SENATE RESOLUTION 224--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL NURSES WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2019; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 87
(Senate - May 23, 2019)
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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 224--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL
NURSES WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2019
Mr. WICKER (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 224
Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week is
celebrated annually from May 6, also known as ``National
Recognition Day for Nurses'', through May 12, the birthday of
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing;
Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect
on the important contributions that nurses make to provide
safe, high-quality health care;
Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to
protect the lives of individuals under their care;
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of
the health care professions, with an estimated population of
4,000,000 registered nurses in the United States;
Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care
in a transformed health care system that improves patient
outcomes and safety;
Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of
Medicine has called for the nursing profession to meet the
call for leadership in a team-based delivery model;
Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of
patient complications and lengthy hospital stays decreases,
resulting in cost savings;
Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of
nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry,
including clinical research, health systems and outcomes
research, and nursing education research;
Whereas nurses provide care that is sensitive to the
regional and community customs of individuals needing care;
Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to
eliminate health care disparities that exist in the United
States;
Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health
infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating
communities on disease prevention and health promotion;
Whereas nurses help inform, educate, and work closely with
legislators to improve--
(1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of
all nurses; and
(2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the
nurses care;
Whereas there is a need--
(1) to strengthen nursing workforce development programs at
all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared
faculty members; and
(2) to provide education to the nurse research scientists
who can develop new nursing care models to improve the health
status of the diverse population of the United States;
Whereas nurses touch the lives of the people of the United
States through every stage of life; and
Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical
profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week,
as founded by the American Nurses Association;
(2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to
the health care system in the United States; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe
National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition,
ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the
importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients.
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