Coordinating Council
The Coordinating Council plays a central role in guiding and supporting all aspects of professional governance at Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center. Under the leadership of Chair Kevin Kempter, BSN, RN, the council ensures strong alignment, communication, and coordination across all core councils while fostering a shared commitment to nursing excellence. The council also successfully facilitated all Nurse Week activities, creating meaningful opportunities to honor and recognize the outstanding contributions of Richmond nurses.
The council is supported by experienced executive advisors who provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and oversight. Chief Nurse Executive Pavna Sloan, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Magnet Director Anjal Pong, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CNOR, and Magnet Director Yannique Mack, MBA, BSN, RN continue to serve as invaluable advisors to the Coordinating Council, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, Magnet standards, and professional governance principles.
In 2025, council nurses expanded their knowledge and leadership skills through a dedicated learning session with Tim Porter O’Grady, a nationally recognized expert in shared governance. This opportunity deepened members’ understanding of professional governance structures and strengthened their ability to lead change within the organization.
A major accomplishment for the year was the development and ratification of the Coordinating Council Charter, an essential document that formalizes council responsibilities, decision-making processes, and alignment with the Magnet framework. In collaboration with the Magnet Directors, Regional Professional Practice teams, and East Bay nursing leaders, the council also played an important role in Richmond’s successful submission of the Magnet application, a significant milestone that reflects our organization’s commitment to excellence.
Quiet at Night Committee Work
In May 2025, Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center launched the Quiet at Night (QAN) Committee to enhance the nighttime healing environment across all inpatient units. Co-chaired by Chris Montgomery, MSN, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, and Kareen Turner, Area Experience Leader, the committee focuses on reducing noise, supporting uninterrupted rest, and improving the overall patient experience.
Guided by evidence-based practices and direct patient feedback, the committee began by implementing foundational strategies to reduce environmental and conversational noise. Early efforts included increasing staff awareness around voice levels at nursing stations, promoting quieter transitions during shift changes, encouraging patients to close doors during periods of high activity, and consistently providing earplugs and eye masks. These targeted interventions generated a significant early impact, with HCAHPS Quiet at Night scores rising from 21.4 in May to 43.5 in July.
Building on this momentum, the committee is now advancing a broader set of initiatives to sustain and elevate improvements. Upcoming efforts include adopting a formal Quiet Hours policy, incorporating sound-reducing equipment, and exploring the use of white noise machines to further promote better sleep. These initiatives reflect the organization’s commitment to creating a calmer, more restorative nighttime environment and ensuring that patient comfort remains at the forefront of care.
Patient Advisory Council
Co-chaired by Tia B. Newell, MSN, RN, NEA-BC and Kareen Turner, MPH, RD
The Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center Patient Advisory Council continues to play an essential role in strengthening the quality, safety, access, and overall experience of care. As a collaborative forum that brings together patients, families, caregivers, staff, and senior leaders, the Council ensures that patient and family perspectives are integrated into decision-making at every level. This partnership reflects Kaiser Permanente’s mission to advance the health of our members and communities while elevating compassionate, patient-centered care.
In 2025, the Council underwent a strategic reorganization following leadership transitions. This work included refining its charter, clarifying membership roles, and establishing focused priorities for 2026. One of the Council’s key contributions this year involved reviewing the communication sent to families after the loss of a loved one. Previously presented as a clinical letter outlining next steps, communication lacked the warmth needed during moments of grief. The Council recommended transforming it into a compassionate, easy-to-understand brochure paired with a condolence card ensuring families receive support that is both informative and empathetic.
The Council also helped resolve a long-standing volunteer onboarding challenge, improving accessibility for patient and family advisors and strengthening engagement across the medical center. These accomplishments highlight the invaluable impact of partnership and the continued commitment to delivering care that honors the voices and experiences of those we serve.
Culture Closet Committee: Promoting Culturally Responsive Care
In 2025, Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center launched the Culture Closet, a nurse-led initiative designed to address the cultural and spiritual needs of patients who may lack access to personal items reflecting their identities. Recognizing a gap in culturally responsive care, Nurse Administrators and the Care Experience Leader collaborated with nursing staff, patient advisors, and support services to create a dedicated space offering culturally specific items such as Bibles, Qurans, prayer cloths, Rosaries, and personal care products.
The initiative began with demographic analysis and staff and patient input to identify the most meaningful items. Implementation included staff education and integration into clinical workflows, ensuring patients could access these resources easily. Nursing leadership, including Assistant Chief Nurse Executive Tia B. Newell, MSN, RN and Care Experience Director Kareen Turner MPH, RD, along with Shemaiah Segbefia, BSN, RN championed the initiative, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, workflow integration, and ongoing evaluation.
Aligned with the hospital’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategic plan, the Culture Closet advances diversity, promotes equitable access to care, and fosters inclusion. Early outcomes demonstrate enhanced patient experience, increased cultural awareness among staff, and improved care compliance for example, providing culturally appropriate hair care products enabled a patient to complete a discharge assessment successfully.
The Culture Closet exemplifies how nurse-led, culturally informed initiatives can bridge gaps in care, support patient dignity, and strengthen the organization’s commitment to person-centered, equitable healthcare.
Nursing Professional Development Core Council
The Nursing Professional Development Core Council maintained a strong focus this year on supporting nurses in achieving specialty certifications and advancing through the clinical ladder. Under the leadership of Chair Jovie Jabla, MSN, RN, CCRN, VA-BC, Staff Nurse IV, the council played a significant role in Richmond’s ongoing journey toward Magnet designation. One of the council’s primary goals for the year was to increase nursing specialty certifications by 1%, a target aligned with Magnet standards and Richmond’s commitment to professional excellence.
To promote certification readiness, the council implemented a series of information fairs, helping increase staff awareness about certification opportunities and the resources available to support them. These events highlighted financial support, review courses, and organizational programs that help nurses prepare for and obtain certification, leading to increased interest and participation among staff.
During both National Certified Nurses Day and Nurses Week, council members hosted informational tables to encourage specialty certification across all units. Nurses interested in pursuing certification received tailored guidance, including exam information, study materials, review course options, and details about tuition reimbursement.
To support sustained engagement, the council introduced several key interventions, including monthly follow-up sessions to promote accountability and provide ongoing mentorship, resources, and encouragement. A certification and clinical ladder roadmap were also created, offering nurses a clear, step-by-step guide with timelines to help them progress toward their professional goals. These efforts collectively strengthen Richmond’s culture of professional development and ensure that nurses have the support they need to continue growing in their careers.