IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 315 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 6 through May 

12, 2017, as National Nurses Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 4, 2017 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. 

JOYCE of Ohio, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. CLAY, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Ms. SEWELL

of Alabama, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, and Ms. LOFGREN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 

6 through May 12, 2017, as National Nurses Week. 

Whereas since 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 those under their care; 


lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 315 IH 

Whereas nurses represent the largest segment of the health 

care workforce, with an estimated population of 

3,600,000 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 Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing report 

has called for the nursing profession to meet the call for 

leadership in a team-based delivery model; 

Whereas nurses consistently deliver high-quality care with 

positive patient outcomes when they are allowed to work 

to the full extent of their education and training; 

Whereas when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of patient complications and length of hospital stays decrease, 

resulting in cost savings; 

Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and their work 

encompasses a 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 regional and 

community customs of persons needing care; 

Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to 

eliminate health care disparities that exist in the Nation; 

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 they help inform, educate, and work closely with legislators to improve the education, retention, recruitment, and practice 


lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 315 IH 

of all nurses and, more importantly, the health and safety 

of the patients they care for; 

Whereas increased Federal and State investment is needed to 

support programs such as the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (title VIII of the Public Health Service 

Act), which bolster the nursing workforce at all levels, to 

increase the number of doctorally prepared faculty members, and to educate more nurse research scientists who 

can discover new nursing care models to improve the 

health status of the Nation’s diverse population; 

Whereas nurses touch lives of United States citizens from 

birth to the end of life; and 

Whereas nurses have been voted as the Nation’s most honest 

and ethical profession for the past 15 years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals, and the des3 ignation, of National Nurses Week, as founded by 

4 the American Nurses Association; 

5 (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 

6 nurses to the health care system of 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 


lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS