March 27, 2024
Honoring extraordinary nurses
Kaiser Permanente’s award-winning nurses transform patient care and improve lives.
The recipients of the 2023 Kaiser Permanente National Nursing Excellence Awards share their stories.
The 7 recipients of our 2023 National Nursing Excellence Awards show the very best of Kaiser Permanente nursing.
“Our award-winning nurses are shining examples of how our nurses transform care and improve the health of our members, patients, communities, and nation,” said Phyllis Doulaveris, senior vice president and chief nursing executive for Kaiser Permanente. “They also improve the profession of nursing and support a culture of excellence by bringing new ideas, creating new knowledge through research, and being lifelong learners.”
Extraordinary Nurse Award
Deedra Rzucidlo, RN, Assistant Department Administrator, Oncology Department, Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center, San Diego
Deedra Rzucidlo likes to remind herself and her colleagues of the value of their roles. They take care of people during their worst times. She finds ways to improve the lives of her patients in any way she can.
“I want every person going through a medically challenging time to feel loved and supported,” Rzucidlo said. “If a patient has even one person say, ‘I hear you, I’m with you,’ it’s life-changing for them. It gives them the energy and the strength to proceed.”
I want every person going through a medically challenging time to feel loved and supported. Deedra Rzucidlo, RN
While serving as a nursing project coordinator in radiology, she put in place a program to reduce the number of days it took for patients to get specialty care after an imaging test revealed an issue. Rzucidlo worked with physicians, other nurses, and department leaders to transform the average turnaround time from 29 days to 10 days in the San Diego area.
Rzucidlo created care guidelines for using new technology to help our members get the care they need more quickly. These new guidelines allow nurses to use their training and skills and work to their full potential, for example by ordering labs and making referrals.
Excellence in Quality and Safety Award
Roselyn “Rose” Pantoja, RN, Nursing Quality Coordinator, Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center, Anaheim, California
Roselyn “Rose” Pantoja is passionate about her role. She tracks and shares data with her team. And, using this data, she creates strategies to improve performance and practices. Her work helps ensure every member receives safe, high-quality care.
I keep these Kaiser Permanente values in mind: to provide safe, compassionate care and use evidence to deliver care. Rose Pantoja, RN
Pantoja worked with Nursing Informatics and the Nursing Quality Council to create strategies to appropriately manage pain medication to better meet the needs of our members. In one year, her work resulted in a 10% improvement in patients stating their pain was well-managed during their stay at Anaheim Medical Center.
Pantoja also worked with various partners to reduce the number of falls and pressure injuries among hospital patients. In 2022, most units within our Anaheim Medical Center had 15% fewer patient falls and pressure injuries compared to the year before.
“I like being proactive,” Pantoja said. “If I were a patient or a patient’s family member, I wouldn’t want any harm to come to my family or myself. So, I keep these Kaiser Permanente values in mind: to provide safe, compassionate care and use evidence to deliver care.”
Emerging Nurse Leader Award
Tiana Wright, RN, Assistant Clinical Operations Manager, Population Care, Washington
Tiana Wright created a strong team of nurses and together they improved the health of patients with diabetes in Washington.
Across the region, patients’ blood sugar levels improved and blood pressure levels decreased in 2022.
I have nurses who want to recognize each other. All of this makes nursing excellence really visible throughout the department. Tiana Wright, RN
Wright credits her team’s success to its high morale and connection. She looks for ways to foster teamwork and a sense of community among her employees. For example, the team recently participated in a virtual group walk. Everyone’s steps were added together, and the team reached its shared goal of walking from Seattle to New York on a virtual map.
To motivate her team and call attention to high-quality care, Wright starts each team meeting with recognition.
“This really fuels a culture of excellence. I have nurses who want to recognize each other. All of this makes nursing excellence really visible throughout the department.”
Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
Liesel Buchner, RN, Associate Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice, Sacramento and Roseville, California
Liesel Buchner is a leader who listens and creates psychologically safe spaces for her team members. Her efforts allow all her team members to perform at their best as they provide high-quality care.
