“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.