A small team of frontline nurses and nurse leaders, led by Ericson “Alvin” Fernando, MSN, RN, CNL, and Christina Martin, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, visited sister hospital Kaiser Permanente Roseville to learn best practices when implementing Z beds due to high census within the hospital. By learning processes from Roseville colleagues, nurses also gained a sense of improved comfort that other hospitals were implementing.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the demand for cardiovascular services has surged, creating a backlog of patients awaiting surgeries in our Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR). This increase underscores the crucial need for timely access to medical care for this patient population.
In response, healthcare professionals at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara (KP SCL) launched the CV Surgical Access project. By adding a cardiovascular operating room every Tuesday for 12 months and creating flexible capacity in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) with 1-4 beds for lower acuity Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) patients, they aimed to improve access and reduce the backlog.
Their meticulous planning involved procuring necessary equipment, cross-training MICU nurses for postoperative care, and conducting case simulations. These efforts ensured that all details were accounted for and potential risks were resolved before the project launch.
On July 9, 2024, the team celebrated a significant milestone with the successful launch of a third CV operating room. This achievement reflects our collective dedication and hard work, instilling a sense of accomplishment and optimism for the future, as we continue to improve access to cardiovascular care for our patients.
Santa Clara Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) clinical nurses have taken extraordinary nursing care to help benefit brain growth and development.
NICU newborns are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental delays. In alignment with our mission to support our communities and promote a safe environment, NICU clinical nurses have determined the need to participate in a yearly Read-a-thon program initiative to promote healthy brain development through reading. Santa Clara Chief Nurse Executive Stacy Alves, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, describes the NICU team as shining examples of what makes Kaiser Permanente great. “They have taken the empirical evidence around developmental needs of pre-term babies in the intensive care setting, integrated that with our nursing theory of Caring Science to create a reading program that meets the holistic needs of our babies and their families.”
Reading to the babies has received praise from parents, with one baby born at 23 weeks sharing, “I loved the reading program. It was great for bonding and a great tool to build familiarity with my voice for my daughter. We continue to read to her.”
The Santa Clara team presented their reading program at the National Association of Neonatal Nurses conference to spread this best practice beyond the walls of our organization, and their participation in the read-a-thon has been featured on the local news.
In a proactive effort to enhance disaster preparedness, a collaborative team from Kaiser Vallejo’s Emergency Department (ED) identified critical gaps in readiness for mass casualty incidents (MCIs). The group, including Joey Driscoll, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager; Marly Luna, BSN, RN, Staff Nurse III; Krishna Chandra, ER Tech; and Leslee Curtola, Equipment Tech, initiated a project to build specialized disaster carts to ensure efficient triage and treatment during emergencies.
The project involved creating three zone-specific carts—Green (minor injuries), Yellow (stable but requiring timely care), and Red (critical patients needing immediate intervention)—alongside a triage disaster cart for immediate deployment. Each cart was designed to address the unique needs of patients based on acuity, streamlining care and optimizing the use of resources. The team collaborated with the disaster committee to finalize designs, secure approval, and determine optimal storage locations near the ED for quick accessibility.
Building the carts was a hands-on, meticulous process. Leslee procured the necessary components, and the team measured and organized shelves to accommodate specific supplies for each zone. The anteroom chosen for storage required significant decluttering, a task undertaken by the team to ensure readiness. Assembly of each cart took an average of eight hours, with careful attention to detail in stocking and organizing supplies.
The disaster carts are now fully assembled and ready for use, providing a robust system for MCI response. This nurse-led initiative highlights the critical role of collaboration in addressing gaps and improving emergency preparedness. The team’s efforts ensure that the ED is well-equipped to respond efficiently and effectively to crises, safeguarding the community and enhancing patient outcomes during MCIs.
In December 2023, Dr. Anita Catlin was funded by SAMHSA, the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to offer mental health training to all persons working for or associated with Kaiser Permanente Vacaville and Vallejo Medical Centers. The grant is over a 4-year period and awarded $490,000 to train nurses and others to recognize mental health needs in those around us.
