Our nurses

Strategic Plan: Journey to Excellence Launch

In 2018, VA Long Beach Nursing Service committed to adopting the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet framework as a roadmap for nursing excellence, with the aim of enhancing the work environment, strengthening professional culture, and improving outcomes for both staff and veterans. The pursuit of Magnet designation remains an important organizational objective; however, the greatest value of this journey lies in the sustained cultural transformation that occurs as structures and processes are built or refined, and as more nurses lead and engage in evidence‑based improvement efforts. Since embarking on this work, VA Long Beach has achieved key milestones, including the development of a formal nursing research program and the implementation of a clearly articulated Professional Practice Model (PPM), which together provide a strong foundation for continued progress toward Magnet recognition.

VA Long Beach Professional Practice Model (PPM)

The image below illustrates the Professional Practice Model for VA Long Beach Nursing. Held and supported by hands representing Jean Watson's Caring Science, nursing theory, and Patient Center Care, it visualizes how each of the element of the model fits together. The PPM was developed by a team of nurses representing the entire health care system, incorporating the VA Long Beach mission, vision, and values.

Journey to Excellence

Each year, staff attend the ANCC National Magnet Conference to deepen their understanding of Magnet requirements and to learn how nurses across the country are achieving excellence for their patients and colleagues. Our 2025 Magnet conference cohort returned highly inspired and are now leading or engaged in multiple improvement projects to exemplify the “Power of Nurses” and advance our journey to excellence and Magnet designation.

Shared Governance Decision-Making Structure

VA Long Beach nurses have a strong tradition of shared decision-making, with opportunities to serve on system-wide committees including the Patient Fall Prevention Committee, Infection Prevention Interprofessional Committee, Nurse Practice Council, Nursing Professional Development Committee and more. In 2023, more than 150 staff and leaders participated in workshops to learn, reaffirm, and strengthen our professional decision-making structure. Since then, 44 Unit Practice Councils (UPCs) have been formed. These department-level councils are led by a clinical nurse in partnership with their supervisor as servant leader, advocate, and mentor. Engaging our nurse experts “from the bedside” has added significant fuel to our pursuit of excellence.

Today, VA Long Beach nurses have many avenues to use their voice and expertise to improve their work environments and Veteran care on their units and across the facility. As one of 170 hospitals in the largest healthcare system in the nation, many of our  nurses enjoy serving on regional and national committees, extending their impact to colleagues and Veterans across the country.

Professional Development

VA Long Beach nurses receive strong support for professional growth at every career stage, from new graduate RNs to those preparing to retire. All nurses are encouraged to engage in life-long learning and have access to free contact hours through VHA’s online learning platform to help maintain licensure.

Many nurses choose to advance their education, obtain higher-level licenses, and/or earn one or more board certifications in their areas of expertise. At VA Long Beach they can benefit from the medical center’s numerous academic affiliations, un-matched scholarships, generous incentive awards, and nurse recognition programs.

VA Long Beach offers multiple avenues to support nurses’ professional development, including flexible scheduling, Transition-to-Practice (TTP) programs, and structured preceptor, mentor, and Emerging Leader programs. Additional opportunities include simulation-based learning, on campus courses taught by subject matter experts in nursing research evidence-based practice (EBP), Lean Methodology, and Team Training, among others.

Recognition: The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

VA Long Beach nurses go above and beyond every day, delivering exceptional clinical care with compassion to patients and their families. This dedication is recognized each quarter with the DAISY Award program, which honors and celebrates the meaningful impact of the nursing care experienced. Every nomination serves as meaningful recognition for nurses as it reflects deep gratitude from patients, families, and colleagues.

The DAISY Award program highlights extraordinary compassion by collecting nominations from patients, family members, and care team members who witness or experience outstanding care. Eligible nominees include nurse assistants (NAs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). All nominations are blinded and reviewed by an internal committee who evaluates them based on the DAISY Award criteria, compassion described, and evidence of VA mission, values, and/or strategic priorities expressed. 

