michele Fleischaker, BSCE, LSSMBB; and Process Improvement Consultant Abraham Daniels, MHSA, HCD, LSSMBB.
The session covered the foundations of Professional Governance, including the essential criteria for effective councils. Participants explored how organizational goals and data serve as drivers for project development and learned key quality improvement tools and strategies to guide their work. The Daily Management System (DMS) was introduced as a method to sustain progress and alignment across units. In addition, the team reviewed the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and Research framework, ensuring nurses had the tools to integrate best evidence into practice.
More than 100 nurses attended the session, returning to their units equipped with new knowledge to enhance council effectiveness and support successful outcomes. This educational event will now be held annually, with evolving tools and content introduced each year to continue advancing professional governance maturity.
This initiative underscores KP Santa Rosa’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, where engaged nurses lead innovation and drive continuous improvement in patient care.