Do you know how to fly a plane? We know someone who would love to learn. Meet Lynn Robbins, BSN, RN, CRRN, who has worked for UofL Health for almost nine years and is now the nurse navigator for RETAIN services.
The Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) Kentucky program is a federally funded initiative exploring stay-at-work/return-to-work (SAW/RTW) strategies. Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy in partnership with the Employment and Training Administration and the Social Security Administration, RETAIN is engaging various state teams in a series of SAW/RTW demonstration projects.
Lynn oversees the rollout of the RETAIN Kentucky program, including outreach activities, referrals and advocacy for the importance of return-to-work best practices. RETAIN Kentucky is a network that helps individuals that have experienced an injury or an illness remain in the workforce. The demonstration project also helps individuals with social determinants of health. This unique intervention program works with employees, health care providers and employee-related support services. Best practices and outcome data will be presented to the governor of Kentucky in 2025 to inform policy changes for the state.
Lynn’s favorite thing about working for UofL Health is that it is a community of passionate people who work together towards a common mission of patient-centered care. She feels that the network she has been able to create for RETAIN Kentucky exemplifies teamwork—everyone recognizes the importance of return-to-work support for their patients, and they work together to produce the best outcomes possible.
When asked what her goal for UofL Health was, Lynn said, “To continue helping patients and employees obtain support to get back into the workforce.”
“I love being a nurse and I love helping people,” Lynn said. “Everyone deserves someone to go that extra mile for them especially when vulnerable with sickness or injury. I want to have a positive impact on my patients and my community. It gives me pleasure when I can help my patients smile or find laughter in their times of trouble.”
One thing you may not know about Lynn is that she is originally from Chicago and could have Aurelio’s Pizza for every meal for the rest of her life.
Lynn first moved to Kentucky when she attended Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, for her bachelor’s degree. She then attended University of Louisville School of Nursing where she obtained her bachelor of science in nursing in May 2022.
One fun fact about Lynn is that she once helped nurse a beached whale named “Puma” at Mote Marina in Sarasota, Florida, where she volunteered to help wildlife with her brother.
In her free time, she loves being with her husband and daughter doing all kinds of activities like swimming, hiking and cooking. She’s also the loudest cheerleader at her daughter’s basketball games and horse-riding competitions.
One piece of inspiration Lynn lives by is a quote she learned from her childhood neighbor, “Always leave the world better than you found it.”
If you see Lynn out and about, be sure to say “hello’ and ask her about her other favorite places to eat in Chicago or about how you can support the RETAIN Kentucky program. She would love to get to know you!
