We have a younger patient on the unit who has been here for a long time. He has been so depressed because his family doesn't visit him. Day after day, he sits in his room alone. As one can imagine, this has not made him the most lovable patient. Yesterday was his birthday. Emma realized that he would be spending his birthday at the hospital alone. She bought him cupcakes and a card and had everyone sign it.

I hadn't seen him smile since he came to the unit that moment. In that one gesture, she made him feel cared about and, in doing so, exhibited the very best quality of nurses' compassion. While the excellent patient care she provided him demonstrated her clinical ability, her kindness and generosity to a broken soul revealed her beautiful heart, the heart of a nurse!