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Nominations are now open for the 2025 Extraordinary Nurse Awards! Each of our Kaiser Permanente nurses is extraordinary – tell us which nurse inspires you! Nominate a colleague for one of our 34 coveted annual awards by Feb. 14, 2025. This is a great chance to recognize our nurses who provide outstanding care to our members and the communities we serve. All Kaiser Permanente Northern California nurses are eligible including RNs and LVNs who work for KFH/HP and TPMG. The 2025 Extraordinary Nurse honorees will be celebrated during Nurses Week at an in-person reception in Livermore.  Click here to complete the nomination form. There is a 200 word minimum on all nominations. Once you have your nomination ready, the form only takes a few minutes to complete!  Need inspiration? Learn about our 2024 Extraordinary Nurse Award recipients here. 2025 Extraordinary Nurse Award categories: Nursing Staff: Appointment and Advice Call Center Advanced Practice (including NPs and CNSs) Care Coordination (PCCCN) Continuum (Hospice, Home Health and Skilled Nursing) Emergency Department Clinical Adult Services Maternal Child Health Nursing Professional Development (NPDs and Nurse Educators) Perioperative Services Medical Offices or Outpatient Services Nurse Leader: KFH Nurse Leader of the Year (Assistant Nurse Manager, House Supervisor, Manager, Director, CNE, Quality Leader, etc.)  KFH Emerging Nurse Leader (KFH Nurse leaders in their role for less than 2 years including Assistant Nurse Managers, Managers, Directors, CNE, Quality Leader, etc.) TPMG Nurse Leader of the Year (TPMG Department Managers, Service Directors, DONCP) TPMG Emerging Nurse Leader (TPMG Nurse leaders in their role for less than 2 years including Department Managers, Service Directors, etc.) Continuum Nurse Leader of the Year (COCSD, Nurse Leaders in Home Health, Hospice, Skilled Nursing, Rehab)  Friend of Nursing: Direct Care Partner (PCT, UA, EVS, etc.) Inter-professional Colleague (MD, PT, PharmD, etc.) Thank you for taking the time to nominate a colleague!

“Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation” are words which guide Sarah Abdolcader, MSN, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, as a mentor to nurses and emerging nurse leaders at Kaiser Permanente. “I want to share options within what they want and get them on the path towards the future they see for themselves,” she said. “They have the seeds and desire to grow, I just help cultivate it.” Abdolcader, a clinical practice consultant for the Northern California Patient Care Services (PCS) team, is one of 175 mentors who participated in the 2024 cohort of the KP Nurse Leader Mentoring program. The mentoring program has nearly tripled in participants from the 34 participants in the first cohort in late 2022. “Mentoring is one of the hallmarks of professional practice with experienced nurses and nurse leaders contributing to the professional growth of others by sharing their nursing journey experience,” said Jodi Galli, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Northern California PCS Program Manager, Nurse Scholars Academy and Academic Relations. The program contributes to nurse satisfaction, retention, and succession planning as nurses and nurse leaders transition into their practice, specialty areas, and seek to develop their leadership skills, according to Galli. Santa Rosa Assistant Nurse Manager, Tasaday Lewis, BSN, RN, who is mentored by Galli, says the program has helped her grow as a leader, and improve her communication and approach with direct reports and hospital leadership. She also enjoys that the program has given her a perspective beyond the medical center she works in and provides new opportunities to take on pilot programs with potential impact across the region. “We speak about managing a unit, par levels, and staffing budgets, but I also now have a better understanding of Kaiser Permanente’s incredible reach and feel a part of the bigger picture,” said Lewis, a 10-year Kaiser Permanente nurse. Medical centers are also creating mentoring programs to help support the development of their local nursing teams. In South Sacramento, the Professional Development Council launched their local mentoring program over the summer. The first cohort matched 12 new nurses with more experienced colleagues, and they are looking to expand in 2025. Nancy Madden, BSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN, a South Sacramento perioperative department staff nurse IV and chair of their Professional Development Council says the program is mutually beneficial for both nurse mentors and mentees. “Mentees feel supported knowing they have someone they can go to for advice, and guidance to help them achieve their development goals, such as reaching the next step in the clinical ladder, and mentors are satisfied sharing their knowledge and supporting the next generation of nurses.” “The continuous cycle of paying it forward through mentoring and contributing to the professional growth of our nurses exemplifies excellence and the extraordinary practice of Kaiser Permanente nurses,” said Galli. “I am so grateful for this experience,” added Lewis. “I signed up to be a mentor and excited to be able to help others.” Nurse leader mentoring programs are available for both frontline staff nurses and nurse leaders to participate…

