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“I wish we had more days! There were so many great presentations and projects; it was hard to choose which one to attend,” a Kaiser Permanente nurse said about the second annual Kaiser Permanente Northern California Research and Innovation Academy conference held on May 14 and 15, 2025. The two‑day event was a showcase of nurse‑driven initiatives, reinforcing Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to excellence in nursing practice and patient care, featuring over seventy research and evidence‑based practice (EBP) posters from enthusiastic and dedicated nurses – some of whom were presenting for the very first time. “Our nurses are actively contributing to new nursing knowledge, transforming clinical and leadership practices, improving quality patient care, optimizing safety and helping our communities thrive,” said Jim D’Alfonso, DNP, RN, PhD(h), NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, executive director, regional patient care services and The KP Scholars Academy. Over 200 participants explored the conference center to view posters and hear one-on-one about project outcomes from the authors. They also attended breakout sessions with podium presentations and panel discussions. Regional Director for Community Health and Workforce for the Future Trevor Murray, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NI-BC; and Lead Clinical Practice Consultant Jenny Mendenhall, MSN, RN, CHSE, CNL, CNOR delivered a keynote presentation on community health and EBP, showcasing a virtual reality (VR) operating room training program, in which participants were offered a hands-on demonstration with the VR headsets following the presentation. The Sacramento Medical Center team, led by Chief Nurse Executive Esperanza Chavez, MSA, BSN, RN, was recognized for the most abstract and poster submissions with 30 shared at the conference. Awards were given to the most innovative and best designed posters. A project led by Antioch nurses Rosie Dela Cruz, BSN, RN; Mhagsy Celestino-Pingul, MSN, RN; and Connie Quinones, BSN, RN titled “Impact of the Advances Alert Monitoring Clock Alert Pathway on the Reduction of Code Blue Events and Full Code Ward Deaths” took the honor of most innovative poster. Manteca Medical Center nurses Akashdeep Sandhu, RN and Kyle Nunes, RN were recognized for the best designed poster for their project on airway protection after maxillofacial surgery. “Our nurses are raising the bar with the projects and outcomes presented,” said Toby Marsh, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, regional chief nurse executive and vice president of clinical integration. “Their work and innovation have great impact that benefits other nurses and our patients.” Stay tuned for more information on the 2026 Research and Innovation Academy conference, and how to subject your projects.

As the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center marks 6 decades, an 83-year-old retired nurse and current chaplain trainee recalls the early days. Pictured, Dorola Haley, RN.

Labor and delivery nurse Jamie Lussier says fellow nurse Ilene Learner is like a mom to the whole maternity staff at Roseville. But Ilene is officially, and proudly, Jamie’s real-life mom. Talking directly to her mom, Jamie said “It brings me so much joy seeing how loved you are on this unit and respected, and everybody knows you and loves you… it’s the best to see and so special.” Spend a few minutes with these two and you can’t help but feel the love and respect they have for each other. For the last 41 years of her 43-year nursing career, Ilene has been a labor and delivery nurse at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento, and then at Roseville when it opened. Jamie followed in her footsteps. “I come from a medical background, with my mom as a nurse and my dad a retired OB/GYN. I always wanted to be a nurse. [Then] when I was in nursing school, I knew I wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse. It always intrigued me and fascinated me,” said Jamie who has been a nurse for 10 years, the last five here at Roseville.  “I’m super lucky to work with my mom, same unit, same hospital, same shift.” Ilene’s pride is evident. “It’s wonderful to be a mentor for her. I enjoy it. It’s fun working together. I am so proud of Jamie. She is a wonderful nurse and gives the best care to all her patients.” Shelby Rovai, MSN, RN, Labor and Delivery department manager, agrees. “It’s incredibly special to have a mother-daughter duo like Ilene and Jamie serving new moms here at Roseville. It’s not just a fun story—it’s a testament to the passion and dedication Ilene has shown over her more than 40 years at Kaiser. Her love for her work clearly made a lasting impression on Jamie, who followed in her footsteps. Together, they represent the heart of our unit,” said Rovai “Their presence brings a unique warmth and legacy to the unit. The care they provide is marked by empathy, experience, and a deep sense of purpose—it truly stands out. We feel lucky to have not one, but two incredible nurses whose impact ripples across staff and patients alike” Gold Country Media recently ran a Mother’s Day-themed story featuring Ilene and Jamie. Read the story here.

Together, the 28,000 professional nurses practicing at Kaiser Permanente Northern California deliver high-quality, compassionate care every day to the communities we serve.  Among the outstanding team, 34 colleagues are recognized as a 2025 Extraordinary Nurse Award honoree. The award celebrates individuals who exemplify professionalism, compassion, teamwork, excellence, integrity, and patient- and family-centric care in their practice. In this 3-minute video, 6 honorees, representing various nursing specialties across the region, speak about what extraordinary nursing means to them. Congratulations to all the 2025 Northern California Extraordinary Nurse Award winners, and a special thank you to all Kaiser Permanente nurses.

