I've had the pleasure of working with Alexis for a number of years. Just recently she attended a workshop of mine where she shared a patient situation that I've been able to integrate into future workshops so that others will be able to benefit from her willingness to share. She is an engaged and an active participant in her own staff development.
I want to acknowledge the excellent care that she provides for her patients every day that she comes to work, and I'd also like to recognize her for the care she provides to her colleagues. The ICU is a stressful environment, with clinical staff facing very challenging and difficult situations on a daily basis.
Hillary Manning adds the following thoughts: Alexis has been pivotal in helping with resiliency in the ICU. Alexis pleaded with senior leadership to have special counseling/resiliency meetings for the ICU and encouraged staff to attend. She did teaching with staff so they would understand what the sessions were about, and followed-up with the EAP councilors to make sure meetings were effective and helpful. She has revitalized the Retention committee, and has spent many hours planning and providing fun activities to keep this large group destressed and moving forward.
Alexis has presented self-care/resiliency talks to the ICU staff in meetings and has put her own personal experiences and emotion out for everyone to see it is okay to be human and still be a great nurse! Alexis is a preceptor for many ICU staff, and does a great job of making it her mission when she is here on the floor as a preceptor, charge nurse, or bedside nurse, that she will help in any way she can to make everyone's day better.