The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Nurse Leader Mentoring Program is designed for clinical nurses, assistant nurse managers, and nurse managers who are interested in developing leadership skills, improve confidence, and create meaningful relationships with other nursing leaders. The mentors are assistant nurse managers, nurse managers, directors, and chief nursing officers who are eager to share their passion for nurse leadership.
“I had the privilege of participating as a mentee in the Nurse Mentor/Mentee Transformational Leadership Program. During my journey, I was paired with Abigail Abala, MSN, RN, CNOR, Perioperative Services Manager for Fremont. This proved to be an amazing collaboration. Being a seasoned nurse leader, Abigail helped me refine my identified roles, and provided a safe space to ask questions, allocate resources for projects and reflect and explore strategies to improve our unit.
One of the most impactful aspects of the mentorship was the focus on leadership development. Abigail assisted me while I held the Unit Chair position for the Magnet Committee. With her experience, insight and encouragement, she helped me navigate various aspects of my role with increased confidence and clarity. In our regular meetings, she provided a safe space to ask questions, reflect on challenges, and explore ways to be a better leader for my Perioperative, GI and IR unit teams. With her guidance, I was able to coordinate a team composed of Perioperative, GI, ASD and IR nurses in several projects and initiatives.
This experience strengthened my project management skills and deepened my understanding of collaborative leadership. This is in direct alignment with Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to transformational leadership because the Nurse Mentor/Mentee Program serves as a vital platform to develop nurse leaders through meaningful connections and professional guidance.”
—Rebecca Christman, RN
“I began mentoring Rebecca as she stepped into her leadership journey. From the beginning, it was clear that she was driven, full of potential, and eager to grow. Like many emerging leaders, she was still finding her unique voice and leadership style.
From our first session, we focused on self-awareness and intentional growth. We explored her strengths, values, and areas for development. I encouraged her to lean into her authenticity, transparency, trust her instincts, and embrace the discomfort that often comes with leadership growth.
Week by week, Rebecca began to shift, asking deeper questions, making more confident decisions, and leading with greater clarity. One moment that stood out was when she facilitated a challenging team conversation. She applied techniques we had discussed, and the outcome was not only productive but earned her genuine respect from her peers.
This mentorship journey has been built on honest dialogue, mutual trust, and consistent reflection. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about growing together, being curious, and showing up with purpose.”
—Abigail Abala, MSN, RN, CNOR