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“When I think what it means to be a nurse, Sherri stands out as a bright star amongst her peers,” said Michelle Braskat, RN, Senior Manager, Appointment and Advice Care Center (AACC), who nominated her colleague for the honor. Sherri Shaw, RN, was named a 2024 Extraordinary Nurse for the Appointment and Advice Care Centers. She is a 26-year Kaiser Permanente employee and staff nurse III based out of the Vallejo AACC. Inspiration for Nursing Shaw recalls a desire to want to help people from a young age. “In kindergarten, I started saying I was going to be a nurse,” shared Shaw. “I've always been inclined to want to do something for somebody whether I know them or not.” Today, Shaw is inspired by the nature of her role as a AACC nurse. “You never know what's going to be on the other line and that's what makes it so fun and keeps you inspired. When you're done with one call, you have no clue what the next call is, what they're going to need and how you're going to help them,” she said. Leading with purpose “My purpose is to make a difference,” said Shaw. “When you make a difference in someone's life, it gives you meaning in your life. You feel like you're on earth or you're present in this moment for that reason.” Shaw believes that even the smallest of things can make a big difference in the lives of Kaiser Permanente members. “As soon as I come into my office and put my headset on to start taking calls, I am looking for a way to help whoever it is on the other line and provide whatever they need the best that I can,” she said. Delivering care excellence “Sherri is an expert OB/GYN nurse, consistently provides high quality exceptional patient care and is a role model to her peers,” said Braskat. “She possesses many leadership characteristics, including courage, respect and self-awareness.” “She makes a positive impact on the lives of the patients she cares for in her daily work as an advice nurse, and indirectly as a leader in the AACC committees and groups she serves,” added Braskat. Her leadership and expertise are valued by the AACC team. Working together as co-chairs of Vallejo AACC Nurse Quality Forum, Braskat called out Shaw’s efforts to update RN protocols.  “Several of the recommendations resulted in beneficial revisions to the protocol, the most used in the Vallejo call center.  Sherri makes sound recommendations in her various committee roles.”

Aron King, MS, RN, says volunteering with the Capitol City Black Nurses Association (CCBNA) gives purpose to his life. “I see the work we are doing is making a difference,” he said. King, an Assistant Nurse Manager on the 2nd-floor telemetry unit of the Roseville Medical Center, and his colleague Carter Todd, MS, MBA, RN, NE‑BC, CCRN, Nurse Manager of the Float Pool, PICC, Transport and Wound Care teams, were presented the Founders Spirit Award at the recent National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) annual conference. While Todd says he doesn’t do this work for the recognition he acknowledges that receiving the award “is validation we are doing the right work.” After founding the chapter in 2018 alongside South Sacramento's Sheree Criner, MS, RN-BC, Todd was part of the NBNA Board of Directors. He now serves as the treasurer while King, who joined in 2019, is the historian. Todd and King were recognized for their outstanding work and leadership of the CCBNA, and their impact in the greater Sacramento area. Their team has helped build the local group from 12 to over 100 nurses and has provided scholarships to Black nurses over the past four years, with $20,000 awarded in 2024, and an additional $30,000 pledged for 2025.  “We want to inform, educate, and empower the Black community so that we see more representation in nursing and leadership positions,” said Todd. To help make that happen, Todd and King have helped lead local programs such as Breaking Down Barriers to Nursing and Barbershop Health Talk to build community among Black nurses and increase diversity in the profession. “I am so proud of Aron and Carter. They are so deserving of the Founders Award for the outstanding work they do with the Capitol City Black Nurses Association,” said Debbie Reitter, DNP, RN, CNS, NEA-BC, Roseville’s Chief Nurse Executive. “They truly live out Kaiser Permanente’s mission to improve the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve.”

