[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3341-H3344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1215
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1261) recognizing National Nurses Week, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1261
Whereas since 1990, 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 those under their care;
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of
the health care profession with 3,100,000 jobs;
Whereas 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 help inform and educate the public and
Congress to improve the recruitment, education, retention,
and the practice of all nurses and, more importantly, the
health and safety of the patients they care for;
Whereas the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
(AACN) released final survey data showing that enrollments in
entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing rose by 3.6
percent in 2009, and though this marks the ninth consecutive
year of enrollment growth, the annual increase in student
capacity in 4-year nursing programs has declined sharply
since 2003 when enrollment was up by 16.6 percent;
Whereas United States nursing programs were forced to
reject almost 119,000 qualified applications to nursing
programs according to the National League for Nursing's most
recent survey of all prelicensure nursing programs;
Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22
percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for
all occupations;
Whereas according to new survey data by the AACN,
enrollment in doctoral nursing programs increased by more
than 20 percent this year, signaling strong interest among
students in careers as nursing scientists, faculty, primary
care providers, and specialists;
Whereas according to the AACN, expanding capacity in
baccalaureate and graduate programs is critical to sustaining
a healthy nursing workforce and providing patients with the
best care possible;
Whereas nursing colleges and universities across the
country are struggling to meet the rising demand for nurses;
and
Whereas increased support is needed to enhance efforts to
educate nursing students at all levels, to increase the
number of faculty members to educate nursing students, and to
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create educational opportunities to retain nurses in the
profession: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week,
as founded by the American Nurses Association; and
(2) acknowledges the importance of quality higher education
in nursing, including baccalaureate and graduate programs and
programs that help expand the supply of nursing program
faculty, to meet the needs of one of the Nation's fastest
growing labor fields.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days in which
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous
material on H. Res. 1261 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of H. Res. 1261, which recognizes National
Nurses Week and the significant contributions that nurses make to our
Nation's health care system. National Nurses Week also stresses the
importance of quality higher education in nursing to meet the needs of
one of the fastest growing professions.
National Nurses Week began on May 6, a day also known as National
Recognition Day for Nurses. Today marks the end of the week of
recognition as we celebrate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the
founder of modern nursing.
All across the Nation, communities have spent this week recognizing
our Nation's 3.1 million nurses for their heroic acts, years of service
to the community, and commitment to the nursing profession. Today's
health care system requires nurses to be present at every stage of
patient care, including partnering with physicians, pharmacists and
other health care professionals to direct and manage patient needs. We
thank them for their hard work and dedication.
The number of nurses in the United States is expected to grow rapidly
in the near future. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the
employment of registered nurses will grow by 22 percent from 2008 to
2018. The growth in nursing job openings, along with an increasing
number of nurses retiring or leaving the profession, is likely to lead
to a continued demand for nursing professionals. In fact, it is
estimated that there could be a shortage of more than 1 million nurses
by the end of this decade.
Madam Speaker, while we honor America's nurses, we know we must do
more to expand and sustain the profession. According to the National
League for Nursing's most recent survey of all prelicensure nursing
programs, thousands of qualified applicants have been rejected from
nursing programs nationwide in the last few years. According to the
League, the lack of capacity in nursing programs is due in part to a
continuing shortage of nursing educators. It is vital that we support
efforts to enhance existing education programs at both the
baccalaureate and graduate level.
Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for National Nurses
Week and the focus on the contributions of our Nation's many nurses to
our health care system. We honor the excellent work done by nurses and
encourage them to continue making a difference each and every day.
I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) for
introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution
1261, recognizing National Nurses Week. The gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Woolsey) explained in some detail the history of this week and the
importance of nurses to our communities, to our States, and to our
Nation. I strongly endorse and identify myself with her remarks.
I want to just take a personal moment. This is an especially
important week in my house and my life. My wife, Vicky, has spent her
entire adult life as a nurse, as a registered nurse. She did a career
in the Army as an Army nurse and worked for years in emergency rooms
and trauma centers literally around the country as I was transferred
from duty station to duty station. And so I feel the importance that
comes with this very noble and important profession.
I know the care and compassion that comes with this profession, the
lifesaving skills and the dedication. In my family, literally in
Vicky's family, the nursing profession has long been part of that
family. Her mother was a nurse. I have a niece, her niece is serving as
an Army nurse. I have a sister-in-law who spent her adult life as a
nurse. This is a profession that is, indeed, lifesaving and so
important to our families.
