Honourable Mention
Lori Taylor, University Health Network
Lori immediately came to mind when I found out about the award. She exemplifies all qualities of a fantastic leader, role model, effective catalyst for change, and staff and patient safety advocate. In addition, she insists on keeping up with the practice standards to provide safe care to our patients. Her more than 43 years of experience at UHN demonstrate her commitment, work ethic and dedication.
Lori’s commitment to patient safety:
Lori is an exceptional leader and has functioned in a variety of roles. Lori’s knowledge of her specialty in Cardiology as well as outstanding communication skills are exhibited daily in her role as a manager of professional practice. Furthermore, her 40-year dedication to patient safety at UHN is laudable. She promoted clinical practice by fostering nursing best practices through participating in and acting as an active member in implementing MOMAR and upgrading Pyxis Med Station. Additionally, she implemented the best procedures for Laboratory Blood Transfusion, including validating ABO.
Furthermore, she was a co-lead and enforced POCT in EPR. In partnership with the management team and the APNEs, Lori builds a culture aligned with Caring Safely initiatives, including development, implementation, evaluation and maintenance that align with UHN standards. Her Commitment to safety led her to be a co-chair of the medication safety committee. She was passionately interested in medication safety and completed a clinical practicum at ISMP Canada. She also participated as an active member in creating and updating Heparin and Argatroban nomogram order sets. She was also a Nursing representative for the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Standardization of and Products Evaluation Team and back-order replacement products.
Lori reinforces a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. She does this in collaboration with the leadership team to promote health and safety and emphasize adherence to workplace legislation. For example, she advocated for safe nursing ratios and care standards and played an essential role in team nursing implementation during COVID. During accreditation, she also played a vital role in updating the standard of practices for Skin/wound, TOA, Delirium, and fall.
Remarkable and Inspiring Role Model:
Lori is a highly creative leader who approaches problems with optimism and curiosity. As a manager of professional practice, Lori oversees nephrology, multi-organ transplant and Endocrine, Hyperbaric, Chronic and Rare diseases. She demonstrates nursing leadership by coaching and mentoring APNEs. She is a big advocate for evidence-based practice and encourages nurses to follow nursing practice standards of care by upholding CNO standards. In addition, she changed the models of care in acute care settings during COVID and then Surgical recovery. Finally, she played a vital role in guiding the implementation of expanding the RPN scope of practice in nephrology.
Lori’s passion in her professional practice is to promote and guide clinical practice by following CNO and UHN professional standards to provide the best care to our patients. She always creates an environment that fosters care and compassion to meet the goals of patients and their families. She has been critical to nurses’ professional development and practice standards. She provides input in developing policies and procedures, education, and research in the practice area. For example, she supported and guided nephrology policy development, nephrology medical directive implementation, nephrology EPIC modules, therapy plans, and hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis navigator in EPIC. Likewise, she ensures the nurses follow the UHN and CNO standards by regularly connecting with the program managers in leadership meetings.
Lori has been my manager for two years, and I have learned a lot from her. Her leadership has always been linked with her desire to “do the right things.” She made me feel that I am a valued member of UHN and recognized all my work. With her kindness, compassion and guidance, I was able to grow in my position. Whenever I call her with a question or concern, she quickly finds the answer or solution and responds to it. She provides input into performance appraisals, gives direct feedback to the APNEs regularly, and evaluates, coaches, and counsels, where appropriate. Working with her is a privilege; she makes everyone around her a strong leader.
Nominated by: Shyalini Jeevakaran Advanced Practice Nurse Educator- Nephrology, University Health Network