"Rachel led our facility's Magnet journey, giving nurses the voice to contribute to shared decision-making, empowering us to create change, supporting our academic advancements, and helping us become leaders who will influence quality patient care," said Assistant Nurse Manager Kacee Clyne, MSN, RN, CNML, NE-BC, CNL, GERO-BC, CCRN, PHN. A 6-year Kaiser Permanente employee, Rachel Wyatt, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, was named a 2024 Extraordinary Nurse, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Leader of the Year and is widely recognized for her leadership as the Chief Nurse Executive at the South Sacramento Medical Center. Additionally, she serves as Interim Chief Operating Officer at the medical center. Inspiration for Nursing "As a teenager, I worked as an office assistant for a hospitalist. I was curious and wanted to do more than manage the doctor's schedule. After seeing my desire to be an active part of the care team, the office manager tapped me on the shoulder and said she saw me as a nurse. I am forever grateful for this moment, which steered me to where I am today," explained Wyatt. "The best part of my day is seeing our nurses and teams in action. Our nurses are leading with purpose, and their dedication to advancing the practice of nursing despite external challenges, such as a national nursing shortage, is truly inspiring," said Wyatt. “The inspiration drawn from my team keeps me going. My team’s accomplishments and how they support each other are the heart and soul of their success,” said Wyatt. Leading with Purpose "Rachel has shown tremendous support to our nurses during the last four years of being the center of COVID-19 care in South Sacramento. She embraced the challenge of having 50 extra surge beds in partnership with the state to care for our sick community," said Staff Nurse Milanelle R. Guiao-Tranchina, BSN, RN, PCCN, CMSRN. It was her unwavering belief in the ability of her nurses rising to the challenge and creating a culture of nursing excellence that helped the South Sacramento Medical Center achieve the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition® with Distinction for nursing excellence — the only hospital in the world to receive the honor with distinction on the initial designation in December 2023. "She provided nurses with opportunities for wellness, such as regular mental health check-ins, access to counseling services, and flexible work schedules to counteract the trauma from burnout, fatigue, and social isolation. She celebrated her staff through DAISY awards, BEE awards, and mindfulness classes, including HeartMath," added Guiao-Tranchina. Delivering Care Excellence "Despite her busy schedule, Rachel rounds with patients and families and performs caring tasks like fluffing pillows to place behind a patient's back, granting a young patient's wish to see her best friend, or helping expedite a complicated inter-facility transfer so the patient can start rehab sooner," said Guiao-Tranchina. “Great or small, all truly appreciate her work and dedication to nurses, nursing, and Kaiser Permanente patients,” said Guiao-Tranchina.  

“Irma is an exemplary example of what it means to be a motivated, driven, humble and supportive mentor. She continuously goes out of her way to help others, peers and patients alike,” said Elizabeth Scriven, BSN, RN, GERO-BC. “She was my mentor and has pushed our entire department towards success and stability. I am so grateful for her endless encouragement and support that has allowed me to become a better nurse, educator and individual.” Irma Gomez, RN MSN-Ed, NPD-BC, is the Nursing Professional Development Specialist for Kaiser Permanente East Bay and a 9-year Kaiser Permanente employee. She was named a 2024 Northern California Extraordinary Nurse for Nursing Professional Development. Inspiration for Nursing When Irma was a young adult, her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and was in and out of the hospital for cancer treatment. “It was during one of those visits that I met this amazing nurse,” shared Gomez. That nurse recognized how stressed her family was because of the illness, and the financial burden that it was causing. “She was amazing and found us resources was able to help get a lot of those medical bills waived,” added Gomez. “It had a huge impact on my family, and I thought, I want to be like her. I want to be able to help people and not just at the bedside, but in all these other aspects as well,” she said. Leading with Purpose In her role as an NPD specialist, Gomez gets to impact nursing in different ways and is intentional in her communication. “Working with nurse colleagues, teaching, mentoring, and guiding them, I see the impact flow over into the care that they provide for their patients,” she said. “I always thought I’d be at bedside, as it was so rewarding seeing patients get better or being there with them in their final moments,” Gomez said. “When I first started in the Nursing Professional Development Department, I was fresh from bedside nursing and was struggling to find my place in the education world,” said Scriven, who nominated Irma for the Extraordinary Nurse honor. “With Irma’s help, I began to grasp my intention in this new role.” Delivering Care Excellence Gomez reflected on a Code Blue program her team created to assist care teams in their response to the code. “They were complimentary of how well the nurses responded and managed a code overnight,” said Gomez regarding a call she received from a Patient Care Services director. “It was that moment that made me realize that what I do really does have an impact.” “I'm not at the bedside anymore, but the work that I do, and all of us educators do, has such a profound impact on our patients. What we do touches the hands of the nurses delivering bedside care.”

