Professional governance continues to drive nursing excellence at KP Santa Rosa. In 2025, the Voice of Nursing Coordinating Council took shape, improving the council’s report-out structure and fostering remarkable interdepartmental and facility-wide collaboration on nursing projects.
With the launch of the inaugural Professional Governance Education Symposium, Unit Practice Councils (UPCs) and Comprehensive Unit Safety Program (CUSP) teams advanced their effectiveness, equipping nurses with the tools and strategies to lead meaningful change.
KP Santa Rosa nurses remain the foundation of excellence, shaping quality patient outcomes, enhancing the care experience, and promoting nursing engagement across the organization.
Voice of Nursing Coordinating Council and Core Council Chair
Lori Tyler, RN, CPAN
Inpatient Pediatrics
Voice of Nursing Core Council:
In 2025, the council led the largest Certified Nurses Day celebration to date- complete with cart rounding, educational giveaways promoting certification, and specialty jackets recognizing newly certified nurses. During Nurses Week, VON Core hosted a week-long celebration featuring tropical treats, a “Paws and Relax” service dog visit, the inaugural DAISY Breakfast, and the fan-favorite “Treat Yourself Tuesday” spa day and with a new succulent event. Continuing its commitment to inspire the next generation of nurses, VON Core also organized the largest Nurse Camp to date, welcoming 51 students from two local high schools. The team looks forward to building on this momentum with even more innovative projects in 2026.
Magnet Ambassador Committee:
The Magnet Ambassadors began the year on a high note, celebrating the official notification call from the ANCC Commission announcing KP Santa Rosa’s first-ever Magnet® designation. This incredible achievement was a testament to the team’s dedication and hard work over the past four years, especially in 2024, following their successful site visit.
Energized by this milestone, the Ambassadors carried the excitement into Nurses Week with a glamorous “Magnet Movie Premiere” celebration, complete with a red carpet, movie-theater popcorn, and the debut of the KP Santa Rosa Legacy Video. They also led the rollout of the S’mores-inspired Nursing Excellence Survey and the “Let’s Grow” Peer Feedback initiative, engaging nurses across the organization.
Throughout the year, the Magnet Ambassadors proudly represented KP Santa Rosa’s journey, sharing insights and best practices with other medical centers across the region. Their year culminated at the 2025 ANCC National Magnet Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where they were celebrated for their accomplishments in front of more than 13,000 nurses from across the world, a once-in-a-lifetime moment honoring the legacy of excellence they helped create.
Evidence-Based Practice and Research Council:
The EBP and Research Council continues to champion evidence-based practice (EBP), research, and education across KP Santa Rosa. In 2025, council members developed a “Journal Club” to support teams in appraising evidence for their projects, providing guidance and mentorship to nurses from every unit in project development and the EBP framework. These resources are invaluable as professional governance teams implement and sustain change through unit-based initiatives.
This year, the council also introduced a project checklist, offering clear expectations and step-by-step guidance for nurses interested in starting a project, ensuring a structured path to success. Their expertise was further highlighted as they supported nurses presenting posters at the 2025 Research and Innovation Academy (RIA) Conference.
Additionally, the EBP and Research Council has been instrumental in driving significant improvements in RDO form completion, helping KP Santa Rosa advance in the dissemination of our impactful work. Through these efforts, the council continues to foster a culture of learning, innovation, and evidence-based excellence.
Unit Practice Councils, CUSP, ED Pillar Committees:
KP Santa Rosa is home to over 16 high-functioning Unit Practice Councils (UPCs), representing every nursing unit in the hospital, Home Health, and our newest addition, the Interventional Radiology Department. These councils form the foundation of our Professional Governance structure, amplifying the voice of the nurse and driving meaningful change across the organization.
In the Emergency Department, three nurse-led “Pillar” councils—People, Quality/Safety, and Efficiency—lead projects that directly impact organizational goals, ensuring frontline insight guides improvement efforts.
Unique to KP Santa Rosa are our Comprehensive Unit Safety Program (CUSP) councils in the ICU, Med-Surg, and Operating Room. These councils focus on department-level quality and safety, delivering measurable outcomes that help keep our patients safe while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.