In September 2025, the Perioperative Pre Op and PACU (PPACU) team from Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara achieved a significant milestone in global nursing leadership. Nurse Manager Judy Moreno, MSN, RN, CPAN, RN-BC, CHWL, along with nurse leaders Azra Kelecija, MSN, RN, CPAN, Zelda Bond, BSN, RN, CPAN, and Narpinder Kaur, BSN, RN, and clinical nurses Julita Perea, BSN, RN, Joy Lin, BSN, RN, Sara Gampon, BSN, RN, and Clavel Dabandan, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, presented their groundbreaking “Moving the Needle” project at the International Collaboration of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses (ICPAN) conference in Dublin, Ireland.
This international nursing conference provided a global platform for the team to share their work on increasing access to routine vaccinations for pediatric and adult patients with developmental differences during surgical and procedural care— aimed at reducing stress and anxiety associated with vaccination and creating a more positive care experience. This marked a significant milestone in the global dissemination of nurse-led work focused on improving access to routine vaccines promoting preventative care among vulnerable populations.
The presentation highlighted how Santa Clara nurses designed and implemented a caring workflow that integrates routine vaccinations into perioperative care. By offering vaccines while patients are under anesthesia for scheduled procedures, the team successfully reduced barriers such as fear, pain, and medical trauma — factors that often prevent individuals from receiving preventive care. The Ireland conference provided a platform for Santa Clara nurses to share their experience with international colleagues, emphasizing the role of nursing leadership in driving health equity. Their work demonstrated how perioperative teams can leverage existing clinical encounters to deliver socially sensitive care, particularly for populations historically underserved in preventive health services.
The dissemination of this model internationally reflects the growing recognition of nurses as innovators and advocates for inclusive, patient center care. By engaging in meaningful dialogue with global healthcare professionals, the Santa Clara team exchanged strategies and inspiring future collaborations aimed at improving access to routine care across diverse settings.
Through the international presentation of Moving the Needle, Santa Clara nurses demonstrated their unwavering commitment to equity and excellence, contributing to the advancement of perioperative nursing practice worldwide.