"Nestle Vitug exemplifies the characteristics of an excellent nurse. She has integrity, competence, commitment, and the communication skills that set her apart," said Eugenia Ventura, MSN, RN, CMSRN, Vitug's teammate at the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center. Nestle Vitug, MSN-NI, RN, PCCN, SNIV, known to colleagues as "Twinkle," is the new magnet program director for the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center and a 17-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Nursing "My father, a physician, weekend charity medical consultations to indigent patients and free medications gifted from medical representatives deeply influenced me. This experience significantly inspired me to pursue a career in health care," said Vitug. Her teammates also inspire her, and she mentors many of them. "True inspiration comes from my nursing colleagues — the immense, often untapped potential within them." "It's gratifying to help uncover and nurture this talent through my mentoring, watching it flourish into innovative solutions that propel our profession forward," said Vitug. Leading with Purpose Vitug found her true purpose through the Voice of Nursing — "Empowering her colleagues to strive for nursing excellence and highlighting the exemplary work of the many dedicated nurses in our hospital," she recalls. "Our council and nurse leaders propelled Vallejo to become the first Kaiser Permanente facility in Northern California to achieve Magnet designation,” said Vitug. “Her strong communication skills, backed by a master's degree in informatics, and her knowledge in medical telemetry make her a trusted expert in disseminating important information for the patient through different user-friendly systems,” said Ventura. "Additionally, her knowledge in medical telemetry makes her one of our experts who teaches refresher courses in code blue and cardiovascular topics during the annual nursing skills day," adds Ventura. Delivering Care Excellence Vitug’s passion for nursing is encapsulated by a quote from American entrepreneur Andy Dunn, "Passion provides a purpose, but data drives the direction."

"Suki exhibits integrity by protecting patient rights, respecting cultural differences, and maintaining humility," said Earl Laih, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, clinical nursing director, Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center. Sukhjeet “Suki” Sahota, RN, is the service lead for the Sports Medicine Department, the orthopedic co-service lead, and a 14-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Nursing "At the age of 7, I had surgery for a ruptured appendix. The nurses who wheeled me into the operating room made me feel comfortable, explaining each step in the process. It was then that I decided I wanted to become a surgical nurse to ease other people's fears as they encountered the scary world of surgery," Sahota recalls. Leading with Purpose "I lead with purpose by treating all my patients like family members going into surgery," said Sahota. "Surgery can be stressful for patients and their families, so I ease their worries by keeping them informed." As a member of the Care Committee, Sukhjeet works with management and members from different PeriOperative departments to discuss ways to make each patient's surgical experience a positive one. As a result, Sahota developed "Change your Steps" initiatives, including how the operating room nurse finds the patient's family and relays when the patient is out of surgery. These steps help ease the families' stress and prepare them for recovery, the next phase of their surgical journey. Delivering Care Excellence "My purpose as a nurse is to be a calming presence, creating an environment that is organized and free of worry for all my patients entering the surgery suite. I ensure my patients feel as comfortable and confident as possible before and during surgery. I also provide reassurance, letting them know I will be with them every step of the way," said Sahota. "One day, a patient requested her "sword" be brought into her operating room. As a woman of Indian heritage, Suki informed us a sword, also known as a Kirpan, is an article of faith for a baptized Sikh. It symbolizes generosity, compassion, and service to humanity," stated Laih, describing how she is sensitive to her patients' needs, cultural beliefs, and wishes.

"Being a Home Health Nurse requires compassionate nursing where critical thinking, listening, communication, and teaching skills are required to care for patients in their homes — this is Amber," said Karen Franchetti, RN, Amber's teammate at the Santa Clara Medical Center. Amber Avina, BSN, RN, is a clinical services supervisor in the Continuum and a three-year Kaiser Permanente employee. Inspiration for Nursing Amber's journey to nursing began at fifteen, during a chaotic day at Surf Cincinnati Water Park where she worked as a lifeguard. "A wind burst caused several medical emergencies — cardiac arrest, a woman went into labor, and someone lost consciousness. The day was chaotic, but everyone coming together to help made me realize I love helping others," she recalls. Working at KP, she is inspired by the fact that staff have a voice and a voice that is heard. "My colleagues support each other in the field and the office, providing exceptional care to our patients," said Avina. Leading with Purpose Amber leads with purpose by setting an example for her colleagues. "I don't ask others to do or perform a task that I am unwilling to do myself. I embrace open-door communications by remaining approachable and encouraging a speak-up culture," said Avina. "Amber's critical thinking, compassion, and exceptional care experience help set up other home health nurses for success," stated Mikee Ona, PT, quality director in the Home Health and Hospice Department at the Santa Clara Medical Center. As a member of the Santa Clara Home Health Readmission Reduction Performance Improvement Project, Amber plays a key role in readmission initiatives. Her work includes eliminating waste to improve efficiency in care delivery and helping patients and caregivers better understand their care plan," he added. Delivering Care Excellence "My purpose is to provide quality and compassionate care to our members to aid them in meeting their care goals to avoid hospital readmission," said Avina. "Amber plays a pivotal role in managing daily clinical operations, including overseeing employee safety and working closely with health care providers and physicians to ensure the highest standard of patient care." "Amber practices heart math to help alleviate stress, allowing her to remain composed and intuitive, which ultimately helps her deliver excellent care to patients. We are lucky to have Amber on our team," declared Ona.

