Empathy is a hard thing to teach. It is homegrown. At least that is what the textbooks say. Today I watched a nurse take care of a patient who was in a bad mood. The patient had a bad day due to a bad diagnosis, added time in the hospital and additionally she was told a PICC line would need to be placed. The patient was becoming irritated towards the middle of the shift. Something didn't set right with the nurse, something familiar about her name and language. Shannon was in care of this patient. Shannon began to talk more and more with the patient. She quickly found out that this patient was very admiral and important to the nursing profession. Shannon could have got distracted by this and lost in translation, but she did what the Mercy nurse would have done. Shannon went to the gift shop and purchased a willow angel and a card. The angel was symbolic of education and care. So was the meaning behind the why of what she did. Shannon went into the room and simply said, "thank you for what you have done for nursing and the impact you have on our future!". The patient began to cry. The patient said, "I have never been treated like this. The nurses here at Mercy are the reason I don't go to any other hospital. It is because of the nurses in this building." The patient went on to tell Shannon that she was so touched and no one had done that for her in her life. She felt that this touching moment made such a lasting impression on her and brightened up the day that was so dark. Shannon did not have to do this for the patient. I have seen her in action with not only patients but with other staff members during dark times. This selfless act of kindness was extremely touching and rewarding not only for the patient but for nursing in general. The truth in why we do what we do while keeping the patients at the center in a holistic way.