“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.