Five months out of nursing school, Melissa Weaklin considered herself "green." She could get overwhelmed by the demands of work as a nurse at Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge and self-doubt would take over.

One day, she heard soft crying coming from a patient's room. A young woman was dying of cancer and while her mother was away from the room taking a break, the woman began to cry. Melissa quietly looked into the room to offer help and found fellow nurse, Ginny Ross, already sitting with the patient, rubbing her back and speaking sweetly to her. Melissa could tell Ginny was making a difference.

"It was the young patient's hour of need and Ginny was an angel to her," Melissa said. "As a new nurse, I could get so wrapped up with all the things that needed to be done and trying to manage my time. It was overwhelming some days. I was privileged to see Ginny with this patient to remind me why I went into nursing. It's the simple passion of taking care of people, of providing Loving Care to all who come through our doors.

"I feel as though God had me see Ginny's interaction with the dying patient to remind me why I chose nursing as a career. Ginny is very compassionate and took on the role of mother while the patient's real mother was away for a bit."

"I wanted to be with the patient until she was comfortable and could go to sleep," Ginny recalled. "I was just doing what I would want someone to do for me. My mom always stressed that if you make people happy and comfortable, it will come back to you as a positive." Ginny's mother, Betty Shepherd, worked as a nurse at Wuesthoff for 25 years and continues in retirement to serve patients and families as a volunteer at the hospital. Ginny herself has been a nurse for 26 years—all at Wuesthoff.

"I am thankful to have seen Ginny at work so early in my career," Melissa said. "The best way for a new nurse to learn compassionate care is to see it in action. Ginny has been a nurse for so long that you might expect her to be burned out. It is encouraging to see that she still cares. She gives patients what they need. She's there in the moment."

"I like to laugh and see people smile," Ginny said. "When I see them smile, I can care for their needs and wants. Patients often become like family to us at Wuesthoff, and I get much of my energy from my patients."

"And patients would say that they get their energy from Ginny," Melissa said. "I know I do. She has made all the difference for me as a nurse."