I want to extend my grateful congratulations to all those nurses, men
and women, who have dedicated their lives to serving those in need here
and around the world. I ask that my colleagues support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize for such time
as she may consume the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson), the author of H. Res. 1261.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms.
Woolsey for yielding me this time. It is a privilege to offer this
resolution celebrating this resolution recognizing National Nurses
Week, which ends today.
Nurses have been called the patient's first advocate, but their work
also encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, including clinical
research, health systems research, and nursing education research.
Every day, nurses make a commitment to providing quality patient
care, growing and adapting to the new challenges that our changing
health care system requires.
I began my career as a registered professional nurse where I provided
hands-on patient care for 15 years as a psychiatric nurse at the
Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, Texas. This is why I remain
a strong nursing ally today, advocating on behalf of the nursing
profession to ensure that they have the means necessary to perform
their jobs safely, with the best resources possible.
I would like to thank my fellow colleagues, the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Capps) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.
McCarthy), who are also nurses and champions of this resolution and the
nursing profession. The Congressional Nursing Caucus was also helpful
in promoting this legislation, and I appreciate all of the efforts to
generate support for the resolution.
Nurses are a key component to our Nation's health care system and
will become even more vital with the full implementation of health care
reform. Nurses work in emergency rooms, school-based clinics, community
health centers, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, physician
offices, and on the battlefield. Their roles take many shapes from
staff nurse to nurse educator, all while remaining committed to patient
safety and working to influence the broader health care policy for the
benefit of the greater good. Nurses are extremely dedicated individuals
who must be intelligent and detail oriented, ready to act at the spur
of the moment. A caring and compassionate heart is required for the
tough work that nurses perform, usually under duress.
As important as the nursing industry is, we still face a nursing
shortage. Enrollment rose in 2009 for entry-level B.A. programs, but
the annual increase in student capacity in 4-year nursing programs has
declined sharply since 2003.
It is imperative that we expand capacity in B.A. and graduate
programs to sustain a healthy nursing workforce and provide patients
with the best care possible.
As we try to meet the demands of the nursing profession, we must also
tackle the challenges related to the impact of faculty shortages on
educational capacity.
Increased Federal and State support is needed to enhance existing
programs and create new programs to educate nursing students at all
levels, to increase the number of faculty members to educate nursing
students, and to retain nurses in the profession.
[[Page H3343]]
Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I don't have any other
speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman
from California (Mrs. Capps), who is also a nurse, for such time as she
may consume.
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1261,
recognizing National Nurses Week, and I thank the leadership in the
Congress for bringing this bill to the floor and acknowledge the close
personal ties that many of us have with nurses.
I am very honored and pleased to be cosponsoring this resolution with
my House colleagues and fellow nurses, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson and
also Carolyn McCarthy.
The recent debate in Congress on health care reform and the passage
of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have provided us an
opportunity to highlight the importance of nurses to our health care
system. Nurses are the backbone of health care delivery, and I know
that because occasionally I will be approached by a colleague who wants
to tell me about a recent medical event in their life, some situation,
procedure, or surgery or some hospital stay. And inevitably it isn't
the kind of doctor care they had; it is the nurses that they want to
tell me about, especially the outstanding ones who made all of the
difference in their recovery. I know because it is nurses who spend
countless hours at patient bedsides. It is nurses who are in all walks
of life, educating their communities about public health, and that is
what I did for most of my career as a nurse, caring for the children
and their families in our public school system in my community.
Nurses are also case managers. They are health system administrators.
They are educators. They are members of the military. They are primary
providers, and this list goes on and on. So I am proud to see our House
of Representatives recognizing the immeasurable contributions that
nurses make to the daily health and well-being of all Americans.
Madam Speaker, I know as individuals we each recognize the important
roles nurses play. Of course, too often this recognition and
appreciation doesn't come until after we have had our own adverse
health experiences, as I have been relating to you. As I said, many of
my colleagues come up to me after a hospitalization or that of a family
member, and again they say, Wow, if it hadn't been for the care of the
nurses.
Today, we have an opportunity to collectively thank and show
appreciation to the nurses in our lives and all of the nurses that
serve our country every day in the armed services and in our
communities, the nurses who are our constituents and our family members
and our friends, and to renew our commitment to supporting the
profession by providing greater opportunities for scholarship and loan
repayment, just as we did in our newly enacted health reform law. We
have a shortage of nurses and other health providers, and we want to do
what we can to increase their numbers so that better patient care can
be delivered.
