March 14, 2019Northern Health Diabetes Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Robins, received the ‘Above and Beyond’ award at the recent Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards.
The award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond in providing care or support to a patient, family or work colleague.
Michelle was nominated by Melissa Langborne, for the care and understanding she provides to all of her patients, and assistance she provides to her colleagues.
Melissa works at front reception at Craigieburn Centre, and has come to know Michelle quite well, feeling confident while working together with Michelle to ensure great patient care. Melissa says she works collaboratively with the team and nothing is ever a bother for her, working outside of her normal hours to ensure a fantastic Diabetes Service.
“Michelle works efficiently and has a lovely, caring nature. She goes above and beyond to help her patients, and several patients have told me they feel safe and secure in the knowledge that Michelle is a great communicator and accessible for help and advice when they need it,” Melissa said.
“She understands and does her best to accommodate patients when they are running late or have forgotten an appointment, and has the patience to take the time, listen and understand the needs of the patient.”
Working as a Nurse Practitioner for the past five and a half years, Michelle says she enjoys working collaboratively with the diabetes team, plus many other teams across all Northern Health sites.
“I work in an advanced role with an extended scope of practice that allows me to implement treatment changes in a timely manner for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, women with gestational diabetes, and clients with secondary diabetes, such as steroid-induced hyperglycaemia. I also have the opportunity to mentor a number of colleagues within the organisation,” Michelle says.
On winning the award, she says, “it means a lot to be nominated by a team that works so hard and are so under recognised – the reception staff. They are our front line team and help me so much – I feel they should be the people who get this award, not me.”
In the future, Michelle hopes the profile of nurse practitioners can be enhanced, and the number of nurse practitioners in the organisation increased.
“The future of diabetes management is changing, and new medications and technologies are exciting – both are challenges and opportunities moving forward.”
Sponsored by Maxxia and BankVic, our Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards have been designed to formally recognise outstanding contributions by our employees and celebrate staff excellence.
Featured image left to right: Award winner Michelle Robins and Melissa Langborne
