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.