Nurses at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles don't wait for others to recognize them during National Nurses Week-they do it themselves. Since 2002, dozens of nurses at the hospital have entered its Nurse Essay Contest and reflected on their accomplishments.

When last year's entrants addressed the theme "If I Had to Do It Over Again, I Would Still Be a Nurse Today," they reminded themselves why they chose to be nurses by reflecting on how they transform lives each day.

The nurses' essays remind us of the importance of what nurses do by describing the numerous ways in which their work has made a difference.

The winning essays from 2002, which can be read by clicking the links on their names here, were written by Kathy Ruccione, MPH, RN, CPON, FAAN, who placed first; Dee Imai, RN, CPON, who placed second; and Penelope Canel, BSN, RN, and Sharon Chinn, BSN, BA, who tied for third.

All the 2002 and 2003 winning essays can be read at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Web site.

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