When a patient has an extended hospitalization, the love and support of family can mean everything to the healing, recovery, and the difference in a patient's desire to live. When no family comes to visit the patient, often the nursing team becomes like a substitute family through their caring, compassion, kindness, and support. Alyssa embodies all of these attributes consistently when caring for her patients.
Our team will never forget how she treated a patient recently that had been here for several months in the unit, feeling suicidal, shunned by her family, and nowhere to be discharged. The patient cried frequently, was depressed, refused to participate in her care, and often would not eat. It was so hard for the staff to watch, and we worried that the patient would lose her will to live and not ever leave Parkridge. We truly believe that only through the love and kindness of nurses like our wonderful colleague is what helped the patient make it through her long hospitalization without giving up. She wanted the patient to feel like she was cared for and appreciated and she came in on her days off to provide the patient with a "spa day." She purchased and brought personal care items, styled the patient's hair, gave her a manicure, and helped her to feel good about who she was. She spoke about the patient like she was family. The patient began to eat and Alyssa always made sure when she worked that the patient had her "4 sugars and 4 butters" on her hot cereal. Sometimes, it really is the little things that a caring nurse learns about a patient that helps them to feel like they matter to someone in this world and this is what Alyssa lovingly did.
As nurses, we are often focused on the tasks at hand to save a life but it can be so much more. As this nurse's co-workers so genuinely stated, "She provided personal care and services to a patient. It can be easy to forget that a patient is a person, not just a room number and this is what makes Alyssa a true nurse."
We have witnessed her hold the hand of the dying, show an unmatched level of compassion and empathy to many heartbroken families, and show extraordinary kindness and love to the shunned. This wonderful and humble nurse is truly a DAISY. We are not only proud to call her our colleague, but also an Extraordinary Nurse.