I would like to preface by saying that there are no real words to convey my utmost gratitude and appreciation for this nurse. I have encountered hundreds of great nurses in over two decades here at Jersey City Medical Center, and he for sure deserves the recognition and reward for going above and beyond, and ranks among them.

My mother was a patient in Critical Care recently. Despite her miniature stature, she carries a very large presence. She is particular about her belongings, her routine, and most definitely her care. She is very vocal and incidentally very hard of hearing, so also very loud when communicating. She has a short temper, very little patience, and most of all, is difficult to please. Yes, despite being one of "those" patients, Alec was still able to find the time, the patience, and most importantly, the compassion.

Of course, he checked off all the boxes on my end. He rounded, he explained, he kept us updated. However, what impressed me the most was that Alec was more than caring. My mom had been given 120mg of Lasix, and the cramps she was experiencing were insufferable. Alec did his due diligence by following up on repeat labs and contacting residents for replacements, etc.

What Alec did that will forever be on my mom’s memory (and mine), is that he physically stayed at her bedside stretching and rubbing her legs and feet to alleviate some of the cramping. She said she was never alone and could not stop raving about him to anyone who would listen, the following morning and into the days after.

"He’s the best nurse!"

"He was so good to me."

"He never left me alone…" 

This is patient care. This is compassionate care. This is taking care of your own. This is an extraordinary nurse.

I have always measured a nurse’s worth simply by answering one question. Would I allow this person to take care of my own family? In this case, not only would I allow him to take care of any member of my family again, but I would absolutely request him.