NURSES WHO GATHERED for the Nursing2011 Symposium in Nashville, Tenn. (April 28 to May 1) tuned in to four exhilarating days of clinical education and professional networking. More than 750 nurses eager to hone their clinical skills and earn continuing-education credits attended sessions on topics ranging from ABG interpretation to nurse-to-nurse hostility. Nursing innovation and creativity were on display in poster presentations in the exhibit hall, where attendees gathered to meet, greet, and eat throughout the conference. In the evenings, nurses enjoyed the energy and excitement of Nashville-Music City, USA!!-or relaxed at Symposium headquarters, the spectacular Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

What did nurses like best about their experience? Here's a sample:

* "Presenters, timeliness of the material, and the manner in which the program was managed. Excellent use of time."

* "Speakers, choice of workshops offered, meeting nurses from all over the country and discussing different areas of practice."

* "Content was geared toward the experienced nurse, so the content was cutting-edge, evidence-based, and enhanced our knowledge base."

Music to our ears!! Don't miss next year's event. Mark your calendar now for the Nursing2012 Symposium at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Fla., April 25-28. See you next year!!

Figure. Nursing's editor-in-chief, Linda Laskowski-Jones, presents the Nursing2011 Nurse of the Year award to Victoria M. Wells, surgical services educator at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio. She was selected from many entries as the nurse who best represents Nursing's four pillars of excellence: elevate, inspire, innovate, energize.

Figure. The audience was spellbound by John O'Leary, who spoke movingly about surviving a major burn injury as a child.

Figure. Nurses were all smiles as they enjoyed the Gaylord Opryland's vast, climate-controlled glass atriums, tropical gardens, shops, and restaurants.

Figure. Linda Laskowski-Jones and other Symposium attendees took the opportunity to talk with poster presenters about their projects.