Nursing Excellence

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center is proud of our nationally certified nurses for the diligence they show in furthering their specialized training. This advanced knowledge and expertise allows us to raise our standards and provide the highest quality of patient care.

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance is also proud to be Magnet recognized, the nation’s highest recognition for nursing excellence. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program recognized the hospital’s nursing team for exemplary patient care, nursing practice collaboration, patient outcomes and nursing research.

A Message From Our Chief Nursing Officer

Ever since I joined the compassionate team at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in 2021 and humbly stepping into the role of Chief Nursing Officer in March 2024, I have been continuously inspired by our nursing teams’ unwavering passion and dedication. Their commitment truly elevates our ministry, making it a beacon of excellence for our patients.

I am deeply proud of our nurses' devotion to their profession and their vital contributions to patient care and their families, as well as their service to the broader community. It’s also heartening to see the recognition and progress we have achieved together. Our journey includes transitioning freshly graduated nurses into practice or guiding experienced nurses into new areas of practice as they explore and seek new challenges. Our partnerships with educational institutions have been instrumental in bridging the nursing shortage gap while nurturing the future nursing workforce. The efforts of helping nurses master both the art and science of nursing is every single nurse’s responsibility to continue to shape our profession. Our nurses' commitment to lifelong learning, whether it’s pursuing degrees or certifications, significantly enhances the care we provide and enriches our work environment.

Our active participation in community outreach through walks and fundraisers raises awareness about various health issues and highlights our commitment to better healthcare. As a twice-designated Magnet® organization, our Professional Governance and Shared Decision-Making structure consistently leads evidence-based practice changes, enhancing patient outcomes. Our nurses honorably live out our mission by sharing their innovative practices and research at conferences, contributing to improved health worldwide.

Our strength doesn’t just come from clinical expertise; it's also the heartwarming compassion and the nurturing culture we uphold every day. Our nurses' remarkable care does not go unnoticed—they are frequently celebrated as Daisy Award recipients, Values in Action nominees, or honored for Excellence in Nursing. We often hear touching stories about how our nursing team goes above and beyond to comfort and support patients and their families during their most vulnerable times, whether through Honor Walks, memory stones, 3-Wishes, or simply by holding a hand or sharing a tear.

It is with deep gratitude and immense respect that I honor our nurses for the heartfelt dedication they bring to their roles every day. I feel incredibly privileged to lead such extraordinary nursing professionals in our mission. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and together, we continue to make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.

Candice E. Washilewski, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer

Magnet Recognition Daisy Award Professional Practice Model Patient- & Family-Centered Care Community Contributions Annual Report Structural Empowerment

Magnet Recognition

Magnet recognition logo Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance is proud to be Magnet® recognized, the nation’s highest recognition for nursing excellence. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® recognized the hospital’s nursing team for exemplary patient care, nursing practice collaboration, patient outcomes and nursing research.

The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Consumers rely on Magnet designation as the ultimate credential for high quality nursing. Developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Magnet is the leading source of successful nursing practices and strategies worldwide. Read more about ANCC Magnet Recognition.

Daisy Award

Please share your story and recognize a nurse who demonstrated excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care.

Share Your Story

We are so proud of all of our Daisy award recipients.

2020 Daisy Award winners

January: Nidia Perez-Bonilla, Transitional Care Unit
February: Nicole Iocona, CV Services
March: Lindsey Burrell, Intensive Care Unit

Get to know our 2019-2020 winners.

Professional Practice Model

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Professional Practice Model

Our Professional Practice Model is grounded in two complementary nursing theories, Jean Watson’s “Philosophy of Nursing,” based on her theory of human caring, and Patricia Benner’s novice-to-expert theory, based on her book “From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice.” The PPM depicts how nurses grow into nursing practice and how they communicate and relate to patients, families, communities and the interdisciplinary team.

Nursing Professional Practice Model graphic that includes the five components

The five components of our professional practice model include:

Shared Leadership and Empowerment

We see leadership as a shared endeavor between our leadership teams and clinical nurses. It is designed to maximize professionalism in nursing practice.

Quality, Safety and Excellence in Nursing Care

Nurses promote quality and safety in nursing care. They take accountability for high-quality outcomes.

Professional Development Advancement

We promote opportunities for nurses to grow into the professional nursing role with collaboration and competence. We encourage and reward their participation in academic progression, national certification and ongoing continuing education programs.

Interprofessional Collaboration

Within this context, collaboration is a necessary component to professional growth. Team members bring valuable expert resources to the care of patients and families.

Evidence-Based Practice

By using the systematic study of actions and phenomenon relative to the practice of nursing, we can greatly enhance nursing practice and patient care outcomes.

Patient- & Family-Centered Care

The Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care defines this type of care as “an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients, and families.” At Providence, we recognize that when we care for a patient, our care extends to and must be sensitive to the patient’s family.

Our Focus

As nurses at Providence our focus is on the physical, environmental, psychospiritual and socio-cultural comfort of our patients and their families. Nursing care is the science of caring based on interpersonal relationships. Nursing caring is complementary to medical curing. Nursing care is aimed at providing faith and hope. It also is projected to bring the patient to a state of his or her own potential, not as he or she currently presents. The vision at Providence Health & Services, Know Me, Care for Me, Ease My Way, expresses the caring and interpersonal nursing care we promote and deliver within the Providence Southern California region.

Community Contributions

Providence Little Company of Mary nurses are committed and passionate about giving back to their community. With our mission to care for the poor and the vulnerable at the forefront of everything we do, we have participated in, help organize and lead community walks, attended health fairs, and providing resources to those who need it.