New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Kaiser Permanente Northern California 2024 Annual Nursing Report

Improving patient care experience through SSI prevention

The Perioperative team has been focused on improving patient understanding of caring for their incision site at home and having instructions on recovery. The team created a new “My Procedure Folder” and new waiting room banner with a QR code that provides patients and families opportunity to view videos while waiting, and also sends patients to education videos, preoperative and postoperative phone calls. Thank you to our staff nurse team leaders Theresa Pilja, BSN, RN & Sutheera Tretriluxana, BSN, MBA, RN, CCRN, CEN, VABC and the support provided by Patricia Fordahl, MHA, BSN, RN, Manager of PreOp/PACU.

Removal of Foley Catheters project featured at the 2024 Kaiser Permanente National Research Convention

The nurse-driven protocol for the Removal of Foley Catheters project was featured during the 2024 KP National Research Convention and presented as a podium presentation. Kaiser Permanente Antioch CAUTI Champions were selected to join the Regional Research and Innovation Academy and received the Regional Award for the Most Innovative Abstract Study. The findings were adopted regionally as best practices for prevention of CAUTI. Additionally, CAUTI Champions disseminated their work as a Poster Presenter at the 2024 AMSN Convention in Toronto, Canada.

Pictured above left to right: Jenelyn Endriga, BSN, RN, Maria Kagayutan, BSN, RN; Charo M. Vitug, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC; Mhagsy Celestino,MSN, BSN, RN, CCRN, RNM

Group of nurses outside at a disaster drill

Staff participate in mass casualty drill

The Antioch Medical Center Emergency Department Disaster Response Team (DRT) participated in the June 2024 Contra Costa countywide mass casualty incident exercise. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) participated in the planning of this exercise. The exercise simulated an external chemical exposure incident to test the hospital’s emergency response plan and ability to respond to sudden surges in patients needing emergency care.

Pictured from left to right: Eduardo Reategui, RN; Dr. Lauren Klingman; Megan Ochoa, BSN, RN, CEN; Dr. Sarah Lannum; Alexandria Beltram, ED Technician; Kara Alvarez, RN; Dulcelena Pureco, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN; Sheena Kataria, MSN, RN; Megan Adams, BSN, RN, CEN; Megan Thoresen, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN; Margaret Llanes, BSN, RN; Deborah Weber, BSN, RN, CEN; Anthony Montano, BSN, RN, CEN

Mental Health Scholars Academy awarded R.J. Erickson Award

The Mental Health Scholars Academy is a $30 million project to train new mental health professionals in California. The academy offers tuition support, mentoring, and networking to KP employees who want to become therapists, counselors, or social workers.

Each year, the R.J. Erickson Award recognizes people and groups who have made big contributions to equity, inclusion, and diversity at Kaiser Permanente.

The Mental Health Scholars Academy team was honored for expanding the mental health care workforce. The team’s efforts mean more people can get mental health services.

The Mental Health Scholars Academy team, pictured above left to right, honored with the award includes Zainab Haque, Lauren Sevey, Jim D’Alfonso, Dan Gizzo, Aagam Shah, Lisa Arieta Hayes, Betty Lim.

The academy also aims to increase the diversity among Kaiser Permanente mental health therapists with master’s and doctorate degrees. One way the team did this was by creating a fairer application process. The new process uses an objective scoring system and reviewers were also trained to avoid bias.

The team also encourages people who are bilingual and have diverse backgrounds to apply. Currently, 76% of students in the Mental Health Scholars Academy are people of color, and 40% are bilingual.

In addition to tuition support, mentoring, and networking, the MHSA program includes training and continuing education. The program can also be used in other fields with worker shortages.

Bridget Williams, SF Chief Nurse Executive with a group of nurses.

