III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 224 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed 

from May 6 through May 12, 2019. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23 (legislative day, MAY 22), 2019 

Mr. WICKER (for himself and Mr. MERKLEY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, 

to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2019. 

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 to 

protect the lives of individuals under their care; 


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•SRES 224 ATS 

Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the 

health care professions, with an estimated population of 

4,000,000 registered 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 wide scope of scientific inquiry, including clinical research, health systems and outcomes research, and nursing education research; 

Whereas nurses provide care that is 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 help inform, educate, and work closely with 

legislators to improve— 

(1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of all nurses; and 

(2) the health and safety of the patients for whom 

the nurses care; 


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•SRES 224 ATS 

Whereas there is a need— 

(1) to strengthen nursing workforce development 

programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally 

prepared faculty members; and 

(2) to provide education to the nurse research scientists who can develop new nursing care models to improve the health status of the diverse population of the 

United States; 

Whereas nurses touch the lives of the people of the United 

States through every stage of life; and 

Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical 

profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses 

4 Association; 

5 (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 

6 nurses to the health care system in the United 

7 States; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate 

10 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 

11 demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every12 day lives of patients. 

Æ 


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