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"Warm, kind, genuine, and caring" is how Jennie Matays, DNP, RN, CCNS, CCRN, EBP-C, FCNS, describes her colleague, Jane Jach, MSN, RN, PHN, RNC-OB, EBP-C. Jach is a 10-year Kaiser Permanente employee and the Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) for Labor and Delivery and Postpartum at the Roseville Medical Center. Inspiration for Nursing "My mother was an orthopedic nurse and often talked about the joy of having children, her experience with childbirth, and her connectedness during that time. I believe these experiences are why I ended up in labor and delivery (L&D)," said Jach. "My nursing colleagues also inspire me with their engagement and curiosity," said Jach. "They question why we are doing things, ask how to improve, and don't accept the status quo. Having a team who consistently looks for ways to improve the care we provide our patients is a gift," further explains Jach. Leading with Purpose Remembering that each person I touch is the loved one of someone helps Jach lead with purpose. "I know what it's like to be on the receiving side of health care," said Jach. Ten years ago, her husband was in a near-fatal car accident. Thankfully, with swift CPR and emergency surgery, he survived. "Being the loved one of someone dependent upon our health care system's skill, attention, and accuracy humbled me," states Jach. Delivering Care Excellence "Jane is an L&D nurse by training but quickly earned leadership roles within Kaiser Permanente," said Matays. Jach's love of education motivated her to join Roseville's Nursing Professional Development Department team in April 2022, leading educational initiatives and updating L&D policies and procedures. Additionally, Jach enrolled in the Fuld Institute in December 2022, becoming an Evidence-based Practice (EBP) mentor, significantly enhancing the EBP training program for the Roseville and South Sacramento campuses. Her leadership inspired frontline staff to ignite their spirit for clinical inquiry. Jane's leadership skills have been instrumental in kicking off a nurse-led research project in Roseville and helping guide the work of our Magnet Champion Committee. "Jane's impact on patient care and staff development is significant. She is an exceptional nurse, NPDS, and team member who always strives to enhance the quality of care and the professional growth of her colleagues," said Matays.

In August 2023, Jocelyn Manalo, RN, a staff nurse at the San Francisco Medical Center, helped develop a new group, supporting recent graduates as they transition from students to nursing professionals. While Kaiser Permanente has an existing three‑month graduate support group focused on clinical knowledge, Jocelyn and team identified an opportunity to further support new nurses. “We decided we needed a way to support recent graduates with their education and give them a different forum where they can ask questions and discuss they don’t know a lot about with senior nurses,” said Manalo. The new group meets monthly, having anywhere between 4 to 8 students, allowing graduates to inquire about KP workflows, policies, procedures, clinical matters, and any other topics they feel are important. How has the new support group helped recent graduates? “You finish school and then you enter the workforce, working 4 to 5 days a week. It’s a very stressful time, so the new graduate group is an opportunity for them to come together, discuss shared experiences, and work with experienced nurses,” details Manalo. Typically, two topics are discussed at each meeting. Proper blood product administration is the act of giving any blood product and is an example of a topic discussed in the support group. “Giving blood can be daunting, especially for a recent graduate. There are distinct steps, and you need to understand what you are looking for in the patient as you administer it,” explains Manalo. New grad Jorrane Martin, BSN, RN, PHN, says the meetings have been invaluable in bridging the gap between theory and practice. “They’ve helped me understand the expectations of my role and how to navigate the complexities of patient care effectively. Hearing from fellow new grads about their experiences has provided additional insights and reassurance as we navigate this journey together.” The San Francisco Medical Center has retained 100% of new grads from the 2023 cohorts.

