The critical shortage of nurses has placed a heavy burden on managers. Because they are responsible for ensuring that pediatric staff members maintain high professional standards, the promotion excellence within the staff remains imperative; it is essential that managers assist themselves and others to strive for excellence. How do you strive for excellence? A commitment to excellence requires a lifelong commitment to nursing, research, learning, scholarship, and personal balance and well-being. Pursuit of excellence in nursing is difficult, especially in a society marked by its satisfaction with mediocrity. Yet by this pursuit, not only will the nurse benefit, but so will the staff, the children, and maternal-child nursing.