Each quarter one DAISY Award honoree is selected for each nurse role and are awarded by the executive team and Nursing Award and Recognition Committee members in their department while surrounded by their peers, leaders, nominators, and often family and friends. They are recognized again nursing the annual Nurses Week Award Ceremony.

Each DAISY Award honoree receives a certificate in a DAISY portfolio, a hand-carved Healer’s Touch sculpture from Zimbabwe, an honoree pin, a congratulatory banner for their unit, a copy of their nomination, a gift bag, and cinnamon rolls to share with colleagues. Honorees are also featured on the DAISY Award website, and receive access to professional development, education, and wellness benefits. All DAISY Award nominees are recognized with a DAISY Nominee pin and a note of appreciation from VA Long Beach leaders.

Annual Nursing Excellence Awards

Each year leaders and staff nominate nursing staff who consistently demonstrate excellence. One winner per nursing role (NA, LVN, RN, NP, or CRNA) is selected and receives a recognition certificate and monetary award by executive leadership at the annual Nurses Week Award Ceremony. VA Long Beach winners advance to compete at the regional and national levels for national recognition and bigger winnings.

DAISY Nurse Leader Award

The DAISY Nurse Leader Award honors nurse leaders who may not provide direct patient care but are essential in creating environments where compassionate, high-quality care can thrive. This annual recognition celebrates registered nurses in roles such as Nurse Chief, Deputy Nurse Chief, Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse, Educator, Associate Director of Patient Care Services (ADPCS), Deputy ADPCS (DADPCS), Preceptor, Informatics Nurse, and Patient Flow Nurse.

Nominations are submitted by staff who describe how these leaders positively impact their ability to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care. Each honoree receives a DAISY Nurse Leader certificate, portfolio, and pin; a commemorative banner for their department; and a Healer’s Touch sculpture specially designated for Nurse Leaders. Recipients and their stories of compassionate leadership are also recognized by The DAISY Foundation and featured on the DAISY website.

DAISY Nursing Team Award

The DAISY Team Award recognizes that while innovative ideas to improve patient and family outcomes may originate with an individual, meaningful implementation is often the result of collaborative teamwork. This annual award honors groups of two or more individuals, led by a nurse, who work together to meet patient and family needs in ways that extend beyond traditional nursing roles.

Each team is recognized with a customized DAISY Team Award plaque featuring the team’s name, along with a personalized certificate, a DAISY portfolio, and a DAISY Team Award pin.

Celebrating Our Nurses During Nurses Month

The impact nurses have on the health and well-being of Veterans and their families is unparalleled. Each May, VA Long Beach proudly celebrates and recognizes its nurses for their commitment to co-creating a “Best Place to Work” culture and for striving to achieve exceptional outcomes for those they serve.

An internal staff-nurse-led committee plans and coordinates a variety of activities throughout the month, designed to strengthen teamwork, inspire a spirit of inquiry, promote self-care, and recognize and showcase outstanding achievements.

Nurse’s Week “New Knowledge and Innovations” Poster Fair

This annual event during Nurses Week celebrates and strengthens our culture of inquiry by giving nurses an opportunity to disseminate the outcomes of their research evidence-based practice (EBP), quality improvement, and/or innovation projects. Presenters provide a two-minute poster summary so attendees can hear and learn in a concise and impactful way. Throughout the year, staff receive mentorship from “idea conception to dissemination” from the nurse scientist and/or expert leaders and coaches, that culminates in an engaging and celebratory environment to recognize their achievements.

The event continues to grow each year in both scale and creativity. This year’s Hawaiian-themed celebration featured a 360-camera station, delicious tacos, and 42 posters highlighting nurse-led or collaborative projects that advanced our VA mission and accelerated our journey to excellence. In addition, 20 interactive booths showcased innovative programs led by passionate nurses, complemented by engaging games, food, and activities designed to enhance learning and participation.