Walnut Creek Medical Center
Extraordinary nursing care.
Every patient. Every time.
We are recognized as a top hospital in our community and honored for quality, patient safety and advanced medical care by industry and media organizations.
A message from
Our Diablo Service Area nurses have raised the bar for quality care and patient safety through their daily dedication to our diverse community. In 2025, we emphasized professional growth by implementing targeted programs like the TPMG RN Leadership Academy and Nurse Practitioner Peer Education Day, along with advanced safety initiatives.
We celebrated more staff nurse 3/4 and nurse practitioner 3 award winners, and many nurses advanced from staff nurse 3 to staff nurse 4 through collaborative mentorship and new support tools. Numerous nurses and nurse leaders also achieved significant academic milestones, strengthening our profession.
Quality and safety remained priorities, with updates to protocols and guidelines led by the Nursing Quality Forum. Emergency Department nurses successfully completed a quality improvement project aimed at reducing workplace stress through meditation and stretching exercises.
In 2026, we will build upon these achievements by aiming for further progress in research, evidence-based practices, and ongoing professional development, supported by Magnet Nursing Governance Councils to maintain high standards of excellence.
KP NCAL Magnet Dashboard
Transformational Leadership
Fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability to evolve the way we provide care.
The dream schedule: A NICU’s collaborative scheduling transformation
In a meaningful shift toward more inclusive and responsive leadership, NICU leaders partnered with staff to reimagine scheduling.
From mentor to partner: Succession planning, growth, and development
From ED partners to executive leaders: Greg Dyer and Adrienne Cathey exemplify the power of strategic mentorship and succession.
Empowering growth: A transformational pathway from MedSurg to PACU
From MedSurg to PACU: How we solved shortages and empowered nurses with one innovative program.
From shiftwork to shared plates: A recipe for stronger teams and better connection
3 South B's summer BBQ took collaboration beyond the bedside, fostering connection and growth—personally and professionally.
A culture transformed: creating a more cohesive team
Establishing a more cohesive team resulted in significant changes beyond metrics improvement
Teamwork defined together
What began as a simple question— “What does teamwork look like to you?”—quickly became a catalyst for transformation.
Celebrating our Walnut Creek Medical Center nurses
Through our awards programs, we recognize nurses and care partners who exemplify excellence and provide high-quality, compassionate care to our members and patients.
Structural Empowerment
Empowering nurses to actively contribute their ideas and suggestions to help achieve organizational goals and enhance health outcomes effectively.
Walnut Creek Medical Center nurses soar to new heights in their practice
Kaiser Permanente nurses demonstrated their commitment to creating and sustaining a culture of excellence by advancing their professional practice through earning advanced degrees, moving to the next level of the clinical ladder, obtaining national board certification, and graduating from the nurse residency program.
Nursing professional governance at Walnut Creek Medical Center
Unit Practice Chairs Core Council provides EBP, QI, PI tools and techniques to chairs and co-chairs.
Supporting the future of Walnut Creek Medical Center nursing
Mentoring is a hallmark of professional practice and transformational leadership that inspires, empowers, and develops leaders at all levels of nursing. Several nurse leaders supported the future of nursing by serving as a mentor to nurses new to their practice.
From locked rooms to stronger teams: Nurses take on team building challenge
The Maternal Child Health division got together to do some problem solving and fun collaboration at The Red Door Escape Room locally.
Interventional Radiology Services: A race to excellence
Frontline nurses partnered with nursing leadership to design and implement changes that significantly improved patient outcomes.
Building team spirit: Communication boards in the breakrooms
1 North boosted engagement by adding "Get to Know You" and Birthday boards to the breakroom.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Utilizing evidence to deliver care that aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s mission and vision, and our nursing Professional Practice Model.
Celebrating people, inspiring positivity
We honored PCCs with a Gratitude Tree, Spotlight Board, and birthday decor to make them feel truly seen.
From silence to success: How one team amplified the nursing voice
Nursing led strategic leadership revitalized RN engagement, achieving the region's highest survey participation.
Patient care board: Working towards home
Care team and family communication are imperative to building relationships with parents and improving patient outcomes.
![(From left back row) Hena Jamili, BSN,RN, Amanda Dao, MSN, RN, Clarice Valmores, BSN, RN, Amber Zhang, MSN,RN. (From left front row) Marisol Aragon, BSN, RN and Maria Sanchez, BSN, RN]](https://nursingncal.kaiserpermanente.org/annual-report-2025/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/wcr_EPP_3C-center-top-1200x800.jpg)
Putting our HEART in every Interaction, a tool to improve patient engagement and experience
How patients’ response to our communication methods can become a key indicator for Improved Nursing Outcomes and Patient Experience.
The comfort care cart: Where comfort and honor unite
Every ending deserves a tribute. Our cart brings comfort; our words bring honor.
Creating a sky full of rainbows: Welcoming our newest arrivals
Our nursing team celebrates each new baby’s arrival by creating colorful rainbows with each newborn’s name placed on a cloud for their birth
Unleashing our superpower: Using evidence-based practice to fight infections
By changing pre-surgery skin cleaning, our nursing team stopped infections, improved safety, and beat our goals!
From chaos to clarity: How a simple shift in planning improved patient discharges
Just a year ago, our hospital was facing a significant challenge: only about 20% of our patients were able to be discharged by 1 p.m.
New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements
Continually evolving to advance patient care rooted in evidenced-based practice, research, and innovation.
Empowering families: Transforming diabetes education for better outcomes
The new Diabetes folder and instructional resources are designed to empower patients and caregivers with clear actionable information to man
The power of hello: Using pre-op calls and videos to transform patient care
A call and a video—simple tools that bring clarity, comfort, and connection to every patient’s journey.
Safe storage, safer care: Enhancing Medication Safety & Reducing Infection with Lock Box Initiative
Safe Storage, Safer Care: Lock boxes protect medications, cut infection risks, and boosts safety for patients and caregivers alike.
Upgraded hemorrhage carts optimizing emergency hemorrhage care for postpartum patients
New MCH hemorrhage carts improve efficiency. Bedside supplies and meds eliminate trips, reducing delays in emergency care.
6S: small steps, big impact in ambulatory surgery department storage room
Dublin ASU nurses lead a 6S overhaul to fix storage issues, boost safety, and improve care amid rising patient volumes.
Empirical Quality Outcomes
Demonstrating the impact Kaiser Permanente nurses are making in the lives of our members, patients, and communities we serve.
The journey home: Our story
Our goal was to help patients travel on the continuum from admission to discharge.
Quiet nights, stronger mornings: Enhancing patient recovery
Our 3 North Team has launched an initiative focused on enhancing sleep quality to support a more positive patient experience.