It takes a special person to be a nurse. This is a hard job, in my profession we always say, it's not a matter of life and death. To be a nurse it is always a matter of life and death. I came in for a back surgery, didn't know what to expect. I'm a 45 year old man, and I'm scared, you can't imagine what goes through my mind. But the staff are all kind and show genuine concern for my needs. My favorite nurse was Gayle. She was outstanding, she gave me the assurance that my comfort is her priority. She tried everything possible to address my pain. I also witnessed her patience with my roommate. He was demanding, non-stop calling for her … but she was always there for him, with her gentle voice, patiently taking care of him. Witnessing and experiencing this gave me a different respect for what a NURSE means, and what they mean to us as a patients.