Lisa Tran, BSN, RN, a 6-year Kaiser Permanente employee, was initially hired as a patient care coordinator for continuum care on the skilled nursing facility (SNF) side. “Through the years, she has shown care and compassion for patients and colleagues. She has developed into a professional who goes above and beyond,” said her colleague Irene Morris, RN. Today, Tran is a Utilization Review Coordinator and the acting lead Quality Coordinator at the Martinez Skilled Nursing Department. Inspiration for Nursing “My dad passed away from a stroke when I was six months old, and I remember accompanying my mom to her doctor’s appointments as a child. His passing led me to want to know more about the human body, specifically, what happened and why it happened,” said Tran. “I’ve met with daughters whose fathers recently had a stroke, and in those moments, a part of me is still healing. I share how I can help the patient and their family have a positive outcome,” explains Tran. Leading with Purpose “While I juggle many responsibilities at work and in my personal life, I remind myself I can only accomplish so much, so I must learn to be patient and accept that change takes time,” said Tran. Early in her career, Tran focused on observing and learning from others. “I observed the best practices of my mentors and colleagues. I now feel a sense of confidence in my abilities and my contributions to my team,” said Tran. Delivering Care Excellence “Early in the pandemic, I asked my team if anyone wanted to be the point person for our 23 SNFs in the Diablo Service Area. Lisa volunteered as everyone feared the role of the “COVID Nurse.” She worked side-by-side with the local Contra Costa County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Infection Control Team,” said Morris. She also visited the Diablo Service Area nursing homes, assessing their infection control practices and helping create the three major zones for COVID-19 isolation. “I look forward to making a difference in my patient’s lives,” said Tran.

“It’s like opening a Christmas gift when the report comes out,” said Amy Brammer, MSN, RN, TCRN, TNS, CEN, CAISS, CSTR, NHDP‑BC, referring to the bi‑annual benchmark report on trauma centers from the American College of Surgeons which ranked Kaiser Permanente’s Vacaville Trauma Center at a green diamond level – the highest quality ranking from the organization for Risk‑Adjusted Major Hospital Events in the all patients cohort indicating Vacaville is in the top 10% of the 528 trauma centers benchmarked. “We work so hard, to see the results it’s exciting for us,” said Brammer, who serves as the Trauma Program Director. Kaiser Permanente Vacaville is the designated Level II trauma center for Solano County. “The Trauma Center is truly the whole hospital,” explained Brammer. “All our teams are involved and come together to move mountains to ensure our patients receive top notch care.” Describing the trauma response team akin to a NASCAR pit crew, where a team of multidisciplinary colleague’s race to the emergency department when they hear a trauma activation paged overhead. In 2023, they heard that call over 392 times, responding to patients with traumatic injuries ranging from car, bike and jet‑ski accidents to victims of violence, such as stabbings. The team’s clinical expertise extends into the community. For example, they hold Stop the Bleed trainings to educate first responders and other community members how to control emergency bleeding after an accident or assault. There is currently a KP regional initiative to get all KP medical centers Stop the Bleed. Stop the Bleed was among five projects the Vacaville team shared poster presentations on at the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Annual Conference. Other projects included mental health screenings of trauma patients, Teddy Bear Disaster Triage Training for local firefighters, performance improvement project on ICU bounce backs, and Trauma Resuscitation simulation training. “I am so proud of the team for their dedication to members and patients they treat in the facility, and the commitment to our communities they demonstrate through injury prevention, outreach and trauma education,” added Brammer.

Benson Tran, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, joined Kaiser Permanente 7 years ago and is the Service Unit Department Manager for Adult and Family Medicine at the Petaluma Medical Office. The nursing field captivated his attention from an early age. Growing up, Tran overcame much adversity, which taught him the meaning of hard work. The passing of family members began his journey to search for answers in health care. Inspiration for Nursing “My nursing colleagues inspire me every day through their personal experiences, triumphs and struggles, abilities and limitations, and their strength and resilience,” said Tran. The birth of his son also reinvigorated a sense of inspiration, purpose, and patience. “As a father, I am committed to lifelong learning and believe that love, empathy, and education can coexist,” added Tran. Leading with Purpose “To be truly effective, I determine what those around me need so they have the tools to provide our patients with high-quality service. Leading with purpose is a collaborative effort, allowing for autonomy and dialogue,” mentioned Tran. He credits his purpose with taking care of the patients, but his role can only be successful with the support of his team. “It is important to foster a culture where everyone cares for one another to help overcome challenges.” Delivering Care Excellence “In January 2023, I transitioned to my current role as a Hypertension (HTN) Pharmacist, and Benson and I started working closely together,” said Shirley Heinemann, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist at the San Rafael Medical Center. That same year, the Petaluma facility ranked last regionally in the Crossing the Quality Chasm HTN metric at a rate of 73%. By December 2023, the Petaluma facility not only met the quality metric of 83% in HTN but increased the number of patients using the pharmacy by 30%, explained Heinemann. “Benson was an integral part of the facility’s turnaround,” said Heinemann. He worked with the HTN Pharmacy Service Department to review workflows, discussed the importance of blood pressure control in daily huddles, improved the environment for back-office blood pressure checks, and worked with Petaluma Adult Family Medicine to review physician performance regularly. “I would rank Benson among the top in his dedication, responsiveness, organization, and most of all, his personal touch to staff, colleagues, and patients,” stated Heinemann.

