Pam was my mentor in the E.R. As with most long term ER nurses it seemed the world of emergency medicine had jaded her. Then we had a patient who had been in 2-3 times a week with chronic illness and complaints. The patient had been in failing health for years and had taken a turn for the worse. The patient's family had been less than civil in many past visits and I watched as this amazing nurse spoke and comforted the family who had treated her very badly for several visits.

During a very busy shift Pam had broken the rules of the ER and allowed 15-16 family members to gather around the patriarch of this clan and stayed close for any issues that may have arisen or needs that would be seen to. For months ahead of this day Pam had slowly prepared this family for this moment and I don't believe she ever knew it, but as the last breath was taken and the first tears fell my mentor and friend was at the bedside wading through a throng of people jammed into a tiny curtained area with squeezes and hugs of shoulders and a shared tear for the family left behind.