The bedrock of Patricia Siefert's lifework was cardiac surgery. Her service as a clinician/RNFA, manager, and educator provided deep insights into the needs of patients, nurses, surgeons, and others. Seifert's work resulted in the first comprehensive textbook on the perioperative nursing care of cardiac surgery patients (1994). She created competencies, a cardiac education curriculum, critical thinking exercises, and step-by-step descriptions of cardiac procedures. She included “pearls” by RNs and MDs and showcased early RN cardiac surgery leaders (with photographs). Numerous publications, lectures, invited reviews and critiques, and mentorships attest to her expertise and dedication to practice.