“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.