My husband was admitted to 6 East, and Janet was his day nurse the following day. My husband had no previous medical history other than IDDM.

Janet appeared, neat and professional, and easy-going. My husband was joking around, more so because he was afraid of dying and not really understanding what was going on. His heart catheterization was bumped up in the morning from the afternoon. The consent needed to be signed, but no one had explained the risks. Janet immediately got a doctor in to do so.

My husband went for the catheterization and received a stent in the left main artery. Janet seemed to sense the unspoken fear in the room. My husband could not grasp the fact that he had had a heart attack. Janet was very reassuring and validated his concerns. She listened, truly listened. Her efforts mattered. Janet was sure to include me in his care and made sure all my questions were answered.

I am a retired nurse of 45 years and a former recipient of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. I can only hope that I was half as good as Janet was with my husband. Her extraordinary care, compassion, and empathy were outstanding. Janet is the perfect advocate.