[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE NURSES ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2011

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as a nurse of many years, I 
rise today to extend my sincere congratulations to the Hospice and 
Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA) on the occasion of its 25th 
anniversary (1986-2011). Representing nearly 10,000 members across the 
United States, HPNA is now the nation's largest and oldest professional 
nursing organization dedicated to promoting excellence in hospice and 
palliative nursing care. Since 1986 HPNA has played an important role 
in promoting excellence among palliative nursing professionals through 
evidence-based educational tools, specialty resources, visionary 
collaboration, and professional networking. The important role that 
these nurses play in the lives of individuals and their families is 
worthy of celebration, and I add my voice to those honoring the 
organization's 25 years of service.
  As my colleagues may know, nurses now comprise the largest group of 
health professionals with approximately 2.9 million providers offering 
essential care to patients in a variety of settings, including 
hospitals, long-term care facilities, community or public health areas, 
schools, workplaces and home care. Nurses represent the public interest 
and not a special interest. The contributions made by the practice and 
science of nursing are significant, and in collaboration with other 
healthcare professionals, significantly improves the quality of our 
nation's health care system. Simply put, nurses are involved in every 
aspect of health care, including end of life care. The field of hospice 
and palliative care nursing is instrumental in treating the person and 
taking into account the medical, social, psychological, and spiritual 
needs of a patient and their family at the end of life. This key field 
of nursing emphasizes quality of life at life's end, and for that I am 
grateful. Hospice is a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, and 
most private insurance plans. I applaud HPNA for educating families and 
the public regarding these important considerations and care options.
  Again, I commend the work, dedication and commitment of the hospice 
and palliative care nurses and the HPNA to improve the quality of life 
for individuals and their families at the end of life. I look forward 
to continuing to work with my fellow nurses in this important field as 
well as the critical patient population and families that they serve.

                          ____________________