“NYGH – a special place”
For the 11 years Patricia Arango has worked at North York General Hospital (NYGH), she’s never once taken its community-focused approach for granted. It’s one of the many reasons the latest staff lottery winner has been such a loyal and committed NYGH employee.
Patricia is a nurse on the hospital’s 5th floor, taking care of patients before and after surgery and when they are admitted. She also cares for medical patients in the Short Stay Unit.
A welcoming environment convinced her NYGH was the right place for her.
Ever since she did her placement as a student, Patricia knew she belonged at NYGH. Once she was hired, her initial feelings were confirmed. The exemplary patient-focused care, the proximity to her home in North York and the welcoming nature of her colleagues have earned her respect and commitment.
A friendly atmosphere and rewarding work.
Patricia appreciates the smaller size of NYGH, as compared to other big city health care centres. She says it allows her the opportunity to get to know many of her colleagues throughout the hospital instead of just those on her floor. The most rewarding part of her job, she says, is being part of a patient’s journey from sickness, to improved health, to being discharged.
Reflections on the pandemic
When she thinks back to how the COVID-19 pandemic affected NYGH, Patricia recalls the cancellation of planned surgeries and how it affected both staff and patients. Many patients were forced to wait longer for surgery and became more ill in the interim. She is grateful that everything is back working at full force now.
When she isn’t working, Patricia loves to read, do puzzles or get out in nature. She plans to use her recent lottery winnings for some home renovations and a vacation.
