44
A Year in Review 2012 – 2013:
Programs
Courage Lives Here
45
Arthritis Program
Courage is...
listening and
leading
An extra dose of DLC:
Donna’s loving care
Donna Robinson has a sixth sense about nursing.
In Toronto Western Hospital’s orthopedic/rheumatology
unit, part of the Arthritis Program, Robinson anticipates
what patients need.
Be it a change in IV or an extra dose of DLC (Donna’s
loving care), she’s a leading example in how to take the
extra step in patient care.
“I like to have a positive impact on people who don’t
expect a positive experience,” she said. “I’m open to their
needs. I think of patients as my brother, sister, mother
or dad.”
Radar-like ability
A veteran of 20 years on nights, Robinson is now the
evening in-charge nurse in the unit.
Throughout the night shift, she demonstrates a radar-like
ability to detect anyone who needs help, and walks over
promptly to pitch in.
“Donna’s courage to lead the team and ensure excel-
lence in patient care is remarkable,” said Olga Muir, nurse
manager of the unit.
Muir described a time when Robinson noticed a patient
being sent to rehab whose dressing was not secure.
“Donna quietly but firmly informed a much more senior
nurse of the inappropriateness of sending the patient off
in that manner,” Muir said, adding, “Donna is a role model
to her peers.”
Indeed, Robinson’s co-workers say she has taught them
to listen to patients and families without interrupting
them, to always scan a patient’s surroundings for tell-
tale signs of his or her condition– such as the colour or
amount of urine in the drainage bag — and to initiate
a patient connection.
She’s a firm believer that a cheery hello, eye contact and
(
Continued on page 46...)
“I like to have a positive impact on people
who don’t expect a positive experience...I think of patients
as my brother, sister, mother or dad.”
–Donna Robinson
Patient Suheyla Padil, 65, is comforted by nurse manager Olga Muir, left, and in-charge
nurse Donna Robinson, right. Padil had her knees replaced two days earlier.
(Photo: UHN)
Donna Robinson inspires her team with compassion, positive energy
and humour.
(Photo: UHN)
