Maryca’s unwavering desire to serve others can be witnessed in all her actions, making her a strong candidate for this award. Maryca consistently strives to provide both clinical expertise and compassion in everything she does. 

One of the wonderful things about being a nurse is the variety of ways you can help others, each time you come to work. Maryca shares her talents as a labor and delivery RN, a preceptor, and an educator, and she actively participates in many hospital committees.  In each of these roles, Maryca can be seen as a natural leader. She believes in giving her all whenever and wherever she is needed. Maryca constantly searches for real solutions, that improve processes for our patients and their families, aimed at creating a welcoming and safe environment.  

Maryca believes in building up her teammates. One can see this in her unwavering commitment to orient both new hires and our Transition to Practice (TTP) RNs. In addition to precepting, Maryca has taken time to develop an extensive resource packet that outlines correct processes and documentation for all RNs who work in the Labor and Delivery unit. This has improved the overall documentation for our entire team.  In addition to her nursing shifts, Maryca has recently volunteered to share her knowledge, each month, at the hospital-wide new hire orientation (NNO), working to assist with onboarding new RNs by teaching documentation skills. Her dedication to ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care is remarkable. 

This past year, the MCH unit hosted a region-wide scrub class that was intended to teach seasoned Labor and Delivery RNs how to scrub during surgical cases in the OR. Participation was voluntary. Maryca participated in this class, again with the hope of improving her skills, and supporting the MCH unit when needed. 

Maryca always comes to work with a smile. She works multiple extra shifts, filling in when needed and covering when patient volume is high. During her shifts, Maryca always brings a sense of kindness, peace, and calmness to the unit.  You can always find Maryca assisting in deliveries, “catching” babies, and providing backup in emergent situations. Her peers know they can rely on her for help. During Leadership rounding, patients often compliment Maryca for the outstanding care that she provides. 

This past year Maryca took an active role in helping to prepare our unit for a Joint Commission survey. This consisted of extensive preparation, ensuring the unit was organized, equipment was checked, protocols were up-to-date, and nurse’s documentation was complete and accurate. Maryca often volunteered to come into work early, at 3am, reviewing charting, to assist her peers on both the day and night shifts. Proudly, the MCH unit passed this survey with no findings. 

Maryca co-leads our MCH Unit-Based-Team (UBT) meetings, identifying improvement gaps and overseeing projects that have led to overall improved unit performance. Her professionalism can be witnessed at these meetings, where she keeps her teammates on point. This collaboration has strengthened our team’s culture by improving engagement, communication and knowledge-sharing. Her positive input has led to multiple unit-improvement projects that have directly impacted our unit’s culture, growth and success. This past year, this committee has focused on promoting healthy initiatives, such as completing (2) walking challenges, with celebrations that have included all staff, CNMs and physicians. UBT has also partnered with Leadership to focus on financial projects aimed at finding ways to decrease staff missed meals and breaks.
Maryca is also a member of our West Los Angeles nursing informatics committee, staying up-to date with any new EPIC changes, bringing this information back to the team. 

She has also participated in the hospital’s Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) steering committee, focused on ways to improve our surgical patients’ outcomes. 

Maryca was an essential part of the initial magnet journey, helping to build comradery across the units and excitement toward obtaining Magnet status for Kaiser West Los Angeles.  

While this extensive list of accomplishments is impressive, what stands out most about Maryca is her natural desire to assist others and improve our members' care. Maryca is kind, caring, selfless, compassionate in all her actions, and gentle and approachable. She believes wholeheartedly in promoting her teammates to improve patient care and patient safety. She finds great pleasure in simply growing others.

Thank you Maryca for demonstrating such a high level of professionalism, committed Kaiser Permanente’s high standards of courtesy, respect and kindness, while striving for excellence in all that you do.