Strong bonds often form between nurses and patients-the inevitable consequence of providing day-to-day care for those who need it.

Just ask Tamika Miller, R.N., a pediatric nurse at University of Iowa Children's Hospital, a part of UI Hospitals and Clinics. She and her nursing colleagues form many strong relationships, especially with those patients who stay for longer periods.

"That's the way it is for all of us," she says. "We're around a lot of these kids and their families so much, that we become best friends. Even the simplest things that affect them, affect you."

These close relationships inspire Miller to set her alarm for 4 a.m. and make the 90-minute drive to Iowa City from her home in West Burlington, Iowa.

"My shift begins at 7 a.m. so I have to leave the apartment by 5:15 to make it on time," Miller says. In the process, she turns over responsibility for her 3-year-old son, Marqus, to Dad, who drops the child off at day care before heading to work.

"I was pregnant with Marqus for the second year of nursing school," Miller says. "I had to push myself a lot to finish, but I was very determined. I had a lot of support."

Miller would like to advance her skills even further and is currently pursuing a B.S.N. degree. "I really like pediatric nursing and I really enjoy my job," she says. "The best way to keep improving my skills is through education and that's what I intend to do."