Donna has been a nurse in the OR for over 26 years. She is highly respected for her professional expertise and is sought out for her opinion and guidance by newer staff. Donna is highly dedicated and takes pride in her job.
In the OR, the nurse is the patient advocate, responsible for ensuring patient safety. Donna quickly earns the trust of her patients when she meets them in the pre-operative area. Her confidence in her ability to care for them immediately comes across. Donna's clinical skills, knowledge, and experience guide her to recognize potential problems and find a solution before it occurs.
Positioning a patient in the OR presents unique challenges. As a member of the neuro team, Donna encounters these challenges on a daily basis. Patients who are positioned on their side or abdomen can face the risk of pressure injury. Damage can occur to the skin, underlying tissue, or nerves. Donna performs a careful preoperative assessment for each of her patients, identifying what is unique to that individual. She determines the appropriate equipment that will be needed and will protect at-risk areas of the body with padding. Her patients wake up after surgery free of injury.
Donna is a role model for everyone in the OR and is a most deserving recipient of this award!