The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Nurse Fellowship Program, which provides specialty training for nurses transitioning their practice to intensive care or labor and delivery, earned accreditation from the Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Kaiser Permanente Northern California 21-site fellowship program is among the country’s largest accredited transition to practice programs. The program provides nurse fellows evidence-based curriculum and an interprofessional learning environment. Fellows are also given the opportunity to work in the hospital alongside experienced nurse preceptors to be better prepared and more confident as they transition between practice settings. “This prestigious recognition demonstrates our commitment to nursing excellence and professional development,” said Benson Yeung, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CHSE, program director and NCAL director of professional excellence. Nurse leaders, preceptors and nurse fellows across the region gathered for a virtual call to hear the program achieved PTAP accreditation. The ANCC called out exemplars of the program, including Kaiser Permanente’s succession planning, the integration of Caring Science and HeartMath into nursing practice, nurse preceptors and the preceptor training program. “Our nurse preceptors are the heart of the program,” said Yeung. “Achieving PTAP accreditation is a testament to their dedication, expertise, and passion for nursing education. They have created an environment where new nurses feel empowered, supported, and confident as they transition into their new role.” Congratulations to the entire fellowship program team!

Congratulations to Kaiser Permanente's newest DAISY Award honorees! The DAISY Award is a way for patients and their families, along with co-workers and volunteers, to recognize the extraordinary effort and compassion that our nurses display every day. Kaiser Permanente is a national DAISY Award hospital partner, and regularly recognizes nurses, nurse leaders and teams who meet the award criteria. Daisy Nurse

Every March Certified Nurses Day recognizes nurses who achieve a national board certification, celebrating nurses who demonstrate a deep commitment to professionalism, excellence, safety, and service through achievement of nursing credentialing in their chosen specialty. Certification increases a nurse's credibility when called to collaborate with others as it demonstrates an advanced level of expertise. In Northern California, 15 percent of Kaiser Permanente nurses are board certified. We hear from a few of them on why they pursued certification, what the process was like for them, and how it benefits them personally and professionally. Danielle Guadagni, RN, CPAN Staff Nurse II, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Santa Rosa Medical Center Danielle Guadagni’s drive to become board certified began after she had her first baby, and experiencing care as a patient. “In that moment that I truly understood how vital it is to provide the highest quality of care and how deeply it impacts a person’s life,” she said. “That experience strengthened my drive to continuously improve my skills and to provide the very best care to my patients.” She completed the certified post anesthesia nurse (CPAN) certification alongside six colleagues. “Doing it together made the experience even more supportive and rewarding,” she said. “I am committed to lifelong learning and encourage others to embrace this journey as well!” Rod Martin, BSN, RN, PCCN, CV-BC, CMC, GERO-BC Staff Nurse IV, Float Pool Unit Roseville Medical Center Rod Martin says certification has boosted his confidence and enhanced his credibility among peers, employers, and patients. “Certification signifies my fervor for nursing and my resolute commitment to continuous professional mastery,” he said. “It involves engaging with a specialty's advanced concepts, evidence-based practices, and constant education. He commends his Nursing Professional Development colleagues at the Roseville Medical Center for nurturing his growth. “They organize review courses, provide study materials, and offer guidance for certification exams,” said Rod. “Kaiser Permanente further supports our development by covering exam fees through a tuition reimbursement program, making certification accessible. This support was instrumental in my journey towards certification.” Rod added, “My certification journey embodies my wholehearted promise to contribute to the profession and make a lasting, positive impact on patients and their families.” Maricor McKinney, BSN, RN, PCCN, GRN Staff Nurse II, Medical Surgical Telemetry Unit, Vallejo Medical Center Last year, Maricor McKinney’s professional goal was to earn her PCCN, and she took advantage of a 2-day review course sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.  “One of the things that I love about KP is its unwavering support towards advancement,” she shared. The course ignited something in her that she knew she needed to keep going. She studied for at least 20 hours a week for three weeks and took the exam after.  “Having two jobs with three kids was challenging, but I knew I just have to go for it,” she said. “I watched tons of nursing videos online, took the AACN practice exam and I also hosted a review session among my peers.” “Becoming a PCCN signifies that I am equipped…

At the Sacramento Medical Center, Christine Nguyen, RN was preparing a patient for discharge when she noticed part of their face drooping.  Trusting her instincts and training, Christine initiated a Rapid Response Team call to act on her suspicion that the patient was having a stroke. Her prompt action led to the patient immediately receiving a CT scan, which confirmed the stroke and resulted in medication being administered without delay. The patient was later discharged without any paralysis or effects from the stroke. “Christine’s keen attention to detail, expertise and swift response ensured the patient could return home at their baseline, still able to enjoy life with their family,” said Esperanza Chavez, MSA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive at the Sacramento Medical Center. “Christine's response to the patient exemplifies the High Reliability Organization (HRO) principle of preoccupation with failure.” This principle involves a continuous concern with the possibility of failure and the commitment to identify and address any potential issues promptly. “In HROs, even small deviations from the norm are taken seriously, and staff members are trained to recognize and respond to early signs of potential problems,” added Chavez. In addition to preoccupation with failure, the principles of HRO are sensitivity to operations; reluctance to simplify; resilience; and deference to expertise. Ace Delosantos, BSN, RN,  pictured above with Chavez, staff nurse IV, 5th floor telemetry unit, Unit Practice Council chair teaches HRO and Daily Management System (DMS) workshops. “HRO and DMS connect our day-to-day work with Kaiser Permanente’s goals and takes our nursing practice to the next level,” he said. Nurses play a vital role in achieving a high reliability culture by actively identifying and reporting potential safety hazards, promoting open communication, and advocating for patient safety at every level of care. For example, a nurse in the main operating room at the Roseville Medical Center noticed something incorrect about a patient’s consent form posing a potential risk to patient safety. The nurse spoke up and they stopped the line until the issue was addressed. Debbie Reitter, DNP, RN, CNS, NEA-BC, pictured at left, Chief Nurse Executive at the Roseville Medical Center says, “When nurses show up with a HRO mindset, they are better advocates for their patients and their safety.”