A patient who transitioned to hospice care had been admitted initially for altered mental status and was found to have a cancerous mass in her neck that would eventually compromise her airway. The patient and husband decided to pursue comfort measures instead of proceeding with any more medical procedures and treatment. The medical team and palliative team were in the process of organizing hospice and comfort resources for the patient and husband when the patient expressed that she would like to be discharged sooner rather than later.

Alexa sat with the patient and her husband and talked through leaving that day rather than the next day, but ultimately, the patient wanted to go home that evening and be comfortable. Alexa helped the patient get dressed and prepared her for discharge while cracking jokes and having playful banter with both the patient and husband. Due to the patient's progressing weakness, she was unable to ambulate without assistance from at least two individuals and required more help than her husband could provide to get home.

I worked with Alexa to schedule Medicar transportation, but, unfortunately, the earliest available was not until 9:30 p.m. The patient was eager to get home and wanted to just drive home with her husband. Both the patient and husband had mobility challenges, and it was Alexa who advocated that it would be unsafe to let the husband try to assist the patient from his car up to their apartment alone.

The patient did not have any family or friends close by, so no one could meet the couple at the apartment and assist with bringing the patient up to their home. Alexa, being the amazing nurse she is, came to me and asked if she could give me report on her patients so she could accompany the patient and the husband home and help ambulate the patient from the car up to their apartment. Alexa proceeded to give me report on her patients and then escorted the husband and patient down to the parking garage to their car. She drove with them to their apartment just down the street from the hospital and helped the patient get home safely. Not only did she ensure the patient was dropped off safely, but Alexa got her settled on the couch and ensured the husband had everything he needed to make his wife comfortable.

Alexa truly demonstrated not only what it means to be a nurse but specifically an NM nurse by putting her patient first. I am honored to work with such a compassionate, selfless, hardworking, and intelligent individual and she should be recognized for all the amazing care she provides to her patients.