Donna Washburn
December 2025
Donna
Washburn
,
RN
Inpatient
Morton Plant North Bay Hospital
New Port Richey
,
FL
United States
Throughout her remarkable career, Donna has embodied the heart of nursing in every interaction. She leads by example—demonstrating integrity, empathy, and clinical expertise in every setting.
For more than 36 years, Donna has exemplified the BayCare Values and what it truly means to be a nurse: dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care and leadership. Her innate humanity and grace are immeasurable. Steadfast in her faith and grounded in deep compassion, Donna’s presence has touched the lives of countless patients, families, team members, and new nurses entering the profession.
Throughout her remarkable career, Donna has embodied the heart of nursing in every interaction. She leads by example—demonstrating integrity, empathy, and clinical expertise in every setting. Whether working as a bedside nurse, AOD, Skilled Nursing Facility Director, or Nurse Manager, one can be certain to find people whose lives she has impacted in lasting and meaningful ways. She has an extraordinary ability to emotionally connect with individuals from all walks of life, including those who face significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic challenges.
Two moments in particular reflect the depth of Donna’s character and the kind of nurse she is:
The first involved a patient who had lost nearly everyone he loved—including himself—as he spiraled toward self-destruction. Despite being a frequent visitor, no one had taken the time to uncover the demons he faced—until he met Donna. Through compassion, patience, and faith, she made a connection no one else had been able to make, helping him see a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
The second involved a despondent, embittered homeless man who frequently visited North Bay. His demeanor often left nurses and care team members feeling defeated. Donna, however, approached him with humility and love. She sat with him, connected through her faith, and ultimately washed his feet—a simple, profound act of service that left him in tears, unable to comprehend such selflessness and recognition of his worth as a human being.
These are just two of the hundreds of examples that reflect her servant heart and unwavering commitment to others.
As a Nurse Manager for 31 years, Donna has built a culture rooted in teamwork, respect, growth, and family. She has mentored countless nurses—helping them grow in skill, confidence, and professional development. She is always accessible to her team, offering steady leadership in times of both calm and crisis. Her commitment to patient care is equally steadfast: she has even shared her personal cell number with patients to ensure they could reach her directly if they needed support.
Donna’s leadership extends well beyond daily operations. She has spearheaded and participated in numerous process improvement initiatives, including a weighted blanket trial, charge nurse tele-verification processes, and Cerner electronic charting implementation—among many others. Her generosity is equally remarkable: she has purchased clothing for patients out of her own pocket, ensured new team members had uniforms when they couldn’t afford them, and consistently supported her team during the holidays and special occasions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Donna once again demonstrated her selflessness by volunteering her unit to be the primary COVID unit, determined to stand on the front lines with her team during one of the most challenging times in modern healthcare. Her calm, steady leadership through hurricanes, pandemics, and everyday challenges has been a source of strength and stability for all who work alongside her.
I have had the privilege of working with Donna for eight years, during which I have learned invaluable lessons from her leadership, faith, and heart. As she nears retirement, I can think of no better way to honor her than by recognizing the lasting legacy she leaves on BayCare, her colleagues, her patients, and the nursing profession as a whole.
Thank you, Donna, for decades of selfless service, unwavering leadership, and extraordinary impact on nursing and patient care.
***
Donna is also a DAISY Nurse Leader Honoree!
Throughout her remarkable career, Donna has embodied the heart of nursing in every interaction. She leads by example—demonstrating integrity, empathy, and clinical expertise in every setting. Whether working as a bedside nurse, AOD, Skilled Nursing Facility Director, or Nurse Manager, one can be certain to find people whose lives she has impacted in lasting and meaningful ways. She has an extraordinary ability to emotionally connect with individuals from all walks of life, including those who face significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic challenges.
Two moments in particular reflect the depth of Donna’s character and the kind of nurse she is:
The first involved a patient who had lost nearly everyone he loved—including himself—as he spiraled toward self-destruction. Despite being a frequent visitor, no one had taken the time to uncover the demons he faced—until he met Donna. Through compassion, patience, and faith, she made a connection no one else had been able to make, helping him see a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
The second involved a despondent, embittered homeless man who frequently visited North Bay. His demeanor often left nurses and care team members feeling defeated. Donna, however, approached him with humility and love. She sat with him, connected through her faith, and ultimately washed his feet—a simple, profound act of service that left him in tears, unable to comprehend such selflessness and recognition of his worth as a human being.
These are just two of the hundreds of examples that reflect her servant heart and unwavering commitment to others.
As a Nurse Manager for 31 years, Donna has built a culture rooted in teamwork, respect, growth, and family. She has mentored countless nurses—helping them grow in skill, confidence, and professional development. She is always accessible to her team, offering steady leadership in times of both calm and crisis. Her commitment to patient care is equally steadfast: she has even shared her personal cell number with patients to ensure they could reach her directly if they needed support.
Donna’s leadership extends well beyond daily operations. She has spearheaded and participated in numerous process improvement initiatives, including a weighted blanket trial, charge nurse tele-verification processes, and Cerner electronic charting implementation—among many others. Her generosity is equally remarkable: she has purchased clothing for patients out of her own pocket, ensured new team members had uniforms when they couldn’t afford them, and consistently supported her team during the holidays and special occasions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Donna once again demonstrated her selflessness by volunteering her unit to be the primary COVID unit, determined to stand on the front lines with her team during one of the most challenging times in modern healthcare. Her calm, steady leadership through hurricanes, pandemics, and everyday challenges has been a source of strength and stability for all who work alongside her.
I have had the privilege of working with Donna for eight years, during which I have learned invaluable lessons from her leadership, faith, and heart. As she nears retirement, I can think of no better way to honor her than by recognizing the lasting legacy she leaves on BayCare, her colleagues, her patients, and the nursing profession as a whole.
Thank you, Donna, for decades of selfless service, unwavering leadership, and extraordinary impact on nursing and patient care.
***
Donna is also a DAISY Nurse Leader Honoree!