Nursing can be described as both an art and a science, a heart and mind. At the heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient's needs. In our interactions with Jessica Thompson, she exemplified these words to both the patient and the family gathered around. Jessica performed her care for our patient with love and dignity. Even though M (wife, mother, grandmother) was for the most part non-responsive, Jessica treated her with respectful interaction, talking with her as she tended to her needs. Perhaps the thing that most stood out to the family gathered around M was the compassion and understanding she presented to them. She took the time to listen and truly empathize with a family dealing with the inevitable loss of one so truly loved and cherished. She found time to share in the stories the family shared as we tried to find comfort in our grieving. She not only "nursed" the patient, but she "nursed" the needs of the patient's family. Jessica is so deserving of this award.