Everyday heroes in nursing were honored Sept. 14 during the second annual NURSEWEEK Mountain West Nursing Excellence Awards at the Stardust in Las Vegas. This issue is dedicated to the 49 finalists and award recipients who were recognized in front of 300 family members, friends and colleagues.

The celebration of the best nurses from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming brings together nursing communities within the Mountain West region. Almost every state in the region was represented. That is a tribute to NURSEWEEK readers, as well as to colleagues and friends, who took the time to submit nearly 500 nominations for these annual awards. A special thank-you to the Executive Advisory Board for selecting the best and joining us for this star-studded extravaganza.

Excellence in nursing is the result of caring more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is possible or practical and always expecting the most from oneself. We are what we repeatedly do; therefore, excellence is not a single act of nursing practice, but a daily habit and way of being.

We were privileged to come together in this unique way to give tribute to the distinct and diverse, multitalented nurses who exemplify the essence of caring and commitment to their patients and the profession of nursing. These nurses have demonstrated a high level of self-direction and achievement in their daily practice.

I wish to say a special thank-you to Dennis Riordan, CEO and founder of NURSEWEEK, who initiated the Nursing Excellence Awards, joined us in Las Vegas and shared his dreams with us, and to all the dedicated, hardworking staff who truly made this event possible. Not only did we celebrate the best of nursing, but we had a spectacular career fair with more than 500 nurses attending.

The value of what we do collectively to enhance every nurse cannot be underestimated. Nursing is an incredible profession that allows us to connect with people everywhere, share the joys and sorrows of life and death, and allows us to be a part of helping people to change their lives for the better.

The nurses honored in this issue are among the finest of the caregivers. Caring is not just what we do-it is who we are. Caring is the essence of any relationship. Caring takes time and energy and giving of oneself. Sometimes, the receiver of caring is unable to reciprocate and nurses need to be cared for also. The Nursing Excellence Awards is our way of showing how much we care for nurses everywhere. These nurses are our joy and hope for the future of nursing.

Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage.