Following surgery (my first), I was groggy, scared, hungry, sore, alone, and really not in a good place. Then the door opened, and Shannon Jackson walked into my room. She introduced herself and said she was going to be my nurse and was going to take good care of me. She immediately sensed my discomfort and adjusted me, the bed, etc., till I was as comfortable as possible. Then, she explained in great detail what had been done during the surgery and what I could expect during my overnight stay and upon returning home to recover. At the same time, checking vital signs, flushed IV lines, emptied urine collection, answered calls from other nurses and patients, and a call from the doctor without missing a beat to bring a seemingly endless supply of ice for my very sore throat. Even considering the fact that Shannon Jackson is indeed a highly skilled nurse, the reason I felt compelled to recognize her is the fact that she performs all these tasks not only effortlessly but with a smiling, caring attitude that I could tell (having worked in supervision in Pharma for almost 30 yrs) was just who she is. She shared with me a personal story of why she became a nurse and how she always knew that nursing would be her life’s work. That level of commitment and genuine caring for patients is what, in my opinion, separates a good nurse from an Extraordinary Nurse, and Shannon Jackson is an Extraordinary Nurse, one that I would trust with my life.