Alex Rodgers
May 2021
Alexandra
Rodgers
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
UF Health Shands Hospital
Gainesville
,
FL
United States
Alex took over an hour washing and braiding my patient’s hair so it wouldn’t become tangled or matted while she was so sick with COVID.
We went through a lot this past year since we were the COVID ICU. We saw so many patients that were so sick and felt so alone. I had a patient that was very sick on ECMO that had beautiful, long hair that was rolled into a bun on the top of her head. She was intubated and sedated and couldn’t care for it. When speaking to Alexandra Rodgers about it she offered to braid it. Alex took over an hour washing and braiding my patient’s hair so it wouldn’t become tangled or matted while she was so sick with COVID. Seeing her braid the patient’s hair was such a juxtaposition because the patient was so critical, with a large ECMO cannula and central line in her neck, endotracheal tube in her mouth, and multiple IV pumps throughout the room, but Alex was taking the time to wash and braid her hair for me (while she also had 2 COVID ICU patients). MICU is full of team players with high standards of care and Alex emulates just that. I know it was a simple act but seeing her work on this patient’s hair while she was so sick is something I don’t think I’ll forget. She is an excellent nurse, and I am lucky to call her a colleague and friend.