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	2008 Outstanding Iowa nurses were honored Sunday, May 4 at the 100 Great Iowa Nurses celebration at the HyVee Conference Center in West Des Moines. In conjunction with the event Governor Chet Culver proclaimed May 6 - 12 Nurses Week 2008. This is the fourth year for the event which also kicks off National Nurses Week. The event is sponsored by The University of Iowa College of Nursing; the Iowa Nurses’ Association, the Iowa Nurses Foundation; and the Iowa Hospital Association. The 100 honorees represent 38 Iowa counties, and were selected from a pool of more than 300 individuals nominated by colleagues, patients, doctors, friends and family members. The field of nominees was narrowed to 100 by a panel of judges, including nursing professionals and previous award winners, who reviewed nominations from around the state. Nurses selected for this honor represent many sectors of health care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and school and office nurses. These exemplary nurses are selected by patients or peers, based on their concern for humanity, their contribution to the community and to the nursing profession. This year’s event is drew nearly 800 attendees. Dignitaries presenting the awards included Rita Frantz, professor and Kelting dean, UI College of Nursing; Carol Watson, director of nursing, Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids; Jan Neal, chair of the Iowa Nurses Foundation board of directors; Dave Hickman, vice president, Mercy Health Network; Julie Ploessl, chief nurse executive, Iowa Health Des Moines; and Elizabeth Swanson, professor and director of external relations, UI College of Nursing. The program has received the financial support of various health care organizations around the state, and donations have garnered support for two scholarships for registered nurses in Iowa who want to further their education. Application forms are available at www.greatnurses.org. To view a copy of Dr. Watson's remarks, click here.