H. Res. 1261 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
May 12, 2010. 
Whereas since 1990, National Nurses Week is celebrated an-
nually from May 6, also known as National Recognition 
Day for Nurses, through May 12, the birthday of Flor-
ence 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 pro-
vide safe, high-quality health care; 
Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to 
protect the lives of those under their care; 
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the 
health care profession with 3,100,000 jobs; 
Whereas the work of nurses encompasses a wide scope of sci-
entific inquiry including clinical research, health systems 
and outcomes research, and nursing education research; 
Whereas nurses help inform and educate the public and Con-
gress to improve the recruitment, education, retention, 
and the practice of all nurses and, more importantly, the 
health and safety of the patients they care for; 
Whereas the American Association of Colleges of Nursing 
(AACN) released final survey data showing that enroll-
ments in entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing 
rose by 3.6 percent in 2009, and though this marks the
•HRES 1261 EH 
ninth consecutive year of enrollment growth, the annual 
increase in student capacity in 4-year nursing programs 
has declined sharply since 2003 when enrollment was up 
by 16.6 percent; 
Whereas United States nursing programs were forced to re-
ject almost 119,000 qualified applications to nursing pro-
grams according to the National League for Nursing’s 
most recent survey of all prelicensure nursing programs; 
Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, em-
ployment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 
percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average 
for all occupations; 
Whereas according to new survey data by the AACN, enroll-
ment in doctoral nursing programs increased by more 
than 20 percent this year, signaling strong interest 
among students in careers as nursing scientists, faculty, 
primary care providers, and specialists; 
Whereas according to the AACN, expanding capacity in bac-
calaureate