Gastroenterology (GI) procedures that once relied on sustained manual abdominal pressure placed nurses at risk for preventable musculoskeletal injuries. For years, long‑standing protocols went unchanged—until frontline expertise sparked meaningful improvement.
Catherine Hernandez, BSN, RN, Staff Nurse III, challenged the assumption that workplace injury was simply an unavoidable part of the job. She questioned why manual positioning techniques persisted when safer alternatives might be possible.
Her simple but powerful inquiry, “There has to be a better way to position our patients without injuring ourselves,” launched a collaborative exploration rather than acceptance of the status quo. Hernandez coordinated team visits to the Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek GI unit, where staff observed the use of a positioning gel dome and documented workflow adjustments that eliminated the need for manual pressure.
The supporting data underscored the urgency for change. From October 2023 to October 2024, nursing staff within Patient Care Services experienced an incident rate of 0.4622 compared to 0.1393 among non‑nursing roles.
What followed was a comprehensive, nurse‑led redesign of procedural workflows. With strong support from Nurse Manager Mark Budz, BSN, RN, and Director Michele Carter-Chamblee, DNP, RN, as well as strategic partnership from CNE Juanita Jularbal-Walton, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, the Voice of Nursing leadership team helped secure resources and guide training development.
A two‑week pilot quickly demonstrated meaningful improvements. Pre‑ and post‑implementation surveys captured increases in staff physical comfort, procedural efficiency, and even cost savings.
Reflecting on the change, Hernandez shared, “The gel dome didn’t just protect our backs. It gave us back time and confidence. We feel safer, and we move smarter.”