Lexi Woolery, BSN, RN

I'm a nurse, and I have expectations for how things should be when my family members or I am the patient. I know how I care for people, and I know my standards are high. Very rarely does someone surprise me. I had to undergo the 5th surgery in the same place on my foot. Over these many procedures, I have had every kind of nurse, as well as the associated medical trauma. I have felt that my pain was not addressed and that I was dismissed by nurses. I shared this with anesthesia and my pre-op nurses. I don't know how Alexus was assigned to me in PACU, but it feels like some kind of divine intervention. Alexis created a space that felt safe for me as I woke up. She kept the light low, played music, and didn't leave my side. She listened when I told her I was in pain and made a plan to adjust what she was doing to make sure I felt heard. I have never had a nurse take the time that Alexus took with me. She treated me like a friend, chatted with me to distract me, and let me rest and recover without rushing me out the door. She fixed what my last several PACU experiences had broken. I told her I thought she should teach nursing students because we need more nurses who care as she does. No one wants to be assigned to the difficult patient, but I feel so very lucky that I got Alexus that day. It's rare to meet someone who truly has the gift of genuinely caring for others. I hope Alexus knows that she is making a difference, even if it is just one patient at a time. I am eternally grateful that she was my nurse, and I hope her other patients know how lucky they are. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Alexus!!