“After learning the advantage of decreasing incidences of error in medication administration, nurses appreciate the new system,” said Jovie Jabla, RN, staff nurse IV, of the B-Braun Large Volume Pump/KP HealthConnect Integration project. The project, which started in early 2024 in outpatient infusion clinics across Northern California, supports a culture of high reliability and is part of Kaiser Permanente’s ongoing investment to enhance care-related technology to assist nurses in delivering safe and high-quality care to patients. The smart pump interoperability/auto-programming is now being enabled in emergency departments, adult and pediatric general and intensive care units, and maternal child settings (excluding NICU) across the region and will be live at all NCAL facilities by summer 2025, according to David Boyd, DNP, RN, CNS, CPHIMS, NI-BC, Regional Director for Nursing Informatics. “Medication use, in particular, medication infusions, are an area where safety technologies help nurses and care teams deliver best practice and reduce the potential for error and unintended patient harm,” he said. Multiple published studies have demonstrated that this technology has led to safer administration of intravenous medications by improved drug library compliance, increased accuracy of smart pump programming, increased documentation in the electronic medical record, decreased alert overrides, and reduced total medication errors. Admitting there was some skepticism and resistance to a process change, Jabla, pictured above, shares nurses she works with at the Richmond Medical Center, one of the pilot sites for the rollout, are seeing the benefits of the new system and improved efficiencies. “With pump integration nurses do not need to go through the whole library of medication lists to find the appropriate setting in administering medications,” Jabla said. Orders are input by the physician and verified in the patient’s electronic health record, and the infusion pumps are auto programmed directly from the record. “By using this technology, it eliminates the need for the nurse to manually program the medication,” said Boyd. “As a result, increasing safety benefits to the patient by reducing potential for manual entry error.”

Make it a best practice to regularly check your email. There you’ll find information on professional development opportunities, educational events, important nurse-related news, and much more! Further, the new annual peer feedback process requires you use your KP email. Easily check your email from any shared workstation by using webmail.kp.org.  Don't forget to log out of webmail once you're done checking your email. Need help getting your email reactivated? Follow these steps below while using a KP device. Note: You may be required to enter your NUID and single sign-on password a few times while initially getting started.  Step 1: Log in to www.Microsoft365.com Click on your KP email address if it automatically appears and go to Step 3. Or select ‘Use another account.’ Step 2: Enter your KP email address and hit next. Step 3: Microsoft 365 will open. Select the Apps icon from the column on the left and select Outlook. Click New mail in upper left corner, and send an email to a colleague. Going forward, you can simply log into webmail.kp.org to check your email. If these instructions do not work for you, please submit a ticket using KP Service Now for help getting your account activated.

“Vivek has been my mentor from the beginning, teaching, guiding, and assisting me with everything I needed to become a successful nurse practitioner,” said Amber Luu, NP at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. Vivek Venkatakrishnan, MD, FACP, was named a Friend of Nursing – Interprofessional Colleague for the 2024 Extraordinary Nurse Award program. He is an internal medicine physician at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center and has been with Kaiser Permanente for nearly four years. Inspiration for Health Care “I come from a family of doctors and grew up hearing wonderful stories about my grandfather, a former army doctor. My parents were general practitioners in a small village in India and were deeply respected and adored by their patients. Their dedication and compassion inspired me to pursue a career in health care,” said Venkatakrishnan. “I am inspired by my colleagues, who remain calm and supportive whenever I need help. Together, we share a common goal: to provide the best care for our patients at Kaiser Permanente,” he added. Leading with Purpose “Leading with purpose means taking each day as it comes and not overthinking things, even on tough days, because I know tomorrow will be better,” shared Venkatakrishnan. Delivering Care Excellence “While performing a shoulder injection on a patient, I needed assistance,” said Luu. “Vivek confirmed that my injection placement was correct, and then stayed to help calm the patient, offering reassurance that they were in good hands,” said Luu. “The empathy he demonstrates daily towards patients and as a mentor makes him extraordinarily deserving of this award,” Luu added.  

“Mohit goes above and beyond every day to connect with emergency department staff to understand their challenges. He works tirelessly to make this department better, and he is always willing to help anyone and everyone who asks for help,” said Chaitali Patel, BSN, RN, quality and safety improvement consultant, Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center. Mohit Roberts is recognized as a Friend of Nursing – Interprofessional Colleague in the 2024 Extraordinary Nurse Award program. He is the manager of Administrative Services at the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center and a 4-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Health care Working in health care runs in Mohit’s family. “My mother is a telemetry nurse, and my father works as a lab assistant at the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. Both have been dedicated employees at KP, and their commitment to health care has been a constant source of pride in our family,” said Roberts. “My colleagues also inspire me by having the best interest of our staff, department, and patients in mind. We all work together to ensure we can bring positive changes in people’s lives,” added Roberts. Leading with Purpose "My purpose in life is to do everything I can to make it easier for my staff to work in the emergency department. I aim to create streamlined workflows and ensure that materials are readily available so staff can find satisfaction in their work and effectively help those in need," said Roberts. “Recently, the San Leandro Emergency Department (ED) underwent a floor replacement project, requiring us to close a pod at a time. To help accommodate this project, Mohit helped the ED change workflows, created alternate spaces for patient care, and ensured all materials were readily available,” explained Patel. Delivering Care Excellence “As part of my job, I oversee operations and budget for the ED. I partner with material services to ensure the department has adequate supplies. If we are low on a specific supply, I order a qualified alternative, so nurses have what they need to do their jobs effectively,” said Mohit. “I also partner with nurses and staff to ensure proper workflows, operations, and storage of materials so that they do not waste time looking for supplies.” “Mohit is dedicated to his role and department. He strives to make this place better every day. He deserves to be recognized for the extraordinary job he does daily,” said Patel.