"Kelli's patients repeatedly remark how well cared for they feel during leader rounding and how Kelli's clear communication about expectations and timeframes help them better understand their emergency department journey," said Damian D. Gulbransen, MD, service director at the Santa Rosa Emergency Department. Kelli Cox, MSN, RN, CNL, is an emergency department (ED) nurse at the Santa Rosa Medical Center and will celebrate 21 years with Kaiser Permanente in December 2024. Inspiration for Nursing "Witnessing the incredible care and compassion given to my grandmother during her battle with breast cancer inspired me to become a nurse. I realized the importance of healing moments and establishing intimate connections with patients," said Cox. "My nursing colleagues also inspire me with their unwavering dedication, resilience, and compassion. Their ability to remain calm under pressure and their commitment to providing high-quality care motivates me to strive for excellence," said Cox. Leading with Purpose "I lead with purpose by setting a positive example, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment, and continuously seeking ways to improve patient care," said Cox. "As the chair of the People Pillar Committee, Kelli plays a pivotal role in driving positive change. She aligns the committee's efforts with the shared goals of improving staff morale and gratitude," said Gulbransen. "Her clear communication and love of education ensures everyone on the committee is engaged and dedicated to the mission," she added. The People Pillar Committee is a shared governance group of ED frontline staff. Its purpose is to address anything related to people. Currently, the committee focuses on transforming the department's culture by reducing feelings of burnout through positive recognition and enhanced communication. "Staff love receiving 'Kapow Kudos,' a new form of appreciation the committee introduced for team members to recognize one another," stated Gulbransen. Delivering Care Excellence "Kelli is passionate about incorporating evidence-based practice (EBP) into her patient care. She created an EBP rounding project where nurses and techs check on patients every hour. Because of this, patients feel well-attended and safe in our care," said Gulbransen.

"Sandra is an excellent and skilled Labor and Delivery nurse and a nurse leader whose expertise is sought-after across the region," said Carolyn B. Leonard, MSN, RN, CNS, RNC-OB, C-ONQS. Sandra Vargas, Staff Nurse IV, BSN, RN, CPLC, is a 22-year Kaiser Permanente Labor and Delivery (L&D) nurse at the Redwood City (RWC) Medical Center and named a 2024 Extraordinary Nurse. Inspiration for Nursing "One day, while babysitting for a friend, I found a book titled A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson. After reading some of it, I became fascinated by the miracle of birth and life. Twenty-two years later, it continues to amaze me. Each birth feels like a true blessing and miracle," said Vargas. "I'm inspired by my colleague's leadership skills and how they advocate and go above and beyond for their patients. Their dedication and teamwork make Kaiser Permanente Redwood City a special place," said Vargas. Leading with Purpose "I lead with purpose by connecting to my work on a deeper level. Working side by side with all members of my team — nurses, midwives, doctors, managers, etc., allows me to create a shared vision, ensuring everyone is working toward a common goal of providing the best care to our patients," said Vargas. As the chair of the Maternal Child Health Unit Council, a role she has held for over ten years, Sandra oversees monthly meetings of nurse representatives, facilitates the meetings, and is accountable for the deliverables produced from this work. "Sandra is the Regional Perinatal Loss Coordinator for Northern California and leads a group of nurse champions from each facility committed to this important work. She hopes to expand this outreach to other venues where perinatal loss can be experienced, such as the emergency department,” said Leonard. Delivering Care Excellence "Sandra creates checklists for nurses caring for patients experiencing perinatal loss and orders materials such as memory boxes, handprint kits, and pamphlets on grief," said Leonard. Her dedication to patient care always shines through. “For example, she encourages her unit to use the cuddle cot, helping patients have extra time with their babies,” explains Leonard. "Sandra is an extraordinary nurse who uses her talents and passion to improve the lives of patients and her colleagues. She is a tremendous asset to RWC Maternal Child Health," declares Leonard.