At Kaiser Permanente, ensuring patient safety is at the heart of care. The Medical Surgical unit, 3 West, at the Fresno Medical Center has long recognized the serious implications of patient falls, which can lead to extended hospital stays, additional medical complications, and decreased patient satisfaction. In response, the dedicated nursing staff has continuously sought evidence‑based interventions to minimize these risks. “The Med‑Surg nursing staff and care team are dedicated to keeping our patients safe,” said Lindsey Halstead, MSN, RN, NE-BC, 3 West Nurse Manager at the time of the project. “They approached this work with intention and thoughtfulness knowing that it would take a team approach to make a difference in the department.” In early 2023, the Med‑Surg Falls Reduction Team, comprised of nurses, assistant nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse managers, thoroughly reviewed fall data from 2022. Key areas for improvement were identified, particularly in the use of bed and chair alarms. It was discovered that these alarms were not always used effectively, leading to delays in responding to patients attempting to move unassisted. Based on a comprehensive literature review, several targeted interventions were implemented. One significant change was the accurate documentation of Fall Scale Scores for all patients, ensuring that high‑fall‑risk patients were BEST IN CLASS promptly identified. Emphasis was also placed on purposeful hourly rounding, which includes checking on patients regularly to address their needs and ensure their safety. Additionally, the approach to shift huddles was revamped, now including the Fall Scale Scores and room numbers of high‑fall‑risk patients in the staff assignment sheets. This change ensured that all team members were consistently aware of patients at risk, leading to more timely and effective interventions. “We are proud of the work the Fresno Med‑Surg Unit Council has done to ensure a safe environment for our members,” said Ann Bindra, DNP, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, Magnet Program Director. “The Unit Council nurses make sure to keep the patient and family at the center of our nursing practice and the reduction of falls project is one such example. The team searched the literature and successfully implemented best practices which resulted in a reduction of total falls in the 3West unit over one year.” By March 2023, all Med‑Surg nurses had been successfully educated on these new practices, including in‑person training sessions on the updated chair alarm equipment, which proved to be more sensitive and effective. The commitment to these changes resulted in a significant decrease in the total fall rate per 1,000 patient days, dropping to an average of 1.24 over the remaining quarters of 2023. “This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration and continuous improvement in providing the highest quality of care,” said Wendy Gospodnetich, MSN, RN, CNS, NE‑BC, Fresno Interim Chief Nurse Executive. “The team remains committed to patient safety, ensuring that every intervention is guided by the best available evidence and their shared commitment to nursing excellence.”

“Mhagsy is an outstanding leader,” said her colleague at the Antioch Medical Center, who nominated her for the Extraordinary Nurse honor. “She led the Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) quality team in achieving success, reducing CAUTI rates in the Antioch Medical Center — making our medical center number one in Northern California.” Mhagsy Celestino-Pingul, MSN, RN, CCRN, RNM, was awarded the 2024 Extraordinary Nurse Award – Clinical Adult Services. She started at Kaiser Permanente in August 2019 as an Assistant Nurse Manager on the 4th floor Medical-Surgical Unit. Today, as a bedside Intensive Care Unit nurse at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center, her primary focus is to advocate for and ensure the well-being of patients. Celestino-Pingul describes advocating as building a strong rapport with patients and their families, understanding their needs, going above and beyond, and approaching every situation with caring hands and a compassionate heart. Inspiration for Nursing   As her grandmother’s primary caregiver, Celestino-Pingul cared for her when she was sick. “I realized I needed more knowledge and experience to care for her. This inspired me to go into nursing,” said Celestino-Pingul. “My colleagues inspire me, and I’m always open to learning from them. I am also thankful to have a supportive manager, Ramat Momoh, MBA, MS, CCRN-K, HCM, who inspires me with her vision for our unit — providing exceptional care and being the voice of change and improvement.” Leading with Purpose Celestino-Pingul shares, “I lead with purpose by actively participating in committee projects, implementing evidence-based strategies, and advocating for positive change. By doing this, I can ensure that my unit delivers the care and solutions my patients deserve.” Delivering Care Excellence   In her nomination, Celestino-Pingul was recognized for her responsiveness during an emergency. “Mhagsy was floated to another department when she heard a scream in a patient’s room and ran in without hesitation. She found the patient unresponsive on the bathroom floor. She called a code and started compressions while instructing the primary nurse to bring a crash cart and updating the patient’s physician,” describes her colleague. The patient and her family were thankful for her quick action. “I feel proud to work with Mhagsy.”

