Eastern Michigan University's Michael Williams, associate
professor of nursing, is one of six regional winners of
the 2007 Nursing Spectrum Excellence Awards.
"Quite honestly, it's very nice to be nominated by students.
You always hope you're making a difference and sometimes
they tell you; other times you just hope you're making
a difference," Williams
said. "I also know many
of the previous recipients of this award and know that
I've joined distinguished colleagues."
 |
Wiliams |
Recipients are chosen in six categories: advancing and
leading the profession, clinical care, community service,
management, mentoring and teaching.
Williams (RN, MSN, CCRN, CNE) is the recipient in the
teaching category.
The awards recognize extraordinary contributions nurses
make to their patients, each other and the profession.
Nominators submit information about nurses' professional
roles, their contributions to the nursing profession in
general, and specific examples that demonstrate the candidate's
excellence in a chosen category. Regional winners are then
judged against others winners from across the nation, with
overall Nurse of the Year honorees to be named at the end
of the year.
"I really don't think about being in the running for the
national award since it still seems unreal to me. It is
simply an honor to be chosen for this regional award," said
Williams.
Williams said he approaches students from the perspective
of how he, as their teacher, can make them better and help
them.
"I don't believe in approaching people from the perspective
that they're not going to make it or there's no way they're
going to be a good nurse. Just like the families and patients,
you support students from where they're coming from," he
said.
