The difference between being a good nurse vs. an exceptional nurse lies in all the little things. All the little things that Ana did, such as taking the time to make me feel heard, were truly appreciated. She never made me feel rushed, as if I were interrupting her, and truly took the time to understand what I was feeling during my stay. She is extremely compassionate when speaking with her patients. When I was crying in pain, she had so much empathy and made me feel like I could get through this. These gestures may seem trivial to someone who has never been hospitalized for an extended period. However, for someone who has had frequent hospitalizations, I can say with full confidence that I have never had a more empathic nurse than Ana. She did all of this without any request from me and never took credit for going the extra mile. She did it because she cares and had my best interests at heart. Although I believe all nurses have a gift, in my opinion, Ana has truly found her calling. I’m grateful she did because she has made a difficult hospitalization a little more bearable.