We need to also increase funding for existing programs to improve the
training and recruitment of our next generation of nurses. I urge all
of my colleagues to support this resolution. I am pleased to be
standing on the floor in its favor.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, it is fitting that today, May 12, we
are on the floor to honor our nation's nurses on the 20th anniversary
of National Nurses Week. Why is May 12th significant? Because it is the
birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
As co-chair of the House Nursing Caucus, I am a proud supporter of H.
Res. 1261, which was introduced by my colleague, Rep. Eddie Bernice
Johnson.
More than three million jobs in this country are held by nurses, and
they represent the largest single component of the health care
profession. Nurses are the rock stars of the medical profession, and
often are patients' greatest advocates. They do not get the recognition
they deserve.
They work tirelessly, and often are the greatest source of comfort
and compassion for the sick. They are American heroes with huge hearts
and sensible shoes. Nurses have probably done more to popularize CROCS
clogs than any other single profession. Whoever runs CROCS should give
the nursing profession a high five for helping make their footwear a
staple from coast to coast.
If you know a nurse, or have received kind and professional care from
a nurse, take a moment to thank them. Today, which marks the close of
National Nurses Week, is a perfect time to do it. Our nation's nurses
deserve our praise, thanks and support, and I am proud to be here today
to honor them.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1261,
a resolution to recognize National Nurses Week and acknowledge the
importance of quality nurse education programs.
The crucial role of nurses in our health care system cannot be
overstated. Across the country, dedicated nurses work tirelessly to
ensure that their patients receive quality care. In addition to their
countless clinical responsibilities, nurses are a source of medical
knowledge and compassion for families and patients when they are going
through difficult times.
Sadly, many talented nurses are forced from their profession because
of injuries sustained while on the job. Every year, thousands of nurses
and health care workers sustain back and neck injuries while lifting or
transferring patients. Not only are these injuries very expensive for
hospitals and providers because of costs that are associated with
workers' compensation, retraining and replacement, but they are also
often devastating to the personal and professional lives of nurses.
Fortunately, the musculoskeletal injuries in facilities that use
assistive patient handling have significantly decreased. That is why I
have introduced H.R. 2381, the ``Nurse and Health Care Worker
Protection Act of 2009.'' This legislation would require the Secretary
of Labor to promulgate a rule creating a standard for safe patient
handling to prevent more nurses from being injured while assisting
patients. Additionally, health facilities would be required to purchase
an adequate number of mechanical lifting devices. Senator Franken has
introduced the companion bill, and just yesterday the Senate
Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety held a hearing on this
critical issue.
I commend my friend Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for
introducing H. Res. 1261 which honors the necessary and valuable work
that nurses do every day. I encourage my colleagues to support this
resolution.
Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, as the old saying goes, ``Save one life,
you're a hero. Save 10,000, you're a nurse.''
I rise today on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to honor
America's nearly 3.1 million registered nurses as they celebrate this
year's National Nurses Week themed ``Nurses: Caring Today for a
Healthier Tomorrow.'' Nursing is a profession that welcomes dedicated
people with a variety of interests, strengths, and passions attracted
by the numerous opportunities that the profession offers. Their
dedication to improving the health of our Nation is unmatched, and with
the recent passage of health reform, America's demand for nurses is
greater than ever as we recruit more nurses to ensure patients' access
to high-quality, affordable care, now and in the future.
America's nurses are especially important to our rural and
underserved areas as they are the most cost-effective and often the
only preventive and primary health care providers available. Our
registered nurses are there for patients during times of disaster and
crisis, and they serve us well in our schools and at our offices. They
devote their lives to improving the quality of life of others and
frequently adapt to meet the public's growing needs. The indispensible
contributions of our nurses to our health care system are far too often
overlooked.
I urge my colleagues to join with me in thanking America's nurses for
their role in ensuring the health and well-being of our Nation. Nurses
are experts in addressing patient needs. They make a difference every
day in all of our lives. When you see a nurse today, thank them for
their exceptional work because our caring nurses are ensuring a
healthier tomorrow.
Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers and I
encourage my colleagues to support H. Res. 1261, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res.
1261, recognizing National Nurses Week and recognizing the significant
contributions that nurses make to our Nation's health care system.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1261, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
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rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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