With 28 years of experience in nursing, a career like Sherri’s is not just a job; it is a lifetime achievement. Few can say their work has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of patients, families, and colleagues. Such a purposeful career is nothing short of a triumph.

Sherri’s journey to nursing began after she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and worked in finance. Realizing she had a greater calling, she returned to nursing school and graduated with her BSN from the University of Arizona in 1997. She started her nursing career in Florida as an RN in an assisted living facility before moving to California, where she transitioned into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Long Beach Memorial.

It was in the NICU where she discovered her true passion: improving care for sick and premature babies. Sherri worked as a bedside NICU nurse for several years at hospitals throughout Southern California, including Long Beach Memorial, Loma Linda, Pomona Valley, and the former Kaiser Permanente Anaheim NICU in Lakeview. During this time, she pursued further education, obtaining her MSN in Nursing Leadership from Walden University in 2006.

In 2007, she transitioned into a leadership role as the RN Residency Director at Loma Linda, later becoming a NICU Manager. Sherri returned to Kaiser Permanente in 2012 and has since served as a nursing leader in several departments, including Fontana’s NICU and the OBGYN Clinic. In 2017, she became the NICU Department Administrator at Kaiser Permanente Irvine.

In her eight years as NICU Department Administrator, Sherri has significantly enhanced the quality of care provided to patients. Some of her initiatives include the creation of the NICU discharge mural, personalized onesies for NICU graduates, the 5- and 10-year NICU reunions, Parent University, the Cuddler Program, and the implementation of several innovative technologies, such as bedside cameras for 24/7 parental access, the N-trainer to improve oral feeding, and EEG brain monitoring for seizure detection. These initiatives have helped Irvine’s NICU stand out for its commitment to patient and family experience and would not have been possible without Sherri’s leadership.

Sherri has also worked tirelessly to support and unify the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) departments, organizing wellness events such as the first-ever joint MCH holiday party and ensuring that capital budget requests were placed to secure state-of-the-art equipment for all units. She has served as a mentor to many nursing managers and assistant managers within the MCH department, always fostering professional growth and development.

Sherri is a humble and compassionate leader who cultivates mutual respect among her staff and colleagues. She exemplifies kindness, professionalism, and dignity in all her interactions and consistently encourages ongoing professional development. Her dedication to lifelong learning is evident not only in her own CNML certification, earned in 2022, but also in her unwavering support for NICU staff pursuing further education and nursing certification.

As a result, more than 60% of her NICU staff hold NICU certifications, and over 80% have earned a BSN or higher. Sherri maintains the highest standards for quality patient care, ensuring that the NICU is always ready for surveys and that staff are regularly recognized for their dedication and exceptional contributions. Through one-on-one rounding, UBT, and participation in many committees, she actively seeks feedback from staff to improve the unit’s needs and the overall member experience.

Sherri is always available, responsive, and dedicated to her team and families, no matter the hour. Her collaborative spirit elevates the entire nursing leadership team. Sherri’s compassionate leadership serves as an example for others. Through her guidance, staff have the tools and support they need to deliver the best care and feel like valued members of the team, which directly improves patient outcomes.

Throughout her remarkable career, Sherri has led meaningful change not just in Irvine but across multiple hospitals and units, leaving a lasting impression on countless nurses and helping them grow both professionally and personally.

It has been a privilege to work alongside Sherri and learn from her.

Sherri, you embody the qualities of a DAISY nurse, and it is with great honor that we present this Lifetime Achievement Award to you.

***

Sherri is also a DAISY Nurse Leader Honoree!