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Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a serious condition defined by excessive bleeding of the birthing patient after childbirth, resulting in blood loss of 1 liter or more. PPH is the second leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health. “We knew we wanted to reduce the chance of hemorrhage with postpartum patients. It’s one thing to hear the numbers, and it is another thing to see the impact hemorrhages have on our patients,” said Hannah Fox, RN, perinatal quality nurse consultant, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco (KPSF). Seeing the impact of PPH cases at the KPSF Medical Center, the Perinatal Patient Safety Committee & Quality Department is focused on initiatives to reduce PPH rates, especially among patients who undergo cesarean deliveries. The team recently shared this evidence-based project at the Research and Innovation Academy conference to highlight how they are implementing new procedures and processes to reduce the hemorrhage rate and its effects. Focused efforts and teamwork “By fostering strong teamwork and promoting timely interventions, our team has significantly improved outcomes, reduced mortality and morbidity, and enhanced care quality for birthing people,” said Jessi Ford, MBA, BSN, RN, RNC-OB, maternal child health nursing director, KPSF. KPSF’s approach includes structured checklists, team huddles, staff education, and regular simulations to prepare for real-world scenarios. For example, to help reduce PPH rates, the committee included the use of a secondary intravenous (IV) line on the checklists. “The use of a second IV line helps patients who experience a hemorrhage and need additional fluids,” said Nancy Rivera, DNP, MSN, CNS, RN, perinatal clinical nurse specialist, KPSF. Routine audits of the checklists help track performance and identify opportunities for ongoing improvement. “It’s inspiring to know that our strategies and tools are making a real difference,” states Rivera. “They allow us to focus on sustainability and future success.” A key part of this success is prioritizing the voices of frontline nurses. Their insights help proactively find risks and implement preventive strategies before a hemorrhage occurs. Impact and outlook Within one year, KPSF’s PPH rate dropped by 2.3%. “To see the drive and change to reduce our hemorrhage rates is rewarding,” said Fox. “Every percentage point drop means we’ve successfully prevented a patient from experiencing a hemorrhage,” she concluded.

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

“Patients under our care can expect excellence from knowledgeable and compassionate nurses,” said Ace Delos Santos, BSN, RN-BC, pictured above with Yasmeen Ilyas, RN. For over a year, Delos Santos, chair of the 5th floor Unit Practice Council at the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Hospital led a special task force to capture 31 exemplars, or best practices and quality initiative outcomes, from the medical-surgical unit. Their goal was to earn the PRISM award, which stands for Premier Recognition In the Specialty of Med-Surg, a national acknowledgment of exemplary performance and leadership in medical-surgical nursing by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB). Their work paid off. On June 10, 2025, dozens of nurses gathered with Delos Santos and Chief Nurse Executive Esperanza Chavez, MSA, BSN, RN for a call with AMSN and MSNCB representatives to learn they received the award – and were the first Kaiser Permanente to achieve the honor. “This award is a testament to the dedication and passion of our nurses, who keep our patients at the heart of all they do,” said Chavez. On the call, AMSN National President Kristi Reguin-Hartman, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC highlighted standout initiatives led by Sacramento nurses that improved patient satisfaction scores and length of stay, staffing practices based on patient acuity, and the professional development of nurses through national board certification, advanced degree programs and tuition reimbursement. “Our commitment to excellence is centered around our professional practice, and growing our team to deliver the best care,” said Chavez. Another initiative highlighted was the reduction of falls with injuries, including the early identification of patients most at risk of falling, mitigation plans, and patient education. “The hard work we do allows our patients to go home faster to be with their family,” said Delos Santos. “The nursing team focus is on the patient and evidence-based practice, and it shows,” Senior Vice President and Area Manager Jay Robinson, PsyD, MBA, said on the call. “They are delivering on the promise to provide the best care for our patients and members.”

A family formed a lasting bond with neonatal intensive care staff at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center during a 7-month stay. Pictured are Dwayne Silas, left, Maria Ottoman Silas, right, and their baby girl, Nyla Silas.

“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!