Meet Lanae Sylva: Osler's 2023 Compassion Award winner

Registered Nurse Lanae Sylva says she loves to talk with her patients, their family members and her colleagues.

“I’m always learning small, little things about people … which helps me to understand them better,” she explained. With this more fulsome picture, comes a greater capacity for empathy and compassion – something Lanae has no shortage of.

Her colleagues say she cares deeply for the well-being of others and is a helping hand to all those around her, making her a perfect recipient one of Osler’s six 2023 Values Awards, the peer-nominated Compassion Award. The Values Awards were given out at the Going Beyond Awards for Osler staff this past June.

She approaches patients with an open mind, and always considers their unique needs.

If a patient is reluctant to take their medication, for example, Lanae’s approach is to dig a little deeper to find out why. “Most of the time there is a reason or there is some kind of misunderstanding,” she said. “It’s about asking questions and just listening.”

A member of Osler’s Clinical Resource Team (CRT), Lanae moves from unit to unit across Osler’s sites, delivering care with compassion wherever it’s needed most. For Lanae, this variety is a perfect fit for her personality.

“I like to keep moving. Each time you go somewhere new, you bring a new perspective,” she said. “Being part of the CRT you see so many different things and you’re able to transfer those skills to other units.”

Lanae recently accepted a temporary role as a clinical scholar in which she supports the transition of newly graduated nurses, internationally educated nurses and new hires into the clinical setting – a perfect next step for her.

Lanae’s colleagues say her kindheartedness and selflessness also make her a great person to work with. She’s the first person to step forward to bring people together to celebrate or support a colleague. “I love planning and putting things together,” said Lanae.

Lanae said she was ‘really surprised’ to hear she had been nominated for the Compassion Award – and even more shocked to learn she had won. “I just thought ‘oh gosh, there are so many deserving people.’ But I feel appreciated and that’s a great feeling.”