Honoring nursing excellence

The team builds strong connections and supports one another whenever possible.

“Sometimes we bring in breakfast, so we can talk with the doctors during morning huddles, or we go out after work for dinner or karaoke,” said Elizabeth G. Williams, RN.

Team members also offer each other help.

“If we’re needed outside our usual medical center, we jump in to make sure our patients get care,” said Maria R. Gonzalez, a medical assistant.

The team also looks for ways to improve care delivery. Recently, team members focused on preventing patients from fainting after blood draws. Patients at risk are now moved to a separate area, seated in a comfortable recliner, and offered a snack or juice after the blood draw. Since the change, fainting has dropped by 90%.

Pictured in the team photo above, front row, left to right: Nemel Aguete, Juliet Korley, Elizabeth Suh, Antonio Mano, Cathleen Mclaughlin, Adriana Montesinos Araujo, Elizabeth Williams, Priscilla Adjetey.

Back row, left to right: Kilen Spencer, Uzma Hasan, William Stallard, Daniel Harris, Esther Bahk, Christina Parada, Maria Gonzalez, Latasha Payne, Yvette Smith, Ivania Triguero, Brittney Lawrence, Erica Gonzalez Rubio, Roxana Delcid Canales, Faisal Chaudri, Amanuel Shitaye

Extraordinary Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse Award

Nicole Barker, LPN, Medical Dental Integration, Kaiser Permanente Cedar Hills Medical and Dental Office, Beaverton, Oregon

Nicole Barker cares deeply about making every patient visit matter. As a nurse in a dental office, she helps patients address health issues that go beyond dental care.

Barker meets with patients after their dental appointments. She reviews their health record and checks whether they’re up to date on preventive care, such as mammograms and blood tests.

She listens closely and helps patients talk openly about how they’re feeling. Her conversations have prompted patients to get the tests they need to catch breast cancer and cervical cancer early, find and treat high blood pressure, and even respond to a mild heart attack.

“Everyone has a story,” Barker said. “If we take a moment to listen, we can help.”

One patient told Barker she had felt dizzy for several days. Barker acted quickly, and the patient was taken to the emergency room. Doctors found a blocked artery, and the patient now has a pacemaker.

Sometimes it takes more than one visit to make a difference. One patient kept putting off her mammogram. Barker continued to encourage her to get screened. Months later, the patient returned and told Barker she had breast cancer. Because it was found early, she expected a good outcome.

In 2025, Barker helped coordinate care for 7,000 patients seen in the dental office.

Many serious health problems, such as high cholesterol or early-stage breast cancer, can be easy to miss because they don’t cause symptoms, Barker said.

Emerging Nurse Leader Award

Jennifer McInerney, RN, Associate Chief Nurse Executive, Kaiser Permanente San Diego, San Marcos, and Zion Medical Centers, California

Jennifer McInerney brings new ideas and compassion to her work. She supports 1,500 nurses and nurse leaders, helping them provide high-quality, patient-centered care.

To support staff nurses, McInerney created a game-based training program that uses simulations, including escape rooms. The program gives nurses a safe way to practice skills in realistic situations and build confidence in their practice. From 2023 to 2025, turnover in the service area dropped by 2.79%.

McInerney also works to improve patient experiences. She added training on communication and empathy to education programs including the orientation program for new nurses. Within 6 months, patient survey scores related to communication and courtesy rose by 2%.

“When innovation, caring, and kindness come together, nurses can give patients the care they need in the moment,” McInerney said.

For new nurse leaders, she created a standard onboarding checklist.

The checklist is organized around key leadership skills identified by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. It includes simple tools that show how daily decisions can affect the overall budget.

Excellence in Professional Development Award

Krystal Pombo, RN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center, Fresno, California

Krystal Pombo helps nurses stay curious and keep learning. Her work has led to safer care and better outcomes for patients.

Pombo turns research into clear, practical training for front-line nurses. In projects focused on adults age 65 and older, her work has led to measurable improvements.

• Patient mobility increased by 25%.
• Sleep quality improved by 10%.
• Delirium prevention efforts reduced the average hospital stay from 5 days to 4.4 days.

This work helped our Fresno Medical Center earn top national recognition. The medical center received an Age-Friendly Health System Level 2 designation, the highest level awarded by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

The medical center also earned Geriatric Surgery Verification Level 1 designation from the American College of Surgeons, first in October 2021 and then a redesignation in 2024. The honor shows top-level care for older patients.

Pombo also supports nurses who want to take part in research. In 2025, several nurses she mentored presented their work at more than 7 national conferences.

In her capacity as the lead for the RN Residency Program at the Fresno Medical Center, the nurse residency program has retained more than 95% of new graduates since 2021.

Her coaching has also helped nurses earn national certifications. Today, 27% of our Fresno Medical Center’s inpatient nurses are nationally certified, and 15 have earned geriatric certifications since 2024.

Friend of Nursing Award

Sahar Andesha, Senior Regional Consultant, Kaiser Permanente Nurse Scholars Academy, Oakland, California

Sahar Andesha is a strong champion for nurses.

She makes sure they have the data, tools, and support they need to guide decisions and care for patients. In turn, her nursing colleagues respect her and see her as a true friend of nursing.

Andesha has worked with nurses for more than 20 years.

“It’s such a beautiful profession,” she said. “I see them caring for their patients like we care for our families.”

Across Northern California, Andesha supports Kaiser Permanente medical centers working toward Magnet designation, the gold standard for nursing excellence. She helps Magnet program directors turn data into clear steps for nurses. This work helps nurses shape patient care and quality improvements.

Andesha also supports nursing growth and learning. She plays a key role in supporting a yearly forum where nurses share their research.

She also led the development of a regional system for peer feedback and self-evaluations. This work supports learning, efficiency, and career growth.

“It inspires me to see nurses show up every day with a smile and bring their all,” Andesha said. “They balance technical skills with compassion, no matter what the day brings.”