Alicia has been an especially phenomenal leader and team player these last few months as the 8C inpatient unit continued to face challenges with high patient census and acuity. Alicia is a valuable member of our team - and a veteran nurse if I dare say so! Having worked at SickKids for over 15 years, she is a wealth of knowledge, experience, and composure. Though a part-time staff member, she has picked up so many shifts lately we practically see her every day - pretty much from Monday to Friday. The whole team truly thanks her for her willingness to step up and help out! Despite frequently facing challenging shifts (often on full nursing assignments with admissions and discharges), she enthusiastically trucks through each and every day, without a single sigh or complaint. She is absolutely amazing! Furthermore, Alicia is flexible and always open to helping her peers. She has volunteered on countless occasions to help her busy colleagues by picking up and caring for additional children to lighten their loads. I for one have benefited from her generosity several times.
Alicia always provides safe and excellent family-centered care. Even on the busiest shifts, she is able to find time to chat, joke, relate, and genuinely connect with children and family members. Alicia has also demonstrated leadership by volunteering to take on Clinical support nurse (CSN) responsibilities when we did not have a trained CSN on busy day shifts. She is fearless!
I once had a mother who was very upset with the course of events that unfolded with her child that had involved a Code Blue situation. The mother had been bottling everything up, which built up an uncomfortable tension between her and all staff members. Alicia saw how this was affecting the care and relationships between the child, mother, and staff. Alicia was not afraid to approach this mother and ask what were her concerns, and how we could best support her. This mother opened up to Alicia immediately, as no one had previously been brave enough to be this upfront and direct with her. Alicia demonstrated clear and open communication, commitment to family-centered care, and partnered with the mother in the best interest of the child.
Alicia has risen to the occasion to keep us afloat during our time of need! She truly cares about her patients, colleagues, and work-family! I am very much privileged and honored to have her as a peer and role model! #Forever8CLove