Alyssa Pena
November 2023
Alyssa
Pena
,
BSN, RN, CPHON, BMTCN
Outpatient Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora
,
CO
United States
Alyssa is committed to equality within patient care and to advocating for patients who are systematically underserved. I have seen her fight for marginalized patients time and time again.
I worked with Alyssa for several years on the inpatient unit starting in 2017, and again recently as I came back to the outpatient CCBD as a PA student. When I first worked with Alyssa, I was a unit secretary and then a CNA. Alyssa consistently had a reputation among both positions as being one of the RNs who would go out of their way to support and get to know the nursing support staff. She views everyone she works with as deserving of her time and attention, regardless of position/hierarchy. I know this has continued to her current position in outpatient BMT. This prioritization of team dynamics made a huge difference for myself and others, who were often overlooked by such a large floor.
As I have now spent time on the unit as a student provider, I have gotten the chance to appreciate Alyssa’s commitment to patient safety and quality of care more thoroughly. She is extremely dedicated to ensuring the best care is being given to her patients. No matter how busy she is, she refuses to cut corners. I have no doubt that I would trust her any day to care for my own loved ones.
Beyond this, Alyssa is committed to equality within patient care and to advocating for patients who are systematically underserved. I have seen her fight for marginalized patients time and time again. She advocates strongly for the use of interpreters and culturally appropriate care. She is also involved and proactive about improving care for transgender/queer patients through staff education and policy. She works for patients and families on the small scale of her daily interactions and on the large scale of her involvement with Captains of Inclusion. Through all of these channels, I believe she is a force for good toward equity in healthcare.
Alyssa has an impressive balance of compassion and competence. This is noticed consistently by patients who verbalize their comfort with her (many of whom have struggled to connect with or trust other healthcare staff). It is also clearly noticed by her peers, who trust her knowledge and in many cases who have been trained by her. She is strong in the foundation of what safe and caring nursing should be, but also progressive in her drive to constantly improve the standards of her care.
As I have now spent time on the unit as a student provider, I have gotten the chance to appreciate Alyssa’s commitment to patient safety and quality of care more thoroughly. She is extremely dedicated to ensuring the best care is being given to her patients. No matter how busy she is, she refuses to cut corners. I have no doubt that I would trust her any day to care for my own loved ones.
Beyond this, Alyssa is committed to equality within patient care and to advocating for patients who are systematically underserved. I have seen her fight for marginalized patients time and time again. She advocates strongly for the use of interpreters and culturally appropriate care. She is also involved and proactive about improving care for transgender/queer patients through staff education and policy. She works for patients and families on the small scale of her daily interactions and on the large scale of her involvement with Captains of Inclusion. Through all of these channels, I believe she is a force for good toward equity in healthcare.
Alyssa has an impressive balance of compassion and competence. This is noticed consistently by patients who verbalize their comfort with her (many of whom have struggled to connect with or trust other healthcare staff). It is also clearly noticed by her peers, who trust her knowledge and in many cases who have been trained by her. She is strong in the foundation of what safe and caring nursing should be, but also progressive in her drive to constantly improve the standards of her care.