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) method, originating in Australia, teaches participants to recognize, respond, listen, and refer as needed to a person who is suffering a mental health crisis. The goal of this national training is to place MHFA training at the same level as CPR in our country. Presently 65% of USA residents have taken a CPR class and could recognize and respond to a cardiac need.
Only 1% so far have taken MHFA training, but the goal is to have everyone working in our two hospitals be able to respond to a colleague, patient, patient’s family member, or our own families when we see a mental health need arise. To date 400 people have undergone the training.
In 2025, Travis Air Force nurses and personnel will be added to the invited trainees. Dr. Catlin is hoping to work closely with nurses and security guards, so that prevention and early intervention are offered to patients prior to escalation. All (housekeeping, therapists, educators, office personnel, volunteers, students, nurses, physicians, etc.) are invited to the classes which will begin again in April 2025.
We are committed to enhancing community safety through a comprehensive approach that includes education, advocacy, and collaboration with local organizations. Our programs focus on a wide range of issues, from preventing falls among seniors to promoting safe driving practices among teenagers. We believe that by working together, we can create a safer environment for all residents of Solano County.
A special celebration was held on September 18, 2024 at our Vacaville Medical Center celebrating 6 of our Kaiser Permanente members who have reached the age of 100
The gathering was attended by the centenarians, their family members and caregivers, and their Kaiser Permanente care team who were excited to see them thriving outside of our clinic settings. Also on hand were Darryl Curry, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Chris Walker, MD, Physician in Chief, and Vacaville Mayor John Carli
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the centenarians were the guests of honor at a gathering that radiated joy and admiration. Each of them, embodying a century of wisdom and experience, was accompanied by their family members, who shared in the pride and happiness of this significant milestone.
The event not only celebrated the centenarians’ past achievements but also looked forward to a future where their legacies inspire continued dedication to health, wellness, and the pursuit of a life well-lived.
Chair
Leslie Anderson, MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN, TCRN
Co-chair
Meghann Turner, MSN, RN
Over the past year, we have diligently pursued nursing excellence at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center. We are proud to have established monthly councils dedicated to enhancing the nurse and patient experience and elevating our team.
Our Magnet Steering Committee meets monthly to address organizational needs, set timelines and goals, and collaborate with leadership to foster a culture of nursing empowerment.
The Professional Nursing Excellence Council organizes the monthly Professional Governance Day, which includes meetings of all 10 Unit Practice Councils, 4 Core Councils, and a CNE Update on the hospital’s status and team recognition. The Care Experience Council has promoted caring moments and recognition during Care Experience week and increased the visibility of care experience data in the departments.
The Professional Development Core Council has conducted needs assessments with clinical nurses to identify educational needs and promote professional development, including certifications.
The Evidence Based Core Council continues to support units in integrating evidence-based practice into their projects.
The Quality/Safety Core Council has reviewed and supported teams in focusing on nurse-sensitive indicators and improving patient quality outcomes. Our Professional Governance team leads the journey on nursing excellence in quality, service, and culture.
On 3 South B (3SB), we believe that teamwork and collaboration are not merely buzzwords, but the bedrock of quality patient care.
Our Unit Practice Council (UPC) wanted an innovative and fun way to recognize our team contributions, thus, the gratitude tree was planted. 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.
As in Rejuvenating Meaningful Recognition Through Shared Governance, formal recognition of nurses’ contributions can profoundly improve job satisfaction, while lifting both nurse and patient morale.1
The Gratitude Tree, though simple, became a powerful way to encourage genuine RN-to-RN recognition, build collaboration, and nurture the sense of teamwork that’s so vital to the heart of care. Through this initiative, we hoped to not only express our deep appreciation for each other but also rekindle a sense of unity and shared purpose. This initiative reminds us of the incredible strength we have when we support one another.
1 APA: Wojnar C. Rejuvenating Meaningful Recognition Through Shared Governance. J Nurs Adm. 2023 Oct 1;53(10):498-499. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001324. PMID: 37747172.
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. With Vocera, patients can now connect directly to the care team using the new Genie feature.
This new feature allows patients to directly contact their nurse. We’ve also added clear instructions to the journey home board and welcome letter.
The care team in Mother-Baby Unit (MBU) is thrilled to use this innovative approach to communicate with patients.