“Shavi shows great leadership as our nurse leader who is implementing our unique delirium program to prevent and treat delirium,” described a colleague about working with Shavinderpal Sanga, MSN, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, GERO-BC, who was named a 2024 Extraordinary Nurse, Advanced Practice. Sanga, who has been with Kaiser Permanente since 2012, is a Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at the South Sacramento Medical Center where she focuses on enhancing the quality of care for older adults by educating nurses on best practices and empowering them to become champions of evidenced-based care. Prior to her CNS role, she practiced nursing in critical care and the PACU in South Sacramento and in Fresno. Inspiration for Nursing Sanga shares that she was drawn to nursing through encounters in the healthcare field while her mom was receiving care. “Among all the disciplines, the nurse at the bedside was always readily available, providing support during the most vulnerable times in person's life,” Sanga shares. “As I progressed in my nursing career, I realized I had made the right choice.” During nursing school, she learned about the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) as an advance practice nurse. "While shadowing in a cardiology clinic, I met a CNS who independently saw patients and collaborated with providers to enhance patient care and manage symptoms," she shared. "She taught me so much in just half an hour, and I was fascinated by her unique role, which involved improving both system-level processes and patient outcomes." Sanga has notes she is inspired today by the colleague’s dedication to improve patient care, her mentors who have supported her career as a nurse, and by the resilience and courage of the patients we care for. Leading with Purpose “I lead with purpose by supporting staff and providing consults and care for patients, always prioritizing their needs and well-being,” shared Sanga. “It brings me immense joy to influence patient care directly, act as a change agent, and enhance clinical practice by supporting nursing staff.” By staying informed about the latest research and best practices in nursing and healthcare, Sanga advocates for evidence-based practice and to implement effective interventions at the bedside. “By fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, I aim to make a lasting positive impact on both patients and the healthcare team,” she added. Delivering Care Excellence “Shavi spends a great deal of time speaking with patients and their families, performing a physical assessment, and reviewing the patient’s history and medication list,” said a colleague who nominated Sanga for the Extraordinary Nurse award. “She is exceptionally knowledgeable in geriatrics and is frequently consulted by physicians and clinical nurses in the medical-surgical, telemetry, intensive care, and emergency departments." Added Shanga, “Witnessing their determination in the face of illness motivates me to strive for excellence in my role.”  

"As a long-term Kaiser Permanente Oakland Emergency Department staff member, Amelia is an authentic leader whose strong ability to inspire, influence and direct others is rooted in her experience of doing the work itself," said Paul-Andre Abboud, MD, emergency medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. "Amelia is highly organized, always follows through, and knows how to speak the truth reassuringly, even when it hurts a little," said Abboud. Amelia Roberts, MSN, RN, is the Service Director, Oakland Medical Center Emergency Department and a 19-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Nursing "Caring for my sick grandmother as a teenager inspired me to become a nurse. From a young age, I realized that caretaking came naturally and brought me joy," recalled Roberts. "Additionally, I have been fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented, intelligent, compassionate, and dedicated colleagues since 2005. They inspire me to advocate for our patients, stand up for what is right, and remain committed to continuous learning and improvement," added Roberts. Leading with Purpose "I strive to lead by setting a positive example of kindness, respect, and service for our patients and the teams that support them. My goal is to be honest, transparent, and approachable. I believe that if the teams caring for our patients are whole, happy, and fulfilled, our patients will achieve better outcomes," said Roberts. In the Oakland Medical Center emergency department, Amelia was crucial in mentoring and leading registered nurses (RN) and non-RN managers, focusing on servant leadership. Her efforts resulted in significant achievements, such as implementing a new graduate and transition nursing program and a high People Pulse response rate in March 2023. Additionally, under Amelia's leadership, the successful implementation of a new graduate and transition program has not only repaired the staffing deficit but paved the way for a brighter future in nursing. Delivering Care Excellence "Amelia Roberts is a fantastic leader. She worked with her team to improve their processes for low acuity patient throughput and remain #2 in the Region, said Tia Newell, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, associate chief nursing executive at the Richmond Medical Center. "She has demonstrated creative, innovative thinking, and with the help of IT, created an iPhone App for the nurse manager to receive real-time alerts for any patient concerns and allow for seamless shift handoffs and urgent notifications to the management team," said Newell. "She is the best example of a leader I can think of. She is dedicated to her patients and staff and has the intelligence and confidence to lead them to success. I don't know what we would do without her," said Eliza White, MD, emergency medicine, Oakland Medical Center.

