“Patients under our care can expect excellence from knowledgeable and compassionate nurses,” said Ace Delos Santos, BSN, RN-BC, pictured above with Yasmeen Ilyas, RN.
For over a year, Delos Santos, chair of the 5th floor Unit Practice Council at the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Hospital led a special task force to capture 31 exemplars, or best practices and quality initiative outcomes, from the medical-surgical unit.
Their goal was to earn the PRISM award, which stands for Premier Recognition In the Specialty of Med-Surg, a national acknowledgment of exemplary performance and leadership in medical-surgical nursing by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB).
Their work paid off.
On June 10, 2025, dozens of nurses gathered with Delos Santos and Chief Nurse Executive Esperanza Chavez, MSA, BSN, RN for a call with AMSN and MSNCB representatives to learn they received the award – and were the first Kaiser Permanente to achieve the honor.
“This award is a testament to the dedication and passion of our nurses, who keep our patients at the heart of all they do,” said Chavez.
On the call, AMSN National President Kristi Reguin-Hartman, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC highlighted standout initiatives led by Sacramento nurses that improved patient satisfaction scores and length of stay, staffing practices based on patient acuity, and the professional development of nurses through national board certification, advanced degree programs and tuition reimbursement.
“Our commitment to excellence is centered around our professional practice, and growing our team to deliver the best care,” said Chavez.
Another initiative highlighted was the reduction of falls with injuries, including the early identification of patients most at risk of falling, mitigation plans, and patient education.
“The hard work we do allows our patients to go home faster to be with their family,” said Delos Santos.
“The nursing team focus is on the patient and evidence-based practice, and it shows,” Senior Vice President and Area Manager Jay Robinson, PsyD, MBA, said on the call. “They are delivering on the promise to provide the best care for our patients and members.”