1. Watching my coworker, Alexandra Robertson, throughout this last year has been so inspiring. She put in countless hours when we were short-staffed on nights at our busiest times with COVID, she cares for and connects with patients personally, and she develops lasting relationships with them and their families. She treats each patient with respect and dignity, and during covid, would connect with her intubated and sedated patients by asking their families what they were interested in and then talking to them about those things or playing their favorite music in the rooms. She became friends with a few patients outside of work and kept up with their stories after they were discharged. Because of her relationships with one particular patient, our unit was able to have a reunion with him as he was a covid survivor, who had been trached, and was able to come to see us once he was home and walking again. It was such a blessing! Alex is compassionate, friendly, skillful, and knowledgeable in her trade as an ICU nurse, and her complete pouring out of herself during a very challenging and dark time for our unit moved me and motivated me to do the same. She is an excellent clinical staff leader and always has a smile. I am so grateful to have Alex leading our pack!

2. This past year presented healthcare with unique challenges that seemed to change and increase daily. Alex met these challenges clinically at every turn, but this is not what truly sets her apart for me. Caring for critically ill COVID patients was heart-wrenching. I watched Alex respond with compassion as patients were afraid before they were intubated. She would promise not to leave them, often staying over past the end of her shift to keep that promise. She was an incredible stand-in for patients whose families could not be with them- offering her strong shoulders to those who needed to cry, and holding the hands of those who longed to be with their loved ones. She patiently answered the phone and gave precious updates to family members of the sickest patients, ministering to these families with such tenderness. Many of these things though, could be said of so many other nurses at THR Rockwall. They were all truly amazing this past year- and I know they have not heard that enough. Where Alex truly went above and beyond was in her willingness to lean into the pain. This is not something most of us can do, and it comes at a personal cost for anyone who does it. Alex went to the funerals of her patients, and unfortunately, there were many to go to. She went to honor patients who had been in the unit for weeks and to continue to offer comfort to the families she had come to know. Even though it was painful to keep leaning into the pain, Alex did just that. She kept in contact with patients and families because she became like family to many of them through the power of her nursing touch. I am so honored to work with Alex and to nominate her for the DAISY Award.

3. Alex goes above and beyond for her patients and their families all the time. During COVID she spoke with one family in particular and the family was able to come back to the unit and share their story of the great care that Alex had provided their loved one. There was no visitation during this time so Alex found special ways to connect with the patient by asking the family questions about the patient over the phone. Even though the patient was intubated and sedated Alex asked things like, what kind of music does he like and what does he like to do? Alex took these things and used them to speak to comfort the patient. She put the patient's favorite music on and talked to the patient about his love for motorcycles. Alex provided so much comfort to the family over the phone that the family verbalized that they knew if she was there that their loved one was going to be okay. Alex makes all of her patients feel like they are special and cared for deeply. She is one of a kind.