My husband was lucky enough to be treated at the Brigham for his quadruple bypass surgery. Cindy was his ICU day nurse during the crucial first 2 days post-op. I know quite a bit about nursing as I am a 40-year veteran in the field. I was also an MGH nurse back in the 70s. I retired a few years ago. During the last 11 years of my nursing career, I had the honor to teach pediatric nursing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I can easily tell the difference between a good nurse and a great one. Cindy was great! I am often reticent to mention my nursing background because it can backfire and make the staff feel that I am judging them, not so with Cindy. She enjoyed teaching me the complexities of her work while caring for my husband. She never made me feel I was interfering or disturbing her plan for the day. She sized up my husband immediately as someone who appreciated having some control even under the very stressful situation of being in an ICU. Cindy would give my husband a general plan for the next few hours but within reason let him decide what to accomplish first. Going from the bed to a chair was a huge first. My husband was petrified but Cindy reassured him that he could do it and she was there (with another nurse) to help. She positioned him comfortably and then moved his empty bed off to the side of the room. By leaving the bed unmade, my husband understood that sitting up was necessary, I was there when he was ready to get vertical and take his first tentative steps just hours after completion of his surgery. My husband is nearly 6’ tall and Cindy is easily a foot shorter, but she used excellent body mechanics and made the job look easy! IVs, Oxygen, Chest tubes, and assorted other wires and tubings were moved effortlessly from the chair to the walker. Cindy made it look so easy; I was in awe and so was my husband. I realize that nurses in the ICU do this every day for every patient, but the care and compassion Cindy exhibited were exceptional in my mind. During one visit, my husband needed a chest X-RAY that normally would have been done before visiting hours, but Cindy saw that he was sleeping and asked the technician to return later. I was outside the ICU and asked to wait. I was told his nurse would come out and find me once the X-ray was done, she would come to the waiting area and bring me back to see him. I know how nurses must multitask to the extreme (and can sometimes forget things in the process) but Cindy made sure to do as she promised and came out to the waiting area to find me. Since visiting hours started at 11, I often called multiple times through the night (thank you Rachel, RN!) and Cindy each morning for the constant updates. It was so reassuring. Cindy seemed to have limitless energy throughout her shift. She always was ready with a smile for staff, patients, and family members. She took the time to get to know us. She was there to reassure my husband when he repeated his questions and concerns. If Cindy had to step away to assist another staff member, she let us know exactly when she would be back and who was covering during her absence. Cindy has a great sense of humor and was ready with a joke at appropriate times. It brought a much-needed smile to our faces. Cindy is an example of what nursing is all about and a perfect role model for future nurses.