[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 561 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 561

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed 
                    from May 6 through May 12, 2020.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 6, 2020

Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Udall, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wyden, 
   Mr. Cramer, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Burr, Mr. 
 Peters, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Cortez Masto, 
Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Harris, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Leahy, Ms. McSally, Ms. Rosen, 
Mr. Daines, and Mrs. Shaheen) 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, to be observed 
                    from May 6 through May 12, 2020.

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, in 2020, National Nurses Week falls within the International Year of 
        the Nurse and the Midwife, as designated by the World Health 
        Organization;
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 serve on the front lines, risking their lives treating the 
        injured and sick during wartime, natural disasters, and pandemics, 
        including the COVID-19 pandemic;
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 more than 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 cultures and customs of 
        individuals across the United States;
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 and 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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