I had the privilege of precepting Nick during his capstone experience on the burn unit while in his final semester of nursing school. Over just 13 shifts, I saw him grow tremendously both clinically in his skills as a future nurse and personally in his connections with patients and colleagues. From day one, his attituded was positive and always seeking opportunities and ways to get involved. This was recognized by both staff and patients, as he quickly became a valued member of our team. One of Nick's greatest strengths, and one I can take absolutely no credit for as a preceptor, is his ability to connect with patients and therapeutically communicate with them in a stressful time. Our patient population can be very difficult at times, going through very painful procedures, dressing changes and hearing unbearable news. This did not deter Nick but challenged him to develop interpersonal relationships and utilize his strengths in a new setting. Nick previously worked as a social worker, where he often had patient contact, but not in a medical sense. In this new role, he has been challenged to develop new skills and recognize room for improvement. While he has done this on numerous occasions, I would like to highlight one specific example that really amazed me. We were taking care of a young, teenage boy who was being treated for burns to 12% of his body. He had had surgery earlier that day and we were having a difficult time keeping him comfortable in terms of pain. The patient always had family in the room, parent, grandparents, and cousins. At one point, everyone had stepped out and it was just us and the patient. The patient broke down and began having what appeared to be a panic attack. He was able to calm down, his vital signs returned to normal and Nick was able to have conversation with him. The patient was able to communicate to Nick in a way he hadn't with any staff prior, about his anxiety and having flash backs of the injury. We were able to further discuss this with his team and get the additional support for the patient through therapy and child life/psych. Nick was quick to jump into a scary situation and offer his help, placing the patient at ease and creating a trusting relationship with a difficult patient. So much of nursing revolves around the endless tasks and medications throughout the day, that it is always a good opportunity to take a step back and realize the importance of the personal relationships we can create with patients and their families. When patients can trust their health care providers, they are more willing to participate and cooperate with a plan of care. Promoting better outcomes is everyone's goal. Nick has since been offered a position on our unit and I speak for everyone when I say we are happy and fortunate to have him become a permanent member of our burn family! I am excited to watch him continue to excel in this profession and impact the lives of many more patients.