[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING EMERGENCY NURSES WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2007

  Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 7 
through October 13 as Emergency Nurses Week.
  As a nurse for over 40 years and the cochair of the House Nursing 
Caucus, I have a longstanding commitment to the work nurses do and to 
highlight the impact they have on other important issues, such as 
homeland security preparedness efforts.
  There are approximately 100,000 emergency nurses in the United 
States. Emergency nurses make a difference each day in peoples' lives, 
both within and beyond the traditional boundaries of the hospital 
emergency department. Working in areas such as critical care, research, 
technology, flight and ground transport and injury prevention, 
emergency nurses combine state-of-the-art skills with heartfelt 
compassion for those they serve.
  Since 1989, the Emergency Nurses Association has celebrated the 
second Wednesday in October as Emergency Nurses Day, a day set aside to 
honor emergency nurses for their commitment to patient care. Starting 
in 2001, because 1 day is simply not enough to recognize all 
contributions made by emergency nurses, the Emergency Nurses 
Association expanded the celebration to devote an entire week to 
honoring emergency nursing.
  This week is particularly important as evidenced by a survey 
conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association last year showing that 86 
percent of emergency nurses had been victims of assault on the job at 
least once in the past 3 years. Nonetheless, a vast majority say they 
will continue to be emergency nurses in the years to come. This is a 
noble profession practiced by noble women and men and they deserve our 
recognition and thanks.
  Emergency Nurses Day is Wednesday, October 10, and this year's theme, 
``Stepping into their lives when they need you the most'' reflects the 
dedication of emergency nurses in the United States and around the 
world.
  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Emergency Nurses 
Association for its work to define the future of emergency nursing and 
emergency care. Founded in 1970, the Emergency Nurses Association 
serves as the voice of nearly 33,000 members and their patients.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to help 
spread the word about the critical importance of nursing to our 
Nation's health care system. Also, I ask that my fellow colleagues join 
me and my cochair, Congressman Steve LaTourette, in the work of the 
House Nursing Caucus.
  I thank my colleagues for their attention to this important public 
health issue and again am pleased to recognize October 10 as Emergency 
Nurses Day and this week, October 7 through October 13, as Emergency 
Nurses Week.

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