III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 676 

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

from May 6 through May 12, 2024. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 7, 2024 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. WICKER, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. CORTEZ

MASTO, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. DAINES, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. GRASSLEY, 

Mr. HICKENLOOPER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. 

PADILLA, Mr. PETERS, Mr. ROUNDS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. 

SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. WELCH) 

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, 2024. 

Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week has been 

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 in providing safe, high-quality health care; 


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•SRES 676 IS 

Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their lives to 

treat the injured and sick during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies; 

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 profession, with an estimated population of 

more than 4,700,000 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 reports of the Institute of 

Medicine and National Academy of Medicine have highlighted the need 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 decrease, 

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; 

Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to 

eliminate health care disparities that exist in the United 

States; 


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•SRES 676 IS 

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; 

Whereas there is a need to— 

(1) strengthen nursing workforce development programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally 

prepared faculty members; and 

(2) 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 impact 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 of the United 

7 States; and 


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•SRES 676 IS 

1 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate 

3 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 

4 demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every5 day lives of patients. 

Æ 


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