Don is a hero like no other. He is hardworking, energetic, responsible, organised, erudite and a self-starter.
Hardworking is a word that best describes Don, he is a valuable resource and very focused on all tasks assigned to him. His dedication to his patients and their family members is felt by all. He is visibly one of the most loving and caring individuals we are honoured to work alongside.
Energetic after a 12-hour shift and being able to participate in sports makes Don unbelievable. His enthusiasm to maintain a work-life balance inspires his team that it can be done. He will actively participate in team-building events and ensure new staff learn from him and avoid pitfalls.
Responsible and being organised are what draws staff to Don for his expertise on chemotherapy protocols, difficulty in cannulating, medication calculations and troubleshooting medical devices. He respects that his colleagues need to learn and offers his assistance without hesitation. When Don is at work the team can relax that challenges and work-related stress will be managed easily.
Don is very instrumental in teaching our new employees Bone Marrow Transplant practices. He is the Lead Preceptor who has taken on an informal CNC role voluntarily to teach the staff how to transcribe Chemotherapy orders, time management, educating on special trial medications, and helping to identify when patients are not doing well from subtle changes due to transplant complications so that they receive prompt care. He is very proactive and self-motivated. He uses every opportunity as a teaching moment and is patient with our staff when training them. He makes himself available at all times to the team.
Don is a man of erudition and he expresses his thoughts very eloquently; one can tell that he's erudite in the nursing profession with 12 years of clinical experience. He maintains his continuing professional development and supports the shared governance structure present in the unit. He is actively involved in the unit-based council projects, Magnet, JCIA, JACI and CBAHI standards. He adheres to the policies and procedures knowing their importance.
Don is a self-starter who thinks fast and acts quickly and with confidence. His critical thinking skills have saved numerous lives and uphold our mission to provide safe effective care. A senior night shift nurse mentioned to Don that her patient was not doing well. Don went to the room and immediately knew from his nursing judgment that something was not right. He immediately activated RRT. The patient only complained about a headache overnight and the blood pressure was elevated. No other concerns were noted. The patient was monitored closely throughout the night and given prn medications as prescribed. This patient ultimately was found to have an intracranial bleed and subsequently transferred to PICU to receive a higher level of care.
These qualities he possesses make us a very lucky team to call him a colleague and friend.