III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 561 

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

from May 6 through May 12, 2020. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 6, 2020 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. WICKER, Mr. UDALL, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. 

WYDEN, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. COTTON, Ms. SINEMA, 

Mr. BURR, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. BOOZMAN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. HARRIS, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. 

LEAHY, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. DAINES, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, 

to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2020. 

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, in 2020, National Nurses Week falls within the 

International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, as designated by the World Health Organization; 


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•SRES 561 IS 

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 serve on the front lines, risking their lives 

treating the injured and sick during wartime, natural disasters, and pandemics, including the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to 

protect the lives of individuals under their care; 

Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the 

health care professions, with an estimated population of 

more than 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 cultures 

and customs of individuals across the United States; 


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•SRES 561 IS 

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 and 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; 

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; 


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•SRES 561 IS 

1 (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 

2 nurses to the health care system in the United 

3 States; and 

4 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate 

6 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 

7 demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every8 day lives of patients. 

Æ 


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