Jo is an example of what a nurse should be. I could give a thousand examples of her selfless and compassionate acts over the many years that Jo has been part of the Atrium/MRH family, from running to ACT Alerts and Codes, as if it was her family that was ill, to coming in early and leaving late to meet the needs of the unit. But what separates Jo from others is her compassion. Last night, I witnessed why so many people adore Jo. There was a critically ill patient who was being transferred to the CVICU. From the time that the patient entered the CVICU, the patient was fighting for her life. In addition to being the team leader that night, Jo assumed the care of the transferred patient. Jo managed to skillfully care for a truly complex patient, manage complex family dynamics, and still maintain control of the unit. The skill and ease that Jo operated with made the tasks of a nurse look effortless. Not to mention that Jo is a single mother who, while ensuring that hospital matters were in order, still made sure that her two children were taken care of. When the patient's family decided to change the code status to DNR, Jo was there to hold the family's hand and even cry with them, as if Jo was losing a member of her own family. Of course, care of the patient extended well past Jo's scheduled shift, but Jo was back to work the next morning, ready to tackle a new day. A person may not realize what a sacrifice it is to miss a soccer game, family dinner, or bedtime. As a mom, I do understand the sacrifice and know that it is not easy. Over the years, my respect for Jo has turned into admiration. I admire that she is a strong mother, nurse and co-worker. I marvel at how she makes a difficult profession such as nursing look effortless. I admire that she lives a healthy lifestyle and encourages others to do the same. But most of all, I am proud that she is working in my community, making a difference in the lives of those she touches. She exemplifies the heart, skill, and passion for nursing.