August 2026 Honoree
Lexie Strausbaugh, RN
One of my favorite things about nursing is watching young nurses grow into their voices and discover what it truly means to advocate for their patients. Lexie embodies that kind of nurse.
Recently, she cared for a woman in her 50s whose condition was beginning to decline. At the time, she remained a full code, but after palliative care initially met with the family, they requested more time to discuss goals of care. In the meantime, it felt as though we were simply maintaining her condition rather than actively helping her.
Lexie recognized this immediately. She voiced concerns that we were not doing enough for the patient and took it upon herself to coordinate care among multiple disciplines. She organized communication among the attending physician, palliative care team, pulmonologist and oncologist to facilitate a family meeting and discussion regarding the patient's care trajectory.
What became clear during that meeting was that the patient wanted to fight. Fight for herself, her children, and her family. Just as importantly, Lexie ensured that wish was heard and understood by everyone involved in the patient's care. She recognized that true advocacy meant helping the care team align around what mattered most to the patient.
After the discussion, the decision was made to remain a full code. For many, that conversation may have marked the end of their involvement, but not for Lexie. She continued to advocate for the patient, immediately reaching back out to pulmonology to push for chest tube placement and advocating for a transfer to a higher level of care because of the patient's risk for further decompensation. Because of her persistence and urgency, both the chest tube placement and transfer happened quickly.
It was evident how deeply Lexie cared for this patient and her family. She was determined not only to honor the patient's wishes but also to ensure she had every opportunity to pursue the care she wanted. Lexie understood that advocacy does not end when a decision is made. It continues through action, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to the person behind the diagnosis.
Lexie never sits back and allows things to simply happen around her. She actively works to improve outcomes and provide meaningful care for her patients. Her advocacy in this situation was remarkable, especially considering that in previous days the patient had largely been getting by without significant interventions to address her condition.
By bringing the right people together, ensuring the patient's voice remained at the center of the conversation and pushing for timely action, Lexie changed the trajectory of this patient's care and demonstrated what nursing advocacy looks like at its best.
I commend Lexie not only for the exceptional care she provided to this patient, but also for the compassion, determination and advocacy she brings to her patients every day. She exemplifies the kind of nurse who ensures every patient is heard, respected and cared for as an individual, even during the most difficult moments of their journey.
Recently, she cared for a woman in her 50s whose condition was beginning to decline. At the time, she remained a full code, but after palliative care initially met with the family, they requested more time to discuss goals of care. In the meantime, it felt as though we were simply maintaining her condition rather than actively helping her.
Lexie recognized this immediately. She voiced concerns that we were not doing enough for the patient and took it upon herself to coordinate care among multiple disciplines. She organized communication among the attending physician, palliative care team, pulmonologist and oncologist to facilitate a family meeting and discussion regarding the patient's care trajectory.
What became clear during that meeting was that the patient wanted to fight. Fight for herself, her children, and her family. Just as importantly, Lexie ensured that wish was heard and understood by everyone involved in the patient's care. She recognized that true advocacy meant helping the care team align around what mattered most to the patient.
After the discussion, the decision was made to remain a full code. For many, that conversation may have marked the end of their involvement, but not for Lexie. She continued to advocate for the patient, immediately reaching back out to pulmonology to push for chest tube placement and advocating for a transfer to a higher level of care because of the patient's risk for further decompensation. Because of her persistence and urgency, both the chest tube placement and transfer happened quickly.
It was evident how deeply Lexie cared for this patient and her family. She was determined not only to honor the patient's wishes but also to ensure she had every opportunity to pursue the care she wanted. Lexie understood that advocacy does not end when a decision is made. It continues through action, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to the person behind the diagnosis.
Lexie never sits back and allows things to simply happen around her. She actively works to improve outcomes and provide meaningful care for her patients. Her advocacy in this situation was remarkable, especially considering that in previous days the patient had largely been getting by without significant interventions to address her condition.
By bringing the right people together, ensuring the patient's voice remained at the center of the conversation and pushing for timely action, Lexie changed the trajectory of this patient's care and demonstrated what nursing advocacy looks like at its best.
I commend Lexie not only for the exceptional care she provided to this patient, but also for the compassion, determination and advocacy she brings to her patients every day. She exemplifies the kind of nurse who ensures every patient is heard, respected and cared for as an individual, even during the most difficult moments of their journey.
Thank you, Lexie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
View More Honorees