As a new nurse, I soon found out that Marie Kaufman is a nurse who lets you know she will take charge and lets you know how she feels things should be done when she is caring for patients. Yes, she does take charge, but she is a compassionate, hardworking woman with a wealth of knowledge and expertise from years of experience, who I am honored to have not only as a coworker but as a friend. I love to hear her reminisce about how it was when she started compared to how healthcare has evolved. Whenever I need advice on what to do with a patient, or how to address issues I have come across in the workplace, Marie has always offered a supportive, nonjudgmental professional opinion and even a shoulder to cry on when I lost a patient. Patients I have taken care of after Marie often make positive comments about Marie the next day. She sets a high standard to match! In doing quality improvement projects and audits, Marie is thorough, completes and takes the time to go above and beyond to have accurate information and hear the patient's story. I am the nurse I am today because of the informal mentoring Marie has provided me. As an advocate for patients and her peers, Marie always demonstrates empathy toward others, keeping the patient as a priority. I think others including Marie's patients, would agree that Marie is the kind of nurse we would like to take care of us.