Walnut Creek Medical Center
A message from Dawn Wilkie, DNP, MSN, RN
Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice
Nursing is a profession that epitomizes dedication, compassion, and a relentless commitment to patient care. The Magnet journey is a testament to our organization’s commitment to nursing excellence and patient care. It reflects our dedication to creating an environment where nurses can thrive and provide the highest quality of care.
As we progress on the Magnet journey, it is essential to celebrate the achievements and milestones along the way. This year, we utilized evidence-based practices and improved our delirium protocols and adolescent asthmatics care in the emergency department. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to professionalism, compassion, teamwork, patient and family-centric care, excellence, and integrity.
We are proud of the progress we have made on the Magnet journey. Your dedication and passion for nursing are the driving forces behind our success.
“Experiencing a heart attack at the age of 52 was incredibly frightening for me, but from day one to my discharge on day four, the support and compassion shown by your entire team were nothing short of amazing. I would like to extend a special thank you to my nurse practitioner from the cath lab, as well as to my nurse who cared for me throughout my stay. Their dedication made me feel like I was family, and their comfort during such a challenging time was invaluable.”
— Kaiser Permanente employee and member
About Walnut Creek Medical Center
We are recognized as a top hospital in our community and honored for quality, patient safety and advanced medical care by industry and media organizations.
2024 By the Numbers
1188
Registered nurses
137
Nurses hired
20
Nurse residents hired
9.8%
Average turnover
14%
Board certified nurses
17%
Associate’s degree/diploma in nursing
71%
Bachelor’s degree in nursing
11%
Master’s degree in nursing
1%
Doctorate degree in nursing
1
Conference posters & presentations
10
Evidence-Based Practice graduates
Transformational Leadership
Fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability to evolve the way we provide care.
Celebrating our Walnut Creek nurses
Through our awards programs, we recognize nurses and care partners who exemplify excellence and provide high-quality, compassionate care to our members and patients.
An innovative approach to communication using Vocera instruction for Mother-Baby Unit patients
A recent technological upgrade impacted critical nursing workflow and responding to our patient’s needs. This new change inspired our nursing team to design and trial new workflows to communicate with our patients using new technology.
The gift of gratitude through the lens of team recognition
Recognition has a lasting impact on morale. In response to this, we introduced the Gratitude Tree initiative as a heartfelt effort to bring positivity and support back into our work environment.
Structural Empowerment
Empowering nurses to actively contribute their ideas and suggestions to help achieve organizational goals and enhance health outcomes effectively.
Improving emergency department room readiness using process improvement and technology
By working together and improving our processes, we're providing a better experience for our patients.
In-patient discharge board checklist: “A road to speedy recovery” on 3 South A
Nurses at the Walnut Creek Medical Center noticed that some of our patients were experiencing longer hospital stays than they'd like, and the team wanted to use innovation to work on getting our patients back home quickly.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Utilizing evidence to deliver care that aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s mission and vision, and our nursing Professional Practice Model.
Redesigning communication boards: A nurse led intervention
In 2024, we discovered something exciting. Our patient population had grown to include a much wider variety of medical conditions. This presented an incredible opportunity for our unit to embrace innovation while staying true to evidence-based practice (EBP).
Introducing a wellness room designed by frontline staff using evidenced based practice: Caritas Zen Room
By promoting self-care and emotional balance, the Caritas Zen Room aims to improve staff morale, foster stronger team relationships, and ultimately enhance the quality of patient care.
New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements
Continually evolving to advance patient care rooted in evidenced-based practice, research, and innovation.
Distraction techniques in the pediatric population
Imagine a world where getting a shot or an IV wasn't such a scary experience for our little patients. We noticed that many children felt anxious, upset, and even experienced more pain during these procedures.
Empirical Quality Outcomes
Demonstrating the impact Kaiser Permanente nurses are making in the lives of our members, patients, and communities we serve.
A tiny life, a critical task: Improving newborn screening compliance in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Every tiny newborn arrives brimming with hope and endless possibilities. One of the most important things we do to protect their future is the Newborn Screen (NBS) blood test. It's a simple prick, but it can uncover important information that helps keep babies healthy.
In-patient discharge board checklist: “A road to speedy recovery” on 3 South A
Nurses at the Walnut Creek Medical Center noticed that some of our patients were experiencing longer hospital stays than they'd like, and the team wanted to use innovation to work on getting our patients back home quickly.