By Cecilia Nasmith
Five Northumberland Hills Hospital staff members and one physician were recognized this week with Healing Hands Awards, in recognition of their outstanding demonstration of the hospital’s values of integrity, quality, respect, compassion and teamwork.
Presented this year at the November CEO-staff forum Nov. 18, this annual recognition celebrates the day-to-day acts that have made individual staff members stand out among their peers over the past year.
In its press release, the hospital congratulated all the 2019 nominees and recipients, and provided details of the six recipients.
Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse Nina Chernipeski is described by her peer nominators as an excellent nurse, broadly recognized for providing compassionate and respectful care to the patients and families she supports in the ICU.
She joined the NHH team soon after the hospital opened at 1000 DePalma Dr. in 2003 and is for her consistent calmness, kindness and respectfulness, regardless of the clinical circumstance.
In spite of working in a very busy unit, she has been noticed by her peers as one who makes time to listen to the individual stories of her patients. As one colleague put it, “Patients are able to maintain their dignity, and feel respected and listened to regarding their concerns.”
Emergency Department Registered Nurse Paula Lawder has become a key member of the emergency-department team since joining it January 2012. Her nominators spoke of the passion she has for emergency medicine and the way she translates that into actions to benefit care at NHH - updating ED medical directives, participating on the ED Quality and Practice Committee, representing her team on the Safe Medication Committee and playing a key role in implementing the hospital’s facility-wide acute stroke protocol.
Committed to life-long learning, Lawder supports orientation of new hires at NHH and participates in the Professional Practice Design Team, all while working toward her Master’s degree in nursing.
“New hires see Paula as a very knowledgeable and approachable point of care nurse to reach out to when they need support,” said one nomination. “
Our ED team feels very well represented by Paula’s involvement in various programs and organizational work.”
General practitioner, anesthetist and anesthesia service lead Dr. Michael Barrie – sometimes seen playing the guitar in the hospital's Rotary Courtyard – joined the NHH team in May 2005.
“And we are most fortunate that he did,” hospital president and chief executive officer Linda Davis said.
Known for his team spirit, Dr. Barrie is a strong supporter of NHH’s medical trainee program and an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course instructor. His nominations recognized these contributions to the hospital, and included recognition from a colleague who had the opportunity to see Dr. Barrie from the patient perspective.
“My father was recently a patient,” one nominee wrote, pointing out that “Dr. Barrie helped facilitate the urgency of care, speaking with the care team, and supporting a smooth transition into palliative…He offered emotional support to both me and my family, as well as professional advice. He demonstrated respect, collaboration, compassion and dedication.”
2B Medical-Surgical Unit Registered Practical Nurse Michelle Cane joined the hospital team in 2010, and her peers recognized her this year as a core member of the 2B Medical-Surgical Unit. Her nominations highlighted her consistent willingness to jump in and help her colleagues.
“Michelle will always help out the team, whether it be with brief changes, transfers, boosts, etc. You can always count on Michelle to offer advice if you’re concerned about a patient. She is excellent in a crisis, and a leader on the floor,” said one.
Another value Cane was recognized for is her compassion, particularly for patients whose condition may sometimes cause them to show behaviours that can be difficult for the team to manage. Said one colleague, “I have seen Michelle provide care to many who are confused, angry, combative and frustrated…She approaches all her patients with kindness and patience.”
Whether helping a patient into the shower, or helping lift a patient, these qualities are consistently observed and appreciated, particularly in the very busy environment that NHH is today.
Community Mental Health Services clerk Crystal Adams was nominated by her peers in the hospital's Community Mental Health program in recognition of her exceptional teamwork and compassion.
“Walking into an office seeking support for one’s mental health is a difficult task,” said one colleague.
“Crystal’s warm greeting as clients walk through that door or call asking for help is a welcoming invite for those in distress…She offers compassion to those who enter our office emotionally upset, finding them a quiet space to sit away from others waiting.”
Adams's colleagues further report that she is often the first to hear a mental health client’s struggles, and that she consistently demonstrates respect and integrity as she provides them direction to appropriate services and supports without judgement.
Her co-workers also report that she goes out of her way to ensure that those needing support can access it as quickly as possible, through efforts to find a clinician able to see the person the same day.
Appreciated for the consistent support she provides her teammates, one nominator spoke of how she “supports the team in many ways and is quick to offer words of praise when she sees a job well done…Even creating a board for the office, sharing accomplishments of the team.”
Environmental Services Worker Shaureen Young first joined the hospital on the Dietary Services team, but moved into her current role about a decade ago. Her colleagues nominated her for this award for her integrity and teamwork.
“Shaureen is extremely dependable and always quick to help the team,” said one colleague, “particularly when we’re having a very busy day. She can always be counted on to come in early or stay late…and when on shift, she is quick to pick up the phone when someone has an emergency that they need help with.”
In addition to her demonstration of exceptional teamwork, Young's colleagues also noted her compassion and natural ability with patients. Others commented on her willingness to stop to see if she can help or just to listen to a patient’s story.
“It’s this act of giving that extra attention to care that makes all the difference to our hospital culture,” Davis said, “and it is greatly appreciated, by your colleagues, and your patients.”
