Alexandra Bruno, RN

As a Clinical Donation Coordinator for NJSN since 2021, I have worked with many JSUMC patients who have consented to organ and tissue donation. The staff on Brennan 4 (both the trauma and neuro side) are exceptional, but I feel that yesterday, RN Lexie Urban’s care of the consented DCD donor went above and beyond and needs to be acknowledged and commended.

Her patient (42yo Male, who is a registered organ and donor), became increasingly unstable over a short period of time. During that time, Lexie was right next to him, advocating for his care and coordinating care diligently with Dr T and other members of the HCT to provide exceptional care and ultimately stabilized the patient to allow donation to happen.

During this time, the family arrived, and Lexi was able to gracefully explain the patient’s condition. The technical care she was providing and the emotional support she was simultaneously providing to the family, who arrived in the middle of this episode, was impressive. Lexie was unflappable during this episode and was able to calmly juggle multiple demands and responsibilities with grace and complete understanding of the situation and prioritize appropriately.

Ultimately, the care of her patient allowed us to find recipients for the donor’s heart, lungs, and kidneys during this period of instability. Her care of her patient significantly contributed to NJSN’s ability to coordinate the donation and successful transplants impacting the lives of her donor patient’s recipients and their families and loved ones.