Nurse O’Connor distinguished herself with exceptional nursing care, including leadership, compassionate care, as well as technical excellence. The patient presented to the emergency department had a Code White and was subsequently found to have a catastrophic aortic dissection. The patient rapidly became unstable, all occurring in the presence of family. Sarina masterfully managed very complex order sets, including esmolol drips, real-time evaluation of airway, and vital signs, and was still able to explain complex medical issues to the family with a level of compassion that was no less than heroic. Multiple emergent procedures were required, and multiple vital abnormalities occurred in the patient course. Sarina’s situational awareness was instrumental in identifying multiple life-threatening issues, allowing for timely management. She subsequently coordinated the patient receiving expedited care and was ultimately responsible for the patient’s survival to the operating room for emergent cardiac surgery. Her actions reflect the highest level of nursing care and should be what all nursing staff strive to emulate. It is my strongest belief that her attentive and compassionate nursing care was responsible for the patient being able to survive the operating room for her life-saving surgery.