Waking up to my first full day of hospitalization on New Year's Eve, I was greeted by my nurse for the day, Ellen. Ellen's cheerful spirit and self-deprecating humor lightened the whole room! As a retired nurse myself, I have had a bit of experience telling when a nurse really enjoys what she is doing versus 'earning a paycheck.' She not only performed the tasks one would expect, but she also moved about the room in a way that communicated that she was not in a rush—I had her full attention. I could feel her eyes scanning the room for what might need a tweak. She asked about refilling the ice water, kept my toes covered . . . those things sound small, but they're actually huge in making a patient feel truly cared for.