My 82-year-old father was admitted to the hospital because he was found unresponsive at home. As a nurse and a nursing professor, my mind was racing because I knew he was in a dire situation. I knew all the scenarios that could play out. The second day my dad was in the medical ICU he was awake and alert. Alyssa was his nurse. She knew what could be going on with dad even before the doctors did.

For example, she suspected dad may have been aspirating what he was eating and drinking. Most importantly no matter how busy she was she gave her time. No matter how busy she was she took the time to tell me how dad was every day I came to see him. She took the time to talk about what the doctors found with dad. She took the time to talk to dad to calm his fears. She took time to change his bed and clean him up. She had nursing students who were following her and she took the time to explain nursing concepts and ask them questions to ascertain their level of knowledge.

She changed my dad's central line dressing and knew she contaminated her sterile gloves. She changed them right away. I know that sounds strange but as a nursing professor I see and hear from nurses that sterile technique "is only something you do in nursing school. " Alyssa took it seriously. Alyssa did all of this with a smile and a cheery disposition. She made a huge difference to me and my dad because of all of the aforementioned attributes. She is an extremely knowledgeable and skilled nurse who has integrated human care with her actions toward patients students and family members. I told her she would make a wonderful nursing professor if she was ever interested.