"Cherry is a wonderful member of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit team. She always goes the extra mile to lend a helping hand, even when a patient isn't hers. Her focus on supporting everyone in the unit makes a difference and increases team morale," said Kavita Gupta, RN, Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center. Cherry David, BSN, RN, is a Staff Nurse IV at the Fremont Medical Center and a 26-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Nursing  "One afternoon, my father suddenly clutched his chest and gasped, 'I think I'm having a heart attack.' My mom and I rushed him to the hospital, terrified at the thought of losing him. Thankfully, the doctor's calm voice brought us relief: 'It's hyperacidity, not a heart attack.' While my parents relaxed after the news, a knot remained in my chest. As I stood there watching them, I realized I wanted to become someone who could help," recalled David. Leading with Purpose "Leading with purpose means more than just fulfilling clinical duties; it's about guiding with intention, compassion, and clarity. It's creating an environment where patients feel safe, supported, and heard and where my team is motivated and focused on providing exceptional care," stated David. "Cherry leads huddles to share updates, challenges, and potential solutions with her colleagues," said Gupta. "She ensures the team is well-informed and able to adapt to new practices effectively, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement." Delivering Care Excellence  "When I enter the hospital, it's not just a building — it's filled with people who need care," David shares. "A patient's hand trembles as they reach for mine, and I gently hold it, offering comfort." David is deeply involved in improving patient care and preventing Surgical Site Infections (SSI) as one of the SSI RN Champions. In this role, she attends monthly meetings to discuss opportunities to prevent SSIs. She helps ensure that key practices such as the use of chlorhexidine gluconate wipes, maintaining normothermia, antibiotic prophylaxis, warming devices, and glucose control are strictly followed, ultimately improving patient care. Further, she helps collect and analyze data on nursing practices and adherence to the SSI Bundle to ensure the team can evaluate and refine workflows for maximum effectiveness. "Cherry is not only good with her patients but also with her coworkers. "She is a team player and always has a smile on her face," said Gupta.

When you work with Gabrielle Fandelle, there's an undeniable sense of relief. Known for her expertise, compassion, and teamwork, Fandelle has become a vital part of the Sacramento Appointment and Advice Care Center (AACC) at Kaiser Permanente. Her colleagues describe her as someone who brings knowledge and strength to the workplace — qualities that earned her the 2024 Extraordinary Nurse honor. Gabrielle Fandelle, MSN, CNS, RN, AMB-BC, is an Advice Nurse, Charge Nurse III at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento's AACC, and a 10-year employee of Kaiser Permanente. Inspiration for Nursing Having been a nurse for 16 years, Fandelle embodies the essence of nursing. For her, the profession is deeply personal. "Caring for the body, mind, and soul is one of the most fundamental needs we have as humans," she says. Her journey into nursing began with a desire to provide comfort and healing during life's most vulnerable moments. Over the years, she has found inspiration in the patients she serves and her resilience and dedication to her fellow nurses. Over her tenure at Kaiser Permanente, Fandelle has become known for her ability to connect deeply with patients and colleagues alike. As an Advice Nurse, she brings warmth and compassion to every interaction, ensuring members and their families feel heard and cared for. From the first phone call to the final recommendation, Fandelle provides a comprehensive assessment that integrates the patient's health history, symptoms, and personal concerns. Her clear, concise communication with physicians and specialists and understanding of complex resources ensure the safest outcomes for every patient. Leading with Purpose As a leader, Fandelle believes in empowering others. She fosters an environment where her team feels supported and heard, knowing collaboration is key to delivering exceptional care. Her role often involves mentoring new nurses and offering guidance as they transition into their roles at the advice center. Weekly group meetings with new hires provide a space for open conversations about challenges, mental well-being, and finding balance. For Fandelle, these interactions are more than routine—they're an opportunity to mentor and nurture the next generation of nursing professionals. Delivering Care Excellence Fandelle takes great pride in her role within the AACC, recognizing its importance in Kaiser Permanente's larger vision of health and wellness. "Every interaction we have, whether with patients or each other, contributes to meaningful change and an opportunity for a positive outcome. One interaction at a time," she says. Her passion for nursing is matched only by her commitment to her team and patients. Whether supporting new nurses, guiding a patient through a complex care plan, or collaborating with a high-level team to ensure patient safety, Fandelle continues to set the bar for excellence.