Careen is a leader that inspires and empowers nurses.
I started in VON and later became the Magnet ambassador, I was challenged to learn and understand Magnet concepts, Careen has supported me and the team by facilitating VON and Magnet meetings, she inspires us to create innovative strategies as she provides information needed to empower us to use the tools we have to educate and train our peers to understand the culture on Magnet. Careen supports us by giving constructive feedback as we continue to learn, as well as teach our peers. Through Careen's support and leadership, we had a successful Magnet visit which ultimately achieved Magnet Designation

Careen plays music at meetings to engage the team, she often inspires us with quotes or pictures. During the COVID pandemic, Careen was able to be flexible and keep the team moving forward by conducting online meetings. Despite some technical difficulties, she finds ways to engage everyone even from home. She will often create a breakout session and hands-on activity to engage the team.

Careen utilizes different approaches to inspire and engage the Voice of Nursing team by way of presentations from nursing departments, individuals, research committees, and community groups like the Foster Greatness.

Careen makes work meaningful because she cares what the team has to say. In our meetings, she explores challenges that we might encounter in our respective units to bring everyone on board with ideas or concepts. She listens and will engage us and work through issues so we can come to an agreement on how to best deliver the information back to our peers.

Careen incorporates reflection and self-assessment activities related to personal bias. She invites speakers to share work practices related to promoting healthy work environments such as the ER project on incivility. Careen addresses Kaiser Permanente’s mission, vision, nursing values, and the Professional Practice Model at each VON meeting.

Careen has a passion for creating a meaningful work environment. Her positive energy and enthusiasm for improving both patient care and our workplace are contagious. One of her greatest attributes is her ability to encourage and empower others to be leaders within their roles, regardless of their title.

Careen shares results of NDNQI surveys, and nurse-sensitive indicators. Promotes discussion among the VON team on suggestions to improve underperforming areas.

Careen models trust, compassion, and mutual respect every day at work and during our meetings. When my husband was sick and eventually passed away, she sent me cards and always checked in on me to see how I was feeling, and how I was doing, she made me feel very supported. If I was working on the unit, she took the time to check on me and asked about my husband and family.

She was always so happy to talk about any type of professional development, she lets us know about any opportunities out there, and she really engages the staff to help in any way she can.

Careen displays an encouraging, positive, and approachable personality. She encourages RNs to seek opportunities for professional development by obtaining a degree or national certification and becoming an active participant of a professional organization. She provides KP resources such as librarians and research committee. Careen has a positive and enthusiastic outlook. She recognizes opportunities for improvement and celebration of nursing excellence.

Careen has collaborated with nurses in the VON as well as with Magnet ambassadors to create Magnet boards to educate staff and create awareness regarding our data which in turn helps improve quality outcomes. She makes her rounds and takes a cart with games and other creative ways to engage and thrill staff.

Careen genuinely cares about every member of the team, which is why she actively engages in promoting self-care activities within the hospital. She leads through inspiration and motivates others to utilize their strengths to drive their professional practice and positively influence their teams to achieve greater goals.

Careen not only mentored frontline nurses she also created and introduced the Mentoring program in OCA. The mentoring program promoted self-reflection and realization of both professional and personal goals. Careen helped mentees to grow in their respective roles and help achieve short-term goals, she also continues to guide mentees to achieve long-term goals.

A quote from her Mentee: “Careen mentored me and help me grow as a KP nurse; with her guidance, I was able to consider and train to become a relief charge in DOU and join a committee like the NQC, geriatric resource committee. I am grateful for her support.” 

Careen has facilitated the Mentoring program together with her co-mentors in creating an environment that is essential for professional and personal growth and development. As a mentee, “I am very thankful to be a part of the OCA mentoring community as it afforded me opportunities to grow professionally, it encouraged me to go back to school and enroll in the master’s in nursing program, I was able to achieve some of my short-term goals of public speaking which help boost my confidence in presenting in front of peers Charge Nurses, Nursing Leadership and to the NQC committee.”

Careen never ceases to make herself available to staff, she rounds in the various units and talks to frontline nurses. She continues to encourage the good work nurses do every day. She always exudes positivity; she always greets everyone with a warm smile. She created meaningful activities during nurse’s week.

During the first COVID surge, Careen helped us to remind ourselves of the things that we are thankful for despite the COVID surge with the use of the Gratitude Tree. All interdisciplinary team physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, ward clerks, monitor tech, and CNAs wrote what they were thankful for, and it made all of us in the unit feel so much closer to one another and made us realize how lucky we all are to have each other and especially to having the support of KP leadership and the organization.

Careen is very instrumental in leading KP OCA to achieve Magnet designation. Careen is passionate about the essence of being a nurse and continues to help nurses realize the value of the impact of what we do every day. Careen promotes lifelong learning and encourages frontline staff to participate in conferences, and informs us about research opportunities. She also supports yearly recognition programs for nationally certified nurses and those achieving higher degrees at Kaiser Permanente.

Careen actively supports the professional goals of others, including me. For example, Careen knows that I strive to continuously improve my leadership skills, and she often sends me resources (webinars, books, training, etc.) that I can utilize to help hone these skills and realize my professional goals.