Nursing Professional Development Specialists (NPDS) and Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are the backbone of nursing excellence, driving professional growth, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. By guiding nurses to reach their full potential, the NPDS and CNS of the Kaiser Permanente Nursing Professional Development Department advances professional nursing and elevate the overall quality of patient care, creating a ripple effect of excellence throughout the hospital.
Nurse Transition programs
Professional development specialists are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of nurses. Students acquire real-world learning through placement in clinical facilities. In partnership with local Schools of Nursing, the hospital’s Nursing Professional Department facilitated over 50 student nurses to obtain hands-on training and other opportunities, such as senior preceptorship.
As a Kaiser Permanente NCAL Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) site, Sacramento Medical Center successfully transitioned 34 Nurse Residents across five cohorts into staff nurse roles thanks to the NPDS’s dedication to skill-building, preceptorship, and mentorship.
Two Sacramento Medical Center nurses proudly celebrated their successful transition from Med-Surg to Critical Care nursing practice. Both completed a six-month course of intensive training using modular education, instructor-led classes, equipment return demonstrations and simulation exercises.
Enhancing nursing practice
Nursing Professional Development Days (PDD) were restructured and offered monthly and featured gamification and hands-on scenario-based training. Facilitated by clinical nurses and NPDS, learning stations support peer-to-peer education, which allows staff to contribute and share their expertise. In 2024, about 130 staff members attended the PDD as part of their ongoing skills enhancement.
To enhance staff readiness when faced with clinical emergencies, NPDS and Clinical Nurse Specialists facilitated mock drills in various clinical units, including Code Blue, massive transfusion protocols, and stroke alert drills.
In 2024, the following in-services and classes were offered to the staff as part of their initial or ongoing continuing education.:
- Tele and beyond: designed for Clinical Nurses in telemetry units that cater to chronic vents, infusion of cardiac drips, and SQ DKA protocol.
- Neuro Care Nursing:
- The Neuro Essentials class, offered to new staff in neuro units, covers care of neuro and spine surgeries, and equipment such as External Ventricular Drains and rapid EEG monitoring.
- Stroke Classes: The Stoke 101, Annual Stoke Updates, and Annual Stroke Symposium are courses and continuing educational activities that focus on basic to advanced concepts in stroke care.
- Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Code Class were offered to non-ICU nurses to enhance their confidence and skills in responding to an RRT call or Code Blue.
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) is a quarterly course for ICU staff caring for patients who require CRRT.
- After completing the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) competency for leaders, the NPDD restructured the quarterly PCS Day Away for nurse leaders tailored to address identified gaps in leadership competencies and integrate more interactive elements such as role-playing, presentations, and team-building activities.
- Facilitating Change and Quality Improvement
- Supported the department-specific recognition programs such as Beacon Award, Peri-op Go-Clear, and Surgical Safety- Retained Surgical Items by coordinating the gap analysis, project direction, data gathering, and exemplar writing.
- Led staff training on initiatives, product roll-out, and new clinical programs in Sacramento, such as the automatic formalin machine and needle stick prevention plan, Robotics Integration in surgeries, and Deep Brain Stimulation surgery implementation.