Jessica Bhangu
May 2026
Jessica
Bhangu
,
MSN, RN
Med-Surg
Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center
Sacramento
,
CA
United States
Her actions reinforced that repeated barriers to safe care deserve attention, support, and follow-through.
I would like to nominate Jessica Bhangu, Assistant Nurse Manager for 1 East / 1 South, for the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Jessica demonstrates the kind of leadership that makes staff feel supported, heard, and safe to ask for help. She leads with a firm but kind approach, balancing accountability with compassion and ensuring that staff have the resources they need to provide safe patient care.
A recent example of Jessica’s leadership involved a staff member who was experiencing repeated issues with intravenous pump interoperability. The nurse continued to receive error messages despite using different pumps, creating ongoing frustration and concern at the bedside. Rather than dismissing the issue, assuming it was user error, or allowing the nurse to continue struggling alone, Jessica recognized that this situation required focused support, troubleshooting, and individualized education.
Jessica proactively advocated for her staff member by reaching out to a nursing professional development specialist to request individualized instruction and a unit visit to observe the issue firsthand and determine exactly what was happening. Her response demonstrated strong leadership by treating the concern as both a staff support need and a patient safety issue. Intravenous pump interoperability is an important part of safe and efficient medication and fluid administration, and recurring error messages can affect workflow, confidence, and timely care.
What makes Jessica’s leadership so meaningful is the way she responded. She did not shame the nurse or minimize the concern. Instead, she created a psychologically safe learning opportunity where the nurse could receive support, ask questions, and work through the issue with the right resources. Jessica’s firm but kind approach reinforced that safe practice includes speaking up when something is not working and seeking help when additional support is needed. Jessica’s response mattered because she addressed the issue before it became normalized as “just another pump problem.” Her actions reinforced that repeated barriers to safe care deserve attention, support, and follow-through. Her advocacy for her staff nurses reflects the qualities of an exceptional nurse leader. She listened, acted promptly, escalated appropriately, and connected her staff member with professional development support. She turned a recurring challenge into an opportunity for learning, safety, and growth.
Jessica Bhangu is highly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award because she advocates for her staff, promotes a culture of learning, and supports safe patient care through compassionate and accountable leadership. Her actions remind staff that they are not alone when challenges arise; they have a leader who will listen, advocate, and help them succeed. Kristopher Clemeno”
It is with this kind of compassionate and dedicated care that Kaiser Permanente and the DAISY Foundation present you with this award.
A recent example of Jessica’s leadership involved a staff member who was experiencing repeated issues with intravenous pump interoperability. The nurse continued to receive error messages despite using different pumps, creating ongoing frustration and concern at the bedside. Rather than dismissing the issue, assuming it was user error, or allowing the nurse to continue struggling alone, Jessica recognized that this situation required focused support, troubleshooting, and individualized education.
Jessica proactively advocated for her staff member by reaching out to a nursing professional development specialist to request individualized instruction and a unit visit to observe the issue firsthand and determine exactly what was happening. Her response demonstrated strong leadership by treating the concern as both a staff support need and a patient safety issue. Intravenous pump interoperability is an important part of safe and efficient medication and fluid administration, and recurring error messages can affect workflow, confidence, and timely care.
What makes Jessica’s leadership so meaningful is the way she responded. She did not shame the nurse or minimize the concern. Instead, she created a psychologically safe learning opportunity where the nurse could receive support, ask questions, and work through the issue with the right resources. Jessica’s firm but kind approach reinforced that safe practice includes speaking up when something is not working and seeking help when additional support is needed. Jessica’s response mattered because she addressed the issue before it became normalized as “just another pump problem.” Her actions reinforced that repeated barriers to safe care deserve attention, support, and follow-through. Her advocacy for her staff nurses reflects the qualities of an exceptional nurse leader. She listened, acted promptly, escalated appropriately, and connected her staff member with professional development support. She turned a recurring challenge into an opportunity for learning, safety, and growth.
Jessica Bhangu is highly deserving of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award because she advocates for her staff, promotes a culture of learning, and supports safe patient care through compassionate and accountable leadership. Her actions remind staff that they are not alone when challenges arise; they have a leader who will listen, advocate, and help them succeed. Kristopher Clemeno”
It is with this kind of compassionate and dedicated care that Kaiser Permanente and the DAISY Foundation present you with this award.