“With exceptional clinical and communication skills, Kristin engages patients and families after being discharged to address their needs, avoiding readmissions and helping them feel comfortable after leaving the hospital,” said a Fresno Medical Center colleague who nominated Kristin for the award. Kristin Rowden, MSN, RN, PHN, joined Kaiser Permanente in September 2015. Today, as an on-site liaison for the Continuing Care Department in the Fresno service area, she helps improve care coordination, timely discharge, and repatriation of members admitted to non-Kaiser Permanente hospitals. From placing referrals to skilled nursing facilities, to ordering durable medical equipment, she does whatever is needed to ensure patients receive the appropriate care. “Kristin is an excellent resource to other liaisons, assisting with coordination cases with the goal that no patient falls through the cracks,” said her nominator. Inspiration for Nursing “I wanted to work in health care since I was 15, when I got a job at a doctor’s office,” Rowden said. “While in nursing school, I was a teacher’s aide, a mentor, and a Veteran’s Administration extern,” explains Rowden. “My passion for supporting and caring for others continues through my role at Kaiser Permanente.” Rowden shares how she was inspired by her colleague. “Recently, a colleague advocated for a member to go home for hospice care. With my colleague’s hard work, the member went home and later passed away surrounded by loved ones, the way the member wanted.” Leading with Purpose “I lead with purpose by focusing on the patient, listening to their concerns, and aligning my care with their goals,” said Rowden. “Kristin is a game-changer in ensuring our patients have timely discharges from our partner hospitals or can come back to us in Kaiser Permanente Fresno sooner,” said Dr. Kevin Martinez, assistant physician in chief at the Fresno Medical Center. Delivering Care Excellence Her approach is reinforced in her Extraordinary Nurse nomination where it’s described that after meeting with a patient and their family, who was overwhelmed and resistant to engaging, she stayed the course to coordinate their discharge. “Kristin remained calm, listened, and did not allow emotions to take over. After following through with the planned coordination, the family expressed appreciation for Kristin's professionalism and compassion despite heightened emotions,” said her colleague.

A nurse for 12 years, Erica Dixon, BSN, RN, joined Kaiser Permanente as a Nurse Manager in the Perioperative Department at the Fresno Medical Center in 2023, and is named a 2024 Emerging Nurse Leader of the Year. “Erica walked into a leadership void and a had monstrous learning curve.  Despite that, Erica found her bearings quickly and was up in running within the unit at an extraordinary pace,” said a colleague who nominated her for the Extraordinary Nurse Award. “She quickly learned the flow of her new unit and the individuals that made up her staff. “ Inspiration for Nursing Dixon shares the diversity of the profession is what inspired her to become a nurse. “There are so many different avenues you can take but at the end of the day you are still helping others,” she said. “Nurses can make a big difference in someone’s life.” Leading with Purpose “As a nurse leader, leading with purpose involves aligning your actions, decisions, and behaviors with your core values, vision, and mission,” she explained. She takes the time to reflect on her personal values, as well as the mission and vision of our Kaiser Permanente, and looks for ways to contribute to the broader goals of providing excellent patient care and fostering a positive environment for her team. While new in her role, her nominator shared “Erica picked up extra shifts to support her staff, our providers, and most importantly our members.  She did this while leading from the front with her staff.  This provided credibility to her relationships, built trust with those around her, and made an impact on our patients we serve.” “My purpose as a nurse leader deeply influences how I show up to work every day,” said Dixon. “It drives me to lead by example, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and resilience in my actions and decisions. I prioritize open communication, active listening, and transparency to foster trust and collaboration among team members.” Delivering Care Excellence Dixon strives to empower and inspire my team to deliver the highest quality of care while also prioritizing their well-being and professional development. “I make it a priority to stay informed about current healthcare trends, best practices, and innovations, so I can effectively guide my team and adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities,” she shared. Since joining Kaiser Permanente, Erica has been involved in the Nursing Unit Council and several department committees. “This has allowed Erica to influence her staff and nudge the practice in the unit to support innovation, excellence in patient care, as well as personal growth and development,” shared her colleague.