[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING PERIANESTHESIA NURSE AWARENESS WEEK

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise and recognize the 
efforts of the Nation's more than 57,000 perianesthesia nurses. This 
week is PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week, a week that is dedicated 
each year to celebrating the important work that perianesthesia nurses 
do.
  America's perianesthesia nurses practice in all phases of 
preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, pain 
management, and special procedure areas.
  The theme of this year's awareness week is ``Advocacy.'' The American 
Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses has designated advocacy as this year's 
theme in recognition of how the depth and breadth of perianesthesia 
nursing meets the varied health care needs of the American population 
in a broad range of nursing environments.
  The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, which represents the 
perianesthesia nurses of this country, strives to advance nursing 
practice through education, research, and standards. The important work 
of perianesthesia nurses is best exemplified by their commitment to 
quality health care and the safety of patients in both hospital and 
ambulatory surgery settings.
  Our Nation's demand for perianesthesia nurses will increase in the 
coming years as the American population ages, as we make new advances 
in medicine that prolong life, and as we continue to witness the 
meteoric expansion of home health care services. Perianesthesia nurses 
play a vital role in the operation and success of our Nation's health 
care system.
  I ask my colleagues and my fellow Americans to join me in honoring 
the perianesthesia nurses who care so unselfishly and professionally 
for us all. The work they do happens every day all year round, and I 
hope they receive our appreciation on more than just this special week 
in their honor.

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