As the Olympics unfolded, the athletes frequently commented on how the support and cheers of the crowd helped drive them to record performances. Over and over, the crowd cheered and reveled in the success of new individuals who came from behind to win and set new records.

Likewise, throughout the events, stories emerged about athletes who sacrificed for years to reach their goals, who competed with pain and, in many cases, suffered personal adversities. They competed for the good of the team and their country, and showed us that anything is possible with the right combination of skills, talent, teamwork and-in some cases-just good luck.

In nursing today, we can easily see the issues that need resolution if we are to have winning performances in caring for our patients. The obstacles that get in the way of both care and professional satisfaction are formidable and well-known to us all. Heavy workloads, poor job design, difficult schedules and rapidly changing knowledge requirements are but a few hurdles.

Interestingly, like the Olympics, all eyes are now on us as we search for answers and solutions for nursing practice. Many groups and companies are providing much-needed funding for nursing to create and implement solutions that will improve our professional roles and thus improve care for our patients. Recently, Johnson & Johnson aired positive and compelling television promotions for nursing, then backed up its support with major funding initiatives for nursing practice and education. Other companies, too, are concerned about the challenges we face and are coming to the table to team with us to find solutions. So, in many ways, we have the support of the crowd as we focus our attention on improving the work of our profession.

But the age-old questions remain: Can we enter into finding new ways of doing things? Can we find the energy to form new teams of caregivers and focus our practice on knowledge-driven activities? Can we embrace the redesign of our work to create jobs and roles that provide satisfaction to patients and nurses? Can we support our leaders as new initiatives are tried and refined?

Or, will we hang on to old habits and resist the solutions that will make our lives and practice better? We won't know until we try. Innovation in nursing practice will come in many forms and approaches. Some will work better than others, but we won't find the answers until we test ideas and select those that produce the best results. A leap of faith? Yes, in many ways it is, but that is how progress is made. It is how the gold medal athletes achieved their success. Lots of hard work, but a constant focus on the goal … to be the best!

At NURSEWEEK, we are preparing to celebrate our own gold medalists in nursing. In the Midwest, we will honor our outstanding nurses Aug. 23 at a Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony. You have the opportunity to acknowledge and recognize those nurses who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty and who have helped to find solutions in health care. These nurses will be nominated by you, your peers, your patients and others who know of their outstanding contributions to nursing and health care in a variety of settings.

To nominate a nurse, just fill out and mail the nomination form (Page 6) by April 30. Let's be sure that the outstanding nurses from the Midwest will be on the winner's podium that night and will be celebrated for their successes.