[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2968-S2969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 166--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
      NURSES WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2017

  Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Boozman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 166

       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 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 individuals under the care 
     of the nurses;
       Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of 
     the health care profession, with an estimated population of 
     3,600,000 professionally active 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

[[Page S2969]]

     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 individuals 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 the nurses 
     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 the nurses care;
       Whereas strengthening nursing workforce development 
     programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally 
     prepared faculty members, and providing education to the 
     nurse research scientists who can discover new nursing care 
     models to improve the health status of the diverse population 
     of the United States, are needed;
       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: 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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