Stockton ASU Department

Stockton ASU has been in existence since October 1992. This year, we are slated to do approximately 4800 cases, many being bilateral procedures on eyes and hands.

This is a team that has shown, over and over, their commitment to the Kaiser Permanente organization as they strive to uphold the organization's mission, vision, and goals, and demonstrate extraordinary skill and compassion for their patients and their families. Every day I observe this team going above and beyond, which impacts our patients and families and shows pride in the work they do.

The Stockton ASU is a team that strives for excellence in every initiative it undertakes. They have exceeded many targets, including WPS, Engagement, Inclusion, and the Culture of Health Index. They are on the path to Magnet submission due to their nurse excellence survey scores and the completion of their nursing exemplars and research project through hard, dedicated work.

For each magnet council, a Stockton ASU nurse is represented and attends the meetings regularly. Many are VON leaders, members due to being leads, co-leads, or secretaries. We have an active UBC and a care experience committee that reviews our patients' comments and develops ways to improve their care experience. Currently, we are above target at 87.3%, in the 77th percentile, with backlog being one of our common dissatisfiers.

In Stockton ASU, we have 13 ADN, 4 MSN, and 32 BSN nurses. We have 24 certified nurses in their expertise, and we have 23 Staff Nurse III and IVs who have obtained their clinical ladder recognition and continue to put forth exemplars, research projects, caring science, and EBP projects to better the care of our patients.

We have a current capstone project for caring science underway and are awaiting a policy approval to apply for being a "Smoke Free Environment" in the OR. Some of the other projects that the Stockton ASU staff have accomplished with submission of Posters at the RIA gathering include Procedural Sedation, which allowed cataract patients to be scheduled and done during the COVID crisis and continues this day to help get procedures done without an anesthesiologist, due to the shortage.

Aromatherapy, which is to help alleviate post-op nausea and is currently being looked at for Psych patients at another Kaiser facility; Guided Imagery and Effects on Post-Op Pain and patient experience to reduce narcotic need post-surgery; Breast Cancer Care Kits given to our mastectomy patients, which include breast pillows to assist in positioning and clearing of lungs post-surgery and request for building of a cover for the post-op parking area for the ASU patients to keep patients and their families out of the rain.

We receive comments from our patients, and they discuss their appreciation of our staff. Here are some verbatims from our patients from September and October 2025.

• "The staff was friendly, professional and efficient, and I was kept very comfortable during the procedure. I had a very positive experience."
• "I was very happy and felt that I was receiving all the medical care and needs from all the staff. I felt very welcomed by everyone on the staff."
• "Everything was so professional and kind. The doctors are amazing, the nurses very kind and caring, the receptionist was also very kind. This was as good of an experience I could have had. I appreciate everything they did for me."
• "Everyone from front desk to Dr. and all with procedures were all excellent."
• "The care and service I received from the nurses, doctors, and support staff were exceptional! From Sonia, who wheeled me into the surgical department, to nurses Haley and Cory, who remained at my side through the removal of my cast and getting the nerve-blocking injection, these two gave me comfort, relieved my anxiety, and kept me encouraged the entire time! Both deserve Daisy Awards! Each doctor that came in took the time to explain their role and answer any questions I had. Each person I encountered that day made me feel as if I was the only patient receiving services that day! My experience was remarkable! Finally, receiving a get-well card signed by the team after surgery was an added touch of the superior performance of the surgical dept."
• "I had the most amazing care while waiting for my surgery. Bill, I think he was one of the nurses, made me feel very comfortable and spent a lot of time with me to ease my mind about getting my block before my procedure. He made me feel less anxious while waiting. The whole staff was wonderful, but Bill was a huge help for me, and he has so much compassion for patients and what he does. I really just want him to know how thankful I am and felt so lucky he was there. Everyone was truly amazing."
• "The pre-op and post-op nurses were really great. They were working as a team and took very good care of every patient in there. I really appreciate their efforts."
• "I recently underwent my second cataract surgery on my left eye at Kaiser Stockton and wanted to express my deep gratitude for the care I received. I was greeted by the admitting nurse, Michelle, whose warmth and kindness eased my nervousness. Then I met Dr. Khandan again, and I felt reassured and secure. The team’s professionalism, friendliness, and thoughtful approach made a lasting impression, and I truly appreciated how smoothly the entire process was handled compared to my previous experience years ago at another facility. The surgical team’s attentiveness, the clear communication from the nurses, and the supportive environment left me with a profound sense of gratitude. As I left the hospital and later returned for my follow-up, I continued to experience the same kindness and hospitality from everyone I encountered. This experience has reaffirmed for me how exceptional Kaiser Permanente Stockton’s care truly is, and I am sincerely thankful.”