We all have to continuously promote a culture of excellence. We have to continue to improve the care experience for patients. Liesel Buchner, RN
Prior to her current role, Buchner worked as a registered nurse service director for cardiac surgery and cardiac lab services for Kaiser Permanente in the Sacramento area. Patients with heart conditions often need treatments from multiple departments. Buchner and her team helped patients get the highly coordinated care they needed safely and quickly. Her efforts contributed to patient satisfaction levels increasing by 6 points in 2022 — a dramatic improvement over the prior year.
In addition, Buchner worked with doctors and staff to standardize and simplify processes. She helped establish a new system that allowed care teams to decrease the number of patients waiting for cardiac lab services.
“When you have enthusiastic leaders, that sets the tone for your team,” Buchner said. “We all have to continuously promote a culture of excellence. We have to continue to improve the care experience for patients.”
Excellence in Professional Development Award
Amber Sweeny, RN, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Diabetes, Northwest
Amber Sweeny is dedicated to learning and applying the latest clinical research to the care she provides to our members and patients.
She educates nurses to be knowledgeable, competent, and efficient when working with patients who have diabetes. This resulted in Kaiser Permanente helping 924 more members in Washington manage their high blood sugar levels in 2022 than in 2021.
I love that I can educate 26 nurses, and they can empower thousands of patients. Amber Sweeny, RN
Sweeny also uses her expertise to build tools and resources that support staff and patients. For example, she created a standardized way for clinicians to document patient information in our electronic health record system. The new approach makes it easier for nurses to share information with patients. For example, nurses can now quickly look up information to educate all patients in the same way about how to use a device to monitor their blood sugar levels.
“I really can’t believe I get paid to do this!” Sweeny said. “I firmly believe that any patient can manage any condition if they’re given the right tools and information. I love that I can educate 26 nurses, and they can empower thousands of patients.”
Excellence in Research and Evidence-Based Practice Award
Mark Gabot, RN, Academic and Clinical Faculty, Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia, Pasadena, California
Mark Gabot conducted a study on improving nurse communication.
The study resulted in nurse anesthetists adopting and using a tool that improves communication among nurses and led to better patient outcomes. When a nurse transfers a patient’s care to another nurse, good communication is vital. It reduces the risk of medical errors.
When my patient says, ‘You helped me get through this,’ that makes everything worthwhile. Mark Gabot, RN
Gabot’s study was published in national publications. The study’s findings have been distributed internationally.
Gabot holds several positions within the AANA (the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology) and is a distinguished fellow of the AANA.
“Part of what motivates me is teaching the next generation so they can help improve patients’ lives,” Gabot said. “In the hospital, it’s such a privilege to alleviate pain and anxiety for patients and get them through surgery safely. When my patient says, ‘You helped me get through this,’ that makes everything worthwhile.”
Friend of Nursing Award
Rev. Katie LeCount, Staff Chaplain, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, Vacaville, California
Rev. Katie LeCount shares a purpose with her nurse colleagues. She values others and strives to help when they’re in a vulnerable situation.
LeCount was hired to provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and staff. She keeps her door open for everyone, which means she often provides support and guidance for nurses.
She works with the Kaiser Permanente Employee Assistance Program to lead support sessions for nurses and staff throughout the hospital. She provides special attention to people working in the intensive care unit and family birth center.
“I help the patients twice — first, by being there for them personally and then by helping the nurses be their best, which passes on to the patients. I am in a very sweet and unique place. Rev. Katie LeCount
“I go into the ICU every day, and I ask them ‘How are you doing right now?’ I remind everyone to take time to do short meditations and practice mindful breathing,” LeCount said.
When a staff nurse unexpectedly died, LeCount reached out to the family and offered support in the middle of the night. She also put together a memorial service for family and staff to remember and honor their loved one. She continued to support the family and staff after the service.
LeCount sees her work as supporting patients in 2 ways.
“I help the patients twice — first, by being there for them personally and then by helping the nurses be their best, which passes on to the patients. I am in a very sweet and unique place.”
