By Eileen Williamson, MSN, RN


H


ave you ever focused on the meaning of the word “excellence?” What comes to your mind when you hear it? Do you 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 fi rst-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 best ways 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-eff ective, timely, safe and the like, but also individ- ualized, personalized, compassionate and


caring. It encompasses all those great things and is modeled on what our founder, Florence Nightingale, 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 fi gured out how to integrate the two. Excellence isn’t just knowing what 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, in all settings. We share the happy and the sad, and the moments that are triumphant and tragic — and we’re able to identify excellence in all of those interactions. We work hard, studying and educating ourselves; practicing, honing our skills and building amazing careers that have meaning and importance, careers that truly matter. Nurses


16 MARCH/APRIL 2016 • Visit us at NURSE.com


are leaders, doers and thinkers, and what they bring to patient care and the profession of nursing has a major impact on our 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 job with that man’s pain by recognizing what was causing it and getting that new order for him,” or “What you just said to that patient and her family made all the diff erence.” It also can happen in bigger, grander, public ways with organizational and facility awards or big celebrations, programs, titles and promotions. Yes, “excellence” is a word that we all may defi ne diff erently


and one that probably can be overused and even used incor- rectly at times. But when it comes to our nursing colleagues, all that really matters is that we recognize it in one 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 fi ve categories.


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


Visit Nurse.com/GEM to fi nd out how. isit Nurse.com/GEM to fi nd out how.


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