[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 178 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 178

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week from May 6, 
                      2015, through May 12, 2015.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 12, 2015

 Mr. Merkley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week from May 6, 
                      2015, through May 12, 2015.

Whereas, since 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 fearlessly to protect 
        the lives of those under the care of nurses;
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the health care 
        profession, with an estimated population of 3,100,000 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 culturally and ethnically competent care and are educated 
        to be sensitive to the regional and community customs of persons 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 are strong allies to Congress as they help inform, educate, and 
        work closely with legislators to improve the education, retention, 
        recruitment, and practice of all nurses and, more importantly, the 
        health and safety of the patients for whom they care;
Whereas increased Federal and State investment is needed to support programs 
        such as the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (authorized under 
        title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.)), 
        which bolster the nursing workforce at all levels, to increase the 
        number of doctorally prepared faculty members, and to educate more nurse 
        research scientists who can discover 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 from birth to 
        the end of life; and
Whereas nursing has been voted as the most honest and ethical profession in the 
        United States for the past 13 years: 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 of 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.
                                 <all>