Alexandra Dube
February 2023
Alexandra
Dube
,
RN
5 South Pediatrics
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester
,
MA
United States
Alex’s unwavering support was a blessing for our child. Alex stayed by A’s side when no one else did, during the most troubling time of our child’s young life.
Alex was one of a team of close to 25 nurses who cared for our 13-year-old at the UMass Memorial Pediatric Unit, over a span of 7 months. As a whole, the nursing staff was excellent. Alex stood out, even among this high caliber group of nurses, for her medical acumen, her compassion, and her unwavering commitment to our child.
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
During our child’s stay, they (she) went through a period of horrific self-harm, biting themselves repeatedly, and necessitating that nurses floss their teeth to remove the flesh. Understandably, this was emotionally distressing for nurses. This was so traumatic to deal with that many nurses needed to limit working with our child. In fact, all the nurses on the unit made the choice to reduce their work with our child to once a week. Except for Alex. Alex committed to working with our child during every one of Alex’s shifts, to provide continuity of care for our child. Alex worked most weekends and she made sure to have A as a patient for every one of her shifts. Alex’s unwavering support was a blessing for our child and our family. Alex worked most weekends and she made sure to have A as a patient for every one of her shifts. Alex’s unwavering support was a blessing for our child and our child did best when they would have the same nurse two to three shifts in a row and Alex provided that for the entirety of our child’s 7-month stay at UMass Medical. Alex stayed by A’s side when no one else did, during the most troubling time of our child’s young life.
MEDICAL ACUMEN
When Alex was on shift, we, as parents, could relax. We knew that our child would be safe medically, emotionally, and overnight. This is because Alex was always on her A-game. She went over and beyond the basic protocols of wound cleaning and vitals. She thought about our child’s big picture medically and what was working and what wasn’t. For example, she noted that our child was taking their sleeping medications later and later, beyond midnight, thus affecting our child’s sleep and overall routine. Alex cared and understood that it’s important for the night meds to be given at the correct times. Alex coaxed our child into taking these important medications at the correct time. Alex had boundless energy. When Alex was on shift, we knew that our child would be supervised regularly and that Alex would make sure that the one-to-one stayed awake throughout the night. We—and our child—really appreciated the energy and spirit that Alex brought into the room.
COMPASSION
Alex connected with our child on an emotional level. This was critical for our child’s safety and recovery. Alex found topics they had in common, like word games and art, and Alex would make sure to blend that into their interactions at night, to make the hospital routine of vitals and pill taking, and sleeping easier on our child. It was Alex’s compassion that enabled her to stay with our child during their 3 week stretch of self-biting. Alex understood that our child’s behavior was a manifestation of their serious illness. She kept the wound clean, and she supported us as parents and our child. She said this period would pass and that she would be with us through it all. Alex delivered top-quality medical care and compassion that our child and we parents needed to get through a most difficult 7-month hospital stay. The morning that our child was being transferred, Alex stayed over her shift so that she could be with our child. In fact, Alex walked with our child as the EMTs brought them (her) to the ambulance. That is amazing dedication, over and beyond what anyone could have expected. We are so grateful for everything the nursing team did for our child – and Alex in particular.
Our child has been hospitalized for two years now, and Alex stands out as exemplary. We therefore very much hope you can honor Alex, and her demonstrated commitment, compassion, and medical acumen as a DAISY Nurse.
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
During our child’s stay, they (she) went through a period of horrific self-harm, biting themselves repeatedly, and necessitating that nurses floss their teeth to remove the flesh. Understandably, this was emotionally distressing for nurses. This was so traumatic to deal with that many nurses needed to limit working with our child. In fact, all the nurses on the unit made the choice to reduce their work with our child to once a week. Except for Alex. Alex committed to working with our child during every one of Alex’s shifts, to provide continuity of care for our child. Alex worked most weekends and she made sure to have A as a patient for every one of her shifts. Alex’s unwavering support was a blessing for our child and our family. Alex worked most weekends and she made sure to have A as a patient for every one of her shifts. Alex’s unwavering support was a blessing for our child and our child did best when they would have the same nurse two to three shifts in a row and Alex provided that for the entirety of our child’s 7-month stay at UMass Medical. Alex stayed by A’s side when no one else did, during the most troubling time of our child’s young life.
MEDICAL ACUMEN
When Alex was on shift, we, as parents, could relax. We knew that our child would be safe medically, emotionally, and overnight. This is because Alex was always on her A-game. She went over and beyond the basic protocols of wound cleaning and vitals. She thought about our child’s big picture medically and what was working and what wasn’t. For example, she noted that our child was taking their sleeping medications later and later, beyond midnight, thus affecting our child’s sleep and overall routine. Alex cared and understood that it’s important for the night meds to be given at the correct times. Alex coaxed our child into taking these important medications at the correct time. Alex had boundless energy. When Alex was on shift, we knew that our child would be supervised regularly and that Alex would make sure that the one-to-one stayed awake throughout the night. We—and our child—really appreciated the energy and spirit that Alex brought into the room.
COMPASSION
Alex connected with our child on an emotional level. This was critical for our child’s safety and recovery. Alex found topics they had in common, like word games and art, and Alex would make sure to blend that into their interactions at night, to make the hospital routine of vitals and pill taking, and sleeping easier on our child. It was Alex’s compassion that enabled her to stay with our child during their 3 week stretch of self-biting. Alex understood that our child’s behavior was a manifestation of their serious illness. She kept the wound clean, and she supported us as parents and our child. She said this period would pass and that she would be with us through it all. Alex delivered top-quality medical care and compassion that our child and we parents needed to get through a most difficult 7-month hospital stay. The morning that our child was being transferred, Alex stayed over her shift so that she could be with our child. In fact, Alex walked with our child as the EMTs brought them (her) to the ambulance. That is amazing dedication, over and beyond what anyone could have expected. We are so grateful for everything the nursing team did for our child – and Alex in particular.
Our child has been hospitalized for two years now, and Alex stands out as exemplary. We therefore very much hope you can honor Alex, and her demonstrated commitment, compassion, and medical acumen as a DAISY Nurse.