Following the historic achievement of securing the first Magnet designation among 21 Kaiser facilities in Northern California, the Voice of Nursing (VON) propelled into 2024 with renewed energy, focusing on engagement, growth, and innovation.
Each month brought a unique theme, engaging nurses through meaningful discussions led by notable speakers from multiple disciplines. In April, Liss Leal, Operations Director for KP HealthConnect, explored Advancements in Nursing Technology, while August featured Dr. Lela Gahanjehei, Cardiologist, highlighting the management of Heart Failure and Chronic Conditions. These sessions inspired and empowered nurses to envision and elevate nursing practice.
Leadership transitions added a dynamic layer to VON’s journey. Eugenia Ventura, RN and Nestle Vitug, RN, two tri-chairs, were promoted to leadership roles, making way for Samantha Avecilla, RN (COC KFRC) and Deryn Milarezi, RN (PACU) to step in, joining Jeanette Ferrer-Valladares, RN in shared governance. In a demonstration of thoughtful succession planning, Krystle Javier, RN is being mentored for a future tri-chair seat.
In September, VON underwent a strategic restructuring, introducing four core councils: Professional Development, Care Experience, EBP/Research, and Quality and Patient Safety, with plans for an Informatics Core Council in late 2025. These councils, the “heart of nursing excellence,” focus on developing critical skills such as data interpretation, crafting charts, A3s, and public speaking. TPMG procedural areas (GI, Cath Lab, IR) were also integrated into VON, further broadening its scope. The inaugural meeting laid the foundation with charters and planning for 2025 topics.
The Voice of Nursing remains a dynamic force, fostering leadership, collaboration, and innovation. With its focus on mentorship, professional growth, and meaningful engagement, VON continues to demonstrate that nursing excellence is not a destination—it’s a journey.
Coordinating Council
Samantha Avecilla MSN, RN CNL, CRRN
Deryn Milarezi MSN, RN CNL SNIV
Jeanette-Ferrer Valladares BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, IBCLC, LEC, SNIV
Krystle Javier ADN, RN
Eugenia Ventura MSN, RN CMSRN
Nestle Vitug MSN-NI, RN PCCN SNIV
2024 Voice of Nursing Tri-Chair
The “silent architect of nursing evidence,” Samantha “Sam” Avecilla MSN, RN CNL, CRRN delivered a powerhouse year of progress—completing both a research study and a clinical EBP project, sharing findings internally at RIA, presenting nationally at a nursing conference, and submitting them for publication, driving nursing practice forward with groundbreaking inquiry and innovation.
Known for her tenacity and relentless drive for improvement, Deryn Milarezi MSN, RN CNL SNIV spearheaded the formation of the first Unit Practice Council in the ED, championed the installation of splash guards to enhance safety, implemented post-code debriefings, and stood as a strong advocate for peers and patients—bringing critical “awareness to the mental health needs of nurses while honoring the lives they strive to save.”
Jeanette-Ferrer Valladares BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, IBCLC, LEC, SNIV, is a passionate advocate for advancing care experience and a founding tri-chair known as the “heart” of the team. She serves as the site co-principal investigator for the KP-CARES Study, a mentor to nurses advancing the clinical ladder, and an active member of the Facility Selection Committee by nurturing the next generation of professionals.
Krystle Javier ADN, RN, exhibited her remarkable ability to unite a fragmented unit, educate and empower her team, and achieve an unprecedented 100% RN Excellence Survey participation for a medical-surgical unit in just five days. Demonstrating the true essence of transformational leadership, she inspired a culture of nursing engagement to a dynamic and evolving level of professional practice.
Eugenia “Gene” Ventura MSN, RN CMSRN is one of the original tri-chairs and the “brains of the operation,” now serves as Assistant Nurse Manager on 5 East Medical-Surgical Floor, continuing to mentor and empower frontline staff. A 2024 contributor to the 7th edition Scope and Standards of Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice and DAISY Leader Award recipient, she continues to exemplify excellence in nursing leadership.
Nestle “Twinkle” Vitug MSN-NI, RN PCCN SNIV, a former VON tri-chair dubbed as the “stealth tech” of the group, transitioned earlier this year to a quality nurse consultant role in patient safety and risk before returning to KP Vallejo as Magnet Program Director. She expeditiously deployed eight strategic initiatives driven by critical insights from their initial Magnet journey, fostering sustainability and enculturation across the organization.
