By EileenWilliamson, MSN, RN


H


ave you ever focused on the meaning of the word “excellence?” What comes to your mind when you hear it?Doyou think of it as high distinction or superior value; maybe a great talent, skill or outstanding quality? Perhaps you see it as an achievement beyond expectations, out of the ordinary or above the norm; or something that’s first-rate, top-ranked or the very best.


contributions need to be


recognized and


nursing excellence should be


celebrated.”


Whatever meaning or meanings it has for you, you’ll probably agree excellence is something meritorious and praiseworthy — certainly a word too important to overuse or use indiscrim- inately. To me, it should be reserved for things that are not just good or even great, but truly superlative. And as a nurse I think one of the bestways to use “excellence” is in relation to other nurses. Some would say nursing excellence


Nurses’


is patient care that is not only clinically correct, evidence-based, cost-effective, timely, safe and the like, but also individ- ualized, personalized, compassionate and


caring. It encompasses all those great things and ismodeled onwhatour founder, FlorenceNightingale, called the art and science of nursing. It has been my observation that when a nurse’s practice is truly excellent, he or she has figured out howto integrate the two.Excellence isn’t just knowingwhat to do for someone or even why—it’s knowing how to do it in the way that’s best for that particular patient. Science and art; art and science. True excellence requires both. And nurses are in the best position to recognize it. We know one another; we work side by side, shift after


shift,day after day, inall settings.We share the happy andthe sad, and themoments that are triumphant and tragic—and we’re able to identify excellence in all of those interactions. Wework hard, studying and educatingourselves; practicing, honing our skills and building amazing careers that have meaning and importance, careers that trulymatter.Nurses


14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 • Visit us at NURSE.com


are leaders,doers andthinkers, andwhat theybring topatient care andtheprofessionofnursinghas amajor impactonour national healthcare system. Nurses’ contributions need to be recognized and nursing excellence should be celebrated —and we can do that. In fact, we must do it. It is a great gift that is ours to give one another. Recognition can happen in simple, everyday ways by


saying, “Thank you for taking the time you did with that child.He loves you,” or “You did a really great jobwith that man’s pain by recognizing what was causing it and getting thatneworder for him,”or “What youjust said tothatpatient and her familymade all the difference.” It alsocanhappen in bigger, grander, publicwayswith organizational and facility awards or big celebrations, programs, titles and promotions. Yes, “excellence” is awordthatwe allmay definedifferently


andone that probably canbeoverused andeven used incor- rectly at times.Butwhenit comes toour nursing colleagues, all that reallymatters is thatwerecognize it inone another. •


Eileen P.Williamson, MSN, RN, is senior vice president and chief nurse executive.


Know a GEM of a nurse? Introduce him or her to the world!


Nominate nurses you know for Nurse.com’s Giving Excellence Meaning Awards. Choose from five categories.


Visit Nurse.com/GEM to find out how.


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