BELMOND – Mandy Wessels, RN at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond, has been named one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2014.

Wessels has been employed with Iowa Specialty Hospital since August of 2004. She said she was overwhelmed by the honor.

“When I was notified that I was selected, I immediately cried and then had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to everyone who nominated me. There isn’t a better feeling in the world knowing that you personally have touched someone’s life, enough so that they took time out of their lives to write a nomination letter about you,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Nurses selected for this honor are nominated by their peers and leaders, and these nominations are sent to a panel of reviewers who are all past honorees from around the state. Reviewers look for very specific examples of qualities that demonstrate efforts beyond those expected of normal duties such as concern of humanity, contributions to the nursing profession, and leadership and mentoring roles. The nominated nurses represent all sectors of health care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and school and office nurses.

“Mandy amazes me” said Jodi Azeltine, Hospital Nursing Leader at Iowa Specialty Hospital, congratulating Wessels on the nomination. “She is dynamic and faces those tough situations boldly.”

Wessels and the other Great Iowa Nurses will be honored on May 4, the beginning of Nurses Week, at the 10th annual celebration in Des Moines. Recipients from prior years are invited back to be recognized.