Caring, compassion, empathy, and the ability to listen are all qualities that make nurses successful and beloved by patients. Some nurses have compassion. Some have empathy. Almost all care, and a few even remember and know how to listen. Allison Ray, however, cares, empathizes, and listens to all of her patients, and this is what sets her apart from the majority.

A recent patient of Ali's, J is an example. J was well known to the M4 staff, but they were still surprised to see her back within a few days of her discharge. She was readmitted suddenly and unexpectedly with plural effusions and respiratory failure. Her third admission that month, J was in severe distress and discomfort.

Ali was J's nurse many times during her final stay on M4 and she helped her work through all she was feeling in this last phase of her life. They discussed how J was worried about her family's reaction to her death and their ability to cope and continue on. Ali took the time to sit with J, to listen to her reminisce about her life and why she was ready to leave it. As Ali administered healthcare to make J's last days comfortable, they discussed death and the process of dying, returning continually to the topic of family and all that family means. Ali was genuinely concerned about J's family and their emotional well-being, and she encouraged open and honest communication between them, knowing that if they could accept J's final days with grace and support, that her patient would be able to die easier.

One last thing J wanted before she died was to dance to a particular song by local artist John Allan. Ali searched the Internet in an effort to fulfill this last wish. Although unable to locate the actual song, she found similar music that J treasured, and she played it for her. Too close to death to physically dance, J was still able to enjoy the music, the years falling away as the songs played, a smile of pleasure on her face. During the night Ali would do her rounds and continuously check on J and her family who spent many days at her bedside, including her last night, never leaving her alone.

Ali treated J as if she were a member of her own family facing death. She treated her as if she were her own mother. It gives me pride and happiness to say that Ali's exceptional care for J is no different from how she would treat any other patient. Yes, J was special to Ali, but all the people who come to M4 for care are special to Ali. She doesn't have to work to remember that each patient is someone's family, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter. Never are they just another patient, and Ali understands that to refer to people as such dehumanizes them, she understands this on a deep organic level, and she exercises humanity and empathy in all of her relationships in and out of the hospital.

Allison Ray not only possesses and demonstrates all of the qualities of a DAISY nominee, she possesses and demonstrates the best qualities of a human being.