I am honored to nominate Alyssa Rodericks for the DAISY Award for her exceptional contributions to patient care and her commitment to quality improvement and evidence-based practice in Surgical Frailty. Alyssa was instrumental in implementing the Surgical Pause Risk Analysis Index for Preoperative patients over age 50 in Orthopedics and Vascular Surgery. This evidence-based national VA practice has led to the identification and optimization of Veterans identified as frail during their preoperative visit. Alyssa's recent certification in Geriatrics is a testament to her commitment to providing the highest standard of care to our aging population. Alyssa Rodericks embodies the qualities of an exceptional nurse, consistently going above and beyond to ensure her patients receive the best care possible.

A recent incident involving a Veteran from another state exemplified Alyssa's compassion and dedication to her patients. Unfortunately, the Veteran's surgery had been canceled unexpectedly, leaving him stranded in Providence as the plan was for the Veteran to be admitted post-op for 1-2 days. When Alyssa met the Veteran, who was in tears, she immediately acted. She arranged for the Veteran to have lunch and then diligently worked to secure transportation for him, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to patient advocacy and holistic care. The Veteran and his wife were extremely grateful for everything Alyssa did for them that day. Alyssa has also demonstrated outstanding leadership within the surgical clinic, participating in and leading several quality improvement initiatives. Her leadership, dedication to evidence-based practice, and genuine compassion make her an outstanding candidate for the DAISY Award.