Alexa Caparas, RN, H4 – Trauma/SICU/CVICU
Please join the Center for Nursing Excellence in congratulating Alexa Caparas, RN, for being selected as the DAISY Award recipient for the month of September!
Alexa Caparas, RN, works on H4 – Trauma/SICU/CVICU and was nominated by a UAMS employee. The nomination below reflects how Alexa impacted their life in a very special way.
Nomination: Alexa was taking care of a patient who had been declared brain dead and was being worked up for organ donation. The family expressed their request for their loved one to have makeup and jewelry placed on her. As being a nurse myself, my honest first thought about this request was that it was absolutely crazy. Alexa’s positive attitude and willingness to accommodate the grieving family’s request was very refreshing and made me rethink my initial thoughts. It softened my hardened heart that we as nurses sometimes experience. Sometimes it’s hard to remember to put yourself in someone else’s place and remind yourself of what you would want done if you were in the others position. Alexa immediately jumped up and started brainstorming a way to make this request possible. A respiratory therapist, named Andi Jones, was more than willing to help make this request possible and had some fake eyelashes that were placed on the patient. Andi also had some lip gloss that was used on her lips and also her cheeks. Another nurse, named Michael Clardy, fashioned a necklace out of the patients’ rings with the string from some sutures that he took the needle off of. Although this was a group effort, it would not have been made possible if Alexa had not had the loving and caring attitude that she had that day. Her willingness to go above and beyond has been portrayed many times over. She exudes so much positivity and is an absolute joy to work beside. She deserves to be recognized not only for this selfless and loving experience but also the many more times her leadership and positivity has changed my attitude for the best. I hope to continue to learn from her compassion and am lucky to know her.
Great job, Alexa!
To learn more about The DAISY Award or to nominate a deserving licensed nurse, please visit: DAISY Award