Jacob is a nurse's nurse. He began working as a CNA while going through nursing school. Once he graduated, he entered our New Graduate Program and soon moved up the ranks to his current Educator position. And not only is Jacob a full-time Educator here at OCI, but he is also a board certified medical-surgical (CMSRN), board certified progressive care nurse (PCCN) and keeps his bedside skills in-check as a per diem Critical Care Nurse at a neighboring hospital. Jacob is a prime example of a Nurse Leader. He sets the bar high and serves as a role model to all who work with him.
He advocates for nurse-led professional practice by creating an environment where the staff is motivated, engaged and accountable for their practice. He started the MST Practice & Standards group in 2016. From the first meeting, he led the group to establish a charter and was determined to promote his staff nurse counterparts to own their committee and take responsibility for their practice. From the beginning, he challenged the group to take charge of their practice. Some early P&S meetings were lessons in developing professional practice skills. For instance, searching the literature to support revisions to the soon-to-expire enteral feeding policy, providing feedback on the Careboard to enhance its use, and creating a survey to assess CNA and RN attitudes about mobility. Later the group explored a Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) and early risks assessment to decrease mortality. And the list goes on.
Through all these efforts Jacob is a teacher, coach, and support. He has fostered independence and now has a well-oiled machine of staff nurses taking charge of the committee. Recently Jacob was not able to attend a meeting and the Chair was able to lead the group, collaborate with the team to meet meeting objectives and create minutes to guide the agenda for the next meeting. He should be proud of the fact that the P&S team can run a successful meeting without him, not that they don't want him there!
Jacob has been instrumental in the creation of the curriculum and the advancement of our RN Residency Program. His hard work and dedication resulted in KP -OCI being the first KP hospital to achieve ANCC Accreditation with Distinction in September of 2018.
Jacob is a nursing innovator and a problem solver and is always up to the task of finding new ways to share information and ensure others can access that information. He has motivated others in the Education Department and the Management team to create SharePoint pages for all meetings to ensure meeting materials are readily available and accessible to staff, managers and educators. He willing shares is great ideas and insights.
Jacob is a DAISY Nurse Leader and an exemplary LEADER at OCI!
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Jacob Reeves is clearly dedicated and committed to advancing the nursing profession. He has an enthusiasm for all areas of professional practice and this enthusiasm is contagious! He has inspired many nurses to pursue professional as well as personal goals and has worked tirelessly to provide guidance and encouragement to nursing staff in Medical, Surgical, and Telemetry Department. Since he became the MST educator, Jacob has been committed to bringing nursing excellence to the MST department. He has helped produce a significant number of Certified Medical/Surgical nurses (CMSRN) and Progressive Care certified nurses (PCCN). All these to improve nursing quality and excellent patient care experience. Jacob also plays a pivotal role in the new grad program. He expends tremendous energy in serving as a guide, a motivator, a facilitator and a role model to the new grad nurses. His leadership in professional and educational development encompasses solid skills, superb teaching ability, dedication to advancing and leading the profession of nursing and of course mentoring. Last year, Kaiser Permanente OC Irvine RN Residency program received accreditation with distinction as a Practice Transition Program by the ANCC Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This is another first recognition and achievement for the entire organization. He spearheads practice and standards committee, working hand in hand with an equally enthusiastic group of nurses and nurse leaders. Again, demonstrating his utmost dedication to nursing excellence.
On normal days, Jacob will be seen rounding on CNAs, RNs, monitor techs. You would observe him sharing knowledge with a caring attitude for everyone, an attitude that is backed by his endeavors, respecting each person and motivating them to aspire to their highest level of achievement. He is well loved by nurse leaders and staff, across MST as he possesses a great sense of humor and a down to earth attitude, characteristics which help him stay on an even keel under times of stress and which make him approachable to staff members of all levels. He is quick to recognize the achievements of others, thus investing them to greater heights. As a seasoned professional, he is quick to realize that no one is perfect and accepts that we are all works in progress. It is rare to have the privilege of working with a mentor who cares so much about those he mentors, who is not afraid to admit when he doesn't have a clear understanding of something, who can laugh along with others, sharing in their success, yet understanding when obstacles occur. It is then that his abilities as a mentor shine. Professionalism, intelligence, commitment, respect, caring, and teamwork are words that one would use to describe Jacob.
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Jacob has played a key role in my growth as a new nurse. He was one of the first few people who I met when I first stepped into Kaiser Irvine, and now, almost two years later, having worked with him not only as a mentor in our RN Residency program, but as an educator on the units, he has exemplified and far exceeded what it truly means to be an exceptional leader.
There are too many situations to select from when identifying how much Jacob has demonstrated extraordinary clinical skill, leadership, and compassionate care to his peers that ultimately translates to better patient outcomes every day. As a new graduate nurse, I can attest to the support and the innumerable dedication he has poured into our program. Every meeting day, conference, and simulation was filled with an agenda that did not only address competencies that catered to the development of our skills and knowledge, but his efforts encompassed our growth as individuals stepping into our role as nurses. He taught us how to take on the responsibilities of our practice, and most importantly, how to turn day-to-day challenges into learning opportunities that keep us grounded regardless of the milestones we reach.
Most recently, I had to come face-to-face with some of my biggest insecurities as a young nurse. Teaching a group of experienced, seasoned nurses was not a challenge I was expecting to tackle this early on in my career as I would never have come to terms with the fact that I had the aptitude to do so on my own. Jacob refuted my self-doubts by teaching me how to de-escalate my own self-incriminating thoughts that only heightened my insecurities. His words of advice and encouragement were something that I held onto throughout my presentations, which ultimately cultivated my confidence not only in my professional role but in myself. To me, a true nurse leader is someone who does not only recognize successes but one who bolsters morale and paves avenues for improvement. Jacob excels in epitomizing this role as he exhausts his own limits and takes it a step further by selflessly seeking resources to uplift the entire team instead of himself.