Nursing Annual Report 2025 | Sailing Towards Magnet Mastery
Exemplary Professional Practice |
Excellence in Nursing Exemplary Professional Practice Winner: Ivy Shelub, RN, Emergency Department
Ivy embodies exemplary professional practice through her compassionate care, clinical expertise, and commitment to continuous improvement. Her sharp observation skills and keen clinical instincts allow her to detect early signs of patient distress, even when vitals appear normal, ensuring timely and effective interventions.
Beyond the bedside, Ivy plays an active role in shaping clinical practice. She collaborates on policy reviews to align protocols with the latest evidence-based standards and played a key role in developing training on the Emergency Severity Index (ESI). As a dedicated educator and mentor, Ivy supports the growth of new nurses, guiding both recent graduates and transition-in-practice nurses through orientation and professional development. Her leadership, insight, and unwavering compassion elevate the quality of care and contribute to a culture of excellence.
Professional Practice Model
El Camino Health's nursing professional practice model (PPM) emphasizes the patient being at the center of all care. These are the other key components of the model:
Caring and Family — words chosen by our nurses that reflect their practice.
Excellence — refers to the goal to deliver the highest quality care to patients.
Community — represents the hospital's history as a community-built organization and its future — broadening delivery of care across the continuum.
Compassion — describes how our nurses deliver care.
Science and Innovation — reflect our legacy as the first hospital in the world to implement an Electronic Medical Record in 1971, and our culture of supporting nursing innovation through the Nursing Research Council.
Patient Care Team — captures the collaborative nature of care at El Camino Health.
Four key aspects of care enclose the labyrinth: Preventative, Restorative, Psychological-Spiritual, and Growth-Collaboration-Education.
Introducing Amanda Waddell, Nurse Retention Specialist
Amanda Waddell, RN, Nurse Retention Specialist (on right) and Steven Santos, RN, Medical Unit
As the first Nurse Retention Specialist at El Camino Health, my role is dedicated to creating an environment where nurses feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow in their careers. We recognize that nurse retention is multifaceted and extends beyond simply reducing turnover. It’s about shaping a workplace where nurses are engaged, appreciated, and inspired. At El Camino Health, we are committed to building and retaining a dedicated nursing workforce by prioritizing career development, collaboration through shared governance, a healthy work environment, staff well-being, and the principles of a true Magnet organization.
In my role as Nurse Retention Specialist, I have developed a Career Development Program that includes individualized career coaching with tailored career roadmaps, stay interviews with staff, and real-time monitoring of turnover trends to proactively address retention challenges. I lead the Nurse Retention Steering Committee, bringing together key stakeholders to assess workforce trends and implement long-term solutions. I also collaborate with the Clinical Ladder Program to recognize and promote nurses who demonstrate leadership and excellence in practice and support the RN Mentor Program, strengthening peer-to-peer guidance and professional growth. Additionally, I contribute to nurse recognition programs and advance initiatives that promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging—core elements of a thriving Magnet environment. Through staff rounding, presentations at workshops and staff meetings, and working 1:1 with nurse leaders to develop targeted, unit-level retention strategies, I strive to keep nurses engaged and empowered in shaping their professional journeys at El Camino Health. It is a privilege to continue this work, prioritizing an engaged, supported, and excellent nursing staff.
Reducing Surgical Site Infections through Nurse-Led Intraoperative Practice Changes
Thy Nguyen, RN, OR
Surgical site infections (SSI) are among the most common and costly postoperative complications. At El Camino Health preventing surgical site infections is a group effort.
Clinical nurses took the lead in forming a multidisciplinary team to identify modifiable risk factors. Audits, literature reviews, and collaboration with perioperative leaders and external experts informed their strategy. The team implemented focused interventions including reducing OR traffic, reinforcing hand hygiene and attire compliance, preparing equipment in advance, and installing hand sanitizer stations outside of operating rooms. Staff education and targeted signage supported behavior change.
Driven by strong collaboration between clinical nurses, leadership, and the Unit Practice Council (UPC), this team effort emphasized sustainable practice change and a culture of accountability. Ongoing audits and collaboration with UPC and leadership ensured adherence and staff engagement. The multi-pronged, nurse-led initiative demonstrated the power of clinical leadership in driving quality outcomes and patient safety.
NICHE Program Recognition
Los Gatos NICHE Leadership Team: (from left) Ralph Trenoff, RN, Janheen Pascual, RN, and Christine Yoo, RN
El Camino Health continues to advance excellence in geriatric nursing through active participation in the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program. Both the Mountain View and Los Gatos campuses have achieved NICHE Member Status, demonstrating a strong organizational commitment to improving care for older adults.
As part of the NICHE Leadership Training Program, Los Gatos submitted a practice portfolio and was recognized at the Progressive Member Level. Leaders Ralph Trenoff, Christine Yoo, and Janheen Pascual completed the one-year leadership training over the course of 2024 and along with their staff, have successfully implemented NICHE standards at the Los Gatos campus.
Together, both campuses are building on NICHE principles to elevate geriatric care across the health system.