San Francisco 2024 posters and publications

KP National Nursing Conference posters

“External urinary catheter device: A multisite project involving point prevalence”, Alexandra Fogli, MS, RN, CNS-BC; Teresa Buhagiar, RN, MS, GCNS-BC, ACHPN, CEN, NPD-BC, Mary K Salas, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC; Krystal Pombo, MSN, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC; Christa Perryman, MS, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC; Shavinderpal Sanga, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN; Annette Tuatagaloa, MSN, RN, CNS; Colette Jappy, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG

“Enhancement of Stroke Patient Education at a Primary Stroke Center”, Lawrence Yee , BSN, RN, Kelley Kruze, BSN, RN, PHN, CPHQ

“San Francisco Kaiser C-Section SSI Reduction Performance Improvement Project”, Primary Author, Co-lead: Paula Doran Shelley, RN MBA Infection Prevention Manager, Col-leads: Maya Denny, BSN, RN L&D Nurse Manager; Marva Charles, MSN RN Post Partum Nurse Manager; Keith Hering CRNA; Rachel Racker, CRNA, Staff Nurse Champions: Cheri Sabella, RN; Yolanda Castaneda-Futol, RN; Katherine Zweber, RN; Bernadette Farrell, RN; Brooklynn Aiello, RN; JoAnn Johnson RN Champions and Sponsor: Brenda L. Jones, DHSc, MSN, CPPS, RN, Clinical Director of Women and Children; Celeste Prothro RN, MPH, CIC, CPPS, CPHQ Director of Risk, Patient Safety, AR&L and Infection Prevention; Bridget Williams, CNE, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Caitlin Cannon, MSN, PHN, CCRN, AC-CNS-P, CNS-BC

Research and Innovation Academy Conference posters

“Kaiser Permanente Peer Review Outcomes Supporting Professional Nursing Excellence and Readiness (KP-PROSPER): San Francisco Focus”. Colette Jappy, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG, , Kathryn Kennedy MSN, RN, NPD-BC, NE-BC

California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists poster

“Perspectives Across a Health System: The Role of Clinical Nurse Specialists in Implementing and Sustaining a Delirium Prevention and Early Intervention Program”. Colette Jappy, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG

American Heart Association International Stroke Conference poster

“Quality Improvement for Improved Ischemic Stroke Large Vessel Occlusion Door-In-Door-Out Times at an Urban Primary Stroke Center Integrated Health System” . Kelley Kruze, BSN, RN, PHN, CPHQ; Patricia Zrelak, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNRN, SCRN, ASC-BC, CCRN, PHN, FAHA, Dr. John Beleman

Publication

External urinary catheter devices: A multisite project involving point prevalence, Geriatric Nursing, Alexandra Fogli, MS, RN, CNS-BC; Teresa Buhagiar, RN, MS, GCNS-BC, ACHPN, CEN, NPD-BC, Mary K Salas, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC; Krystal Pombo, MSN, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC; Christa Perryman, MS, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC; Shavinderpal Sanga, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN; Annette Tuatagaloa, MSN, RN, CNS; Colette Jappy, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG

Mentee: Christian Justin Carreon / Mentor: Sarah Abdolcader

Supporting the future of nursing

Pictured: Christian Justin Carreon, mentee (left) and mentor Sarah Abdolcader.

Mentoring is a hallmark of professional practice and transformational leadership that inspires, empowers, and develops leaders at all levels of nursing. Several nurse leaders supported the future of nursing by serving as a mentor to nurses new to their practice.

“I’m very grateful for the mentorship program through the Middle Management Institute with Sarah Abdolcader. Over the past few months, her insights and advice have helped me navigate through challenging situations while gaining a deeper understanding of my role as a nurse leader. Our regular conversations provided a structured space for problem-solving, allowing me to develop new perspectives on leadership situations. I’ve been able to reflect on our conversations and explore ways to apply these insights in the future. Sarah’s mentorship helped me translate theoretical knowledge into practical leadership strategies.”

“I would strongly recommend this program to other nurse leaders seeking personalized guidance from experienced health care leaders who understand the unique demands of nursing leadership. The skills and insights gained through this mentorship will continue to influence my leadership approach well into the future, an invaluable investment in professional development.”

—Christian Justin Carreon

Utilizing gamification to enhance staff satisfaction and engagement in learning

The Nursing Professional Development Specialist team (NPDS) created a new and innovative approach to mandatory annual education this year using an interactive learning approach called gamification. Each station had a different educational topic with a game theme such as Jeopardy and Family Feud. Creating a fun and engaging learning environment fostered friendly competition and allowed teamwork among participants. The positive responses to this enhanced learning platform were significant, with 90% of attendees rating Excellent and the other 10% rating as Good.

2 Nurses in front of a poster at a conference.

Sharing Healthy Workforce at the 46th Annual Association of California Nurse Leaders Conference 

Kaiser Permanente Fresno Critical Care Unit joined the Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI) more than five years ago to address negative behaviors that were impacting the team culture in the department. Due to the success of this program, HWI is being spread to departments throughout Patient Care Services.

The CCU Healthy Workforce – Everyday Respect project was highlighted at the 46th Annual Association of California Nurse Leaders conference earlier this year. Nursing Operations Director Bridgette Wilson, MSN, RN, and Staff Nurse III Kristen Watkins, ASN, RN presented the team’s findings and recommendations.

Nursing research studies

Two of KP Fresno’s geriatric-certified nurse’s recently had the opportunity to present at the National American Delirium Conference in Sacramento in June. Clinical Nurse Specialist Krystal Pombo, MSN, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, Adult Services, and Staff Nurse III Danny Nguyen, RN, BS, Gero-BC, Telemetry, shared findings from an evidence-based performance improvement project focused on cognitive health.

“The project involved a sleep assessment of patients upon admission or each morning,” Nguyen said. “The nurses ask about their sleep, whether they got a lot, some or little. If the patient had poor sleep, there is a sleep menu the Geriatric Committee revamped that includes offering a lavender towel, eye mask, ear plugs, dimmer lights, or medication like melatonin. Lack of sleep plays a big role in delirium.”

Nguyen said that if a patient reports severe sleep deprivation, the team works with physicians to determine what else they can do to help improve sleep outcomes. Sleep deprivation can be a factor that contributes to delirium which can cause medical complications or a worsening of symptoms.

The sleep assessment project has been implemented in Med-Surg, Telemetry and Critical Care Unit.

Since this project was implemented, Pombo said patient sleep assessment completion increased from 35.3% to 95.7%. The patient-reported sleep quality improved from 76.6% to 86%.

“This work aligns with facility initiatives specific to the Senior Surgical Care Program as well as our recent recognition as a level 2 Age-Friendly Health System,” Pombo said.

For Nguyen, he was proud to represent KP Fresno and the Geriatric Committee’s work at the conference.

“It was an amazing experience and gave me a bigger picture about why we need to do the research and quality improvements in these areas to advocate for our patients,” Nguyen said. “Becoming a certified geriatric nurse gave me the opportunity to learn about our older population. This education gives me a better insight into providing individualized care, and about the age-related disease process. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn, grow and expand my knowledge. I wanted to give back to the elders who once took care of us.”

Completed 2024 studies

Sleep Assessment
Purewick (regional CNS project)
Ultrasound-Guided IV Training

Studies in progress

Geriatric Escape Room
Improving Registered Nurse National Certification at KP-Fresno
Gamification to Enhance Staff Satisfaction
Secure-A- Cath
Geriatric Symposium
Geriatric Care Cart
CCU -Competencies-Various Teaching Strategies
End Tidal CO2 in PACU

Strategic growth and excellence in pediatric care: Ensuring leadership in the Central Valley

To secure market leadership and provide comprehensive care for an anticipated 545,000+ members by 2034, the Central Valley Area (CVA) must invest strategically in primary, specialty, and acute care services. Focused growth in the southeast quadrant of Northern California will address health care and geographical disparities, ensuring equitable access to high-quality care.

The Central Valley Area is Kaiser Permanente’s largest planned service area by 2033, and the strategy aims to deliver exceptional care through clinical excellence, a strong organizational culture, and an engaged workforce. Modesto, with the second-largest patient population, requires a consistent continuum of care to retain members, particularly mothers, whose decisions significantly influence family health care choices.

Recent pediatric satisfaction trends are promising, with October results showing an 85.7% “Top Box” recommendation rate, the highest in the region. This success reflects a commitment to excellence and prioritizing patient and family care. Leadership rounding from Monday to Friday has played a key role in improving survey distribution and completion rates.

To enhance care experiences, key initiatives include:

Hardcopy Surveys: Recognizing not all families have online access, hardcopy surveys provided before discharge have been effective in capturing feedback. These are easily accessible to staff and can be returned via the Unit Assistant desk or mailed home.
Focused Leadership Rounding: Direct engagement between leadership and families ensures experiences align with care standards, reinforcing trust and supporting continuous improvement.

Looking ahead, maintaining this momentum is crucial for sustaining leadership in pediatric care. Ensuring consistently positive experiences throughout the care continuum will strengthen member loyalty and uphold Kaiser Permanente’s reputation for clinical excellence. With strategic investments and a focus on patient satisfaction, the Central Valley Area will remain a trusted health care partner for Northern California families.

Northern California medical centers

New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvements