Alyssa Abundis
June 2023
Alyssa
Abundis
,
RN
Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Palo Alto
,
CA
United States
She adapted quickly to his preferences, and she changed my son's whole trajectory with her kindness, care, consistency, and professional behavior. Chronically ill children require delicate care to ease their way.
My son receives care thousands of miles from home, and he is fearful and anxious. During this visit, he was the patient for a new procedure which had a lot of unknowns. On his 3rd night of admission, we were both frustrated, he felt disrespected and neglected, and I felt disrespected and not valued as my son's parent. Things were not going well when Alyssa entered and reviewed the care plan with us at the start of her shift. What she did not know, is that she walked into a problem. My child was receiving medications for days I did not know about, treatments were discontinued we just started 2hrs before, and I was very upset and direct. Alyssa was the first nurse to acknowledge the distress this caused me as a parent and my son as someone who does not trust nurses.
She heard both of our concerns and immediately went to clarify the plan with the providers. She helped my son feel heard about the medications he was taking and how he was taking them. Then, it got so much better when my son began quizzing staff for fun. Alyssa enthusiastically participated. She was so genuine and patient. She heard my son when he told her how he saw his nights going, Alyssa clarified his expectations for every treatment, and she then did not stray once he was asleep. It was a little time-consuming, but she did it exactly how he asked, and was on for 3 more nights. For the first time, my son didn't feel like a problem, his nurse took him back when he had questions she answered them, she advocated for his needs with providers and other clinical staff. In turn, he allowed her to provide the necessary treatments he usually declines. She adapted quickly to his preferences, and she changed my son's whole trajectory with her kindness, care, consistency, and professional behavior. Chronically ill children require delicate care to ease their way.
Alyssa exemplifies the profession of nursing and family-centered, patient-forward care. She is exactly the nurse we needed, and I truly wish qualities like hers were the rule instead of the exception.
She heard both of our concerns and immediately went to clarify the plan with the providers. She helped my son feel heard about the medications he was taking and how he was taking them. Then, it got so much better when my son began quizzing staff for fun. Alyssa enthusiastically participated. She was so genuine and patient. She heard my son when he told her how he saw his nights going, Alyssa clarified his expectations for every treatment, and she then did not stray once he was asleep. It was a little time-consuming, but she did it exactly how he asked, and was on for 3 more nights. For the first time, my son didn't feel like a problem, his nurse took him back when he had questions she answered them, she advocated for his needs with providers and other clinical staff. In turn, he allowed her to provide the necessary treatments he usually declines. She adapted quickly to his preferences, and she changed my son's whole trajectory with her kindness, care, consistency, and professional behavior. Chronically ill children require delicate care to ease their way.
Alyssa exemplifies the profession of nursing and family-centered, patient-forward care. She is exactly the nurse we needed, and I truly wish qualities like hers were the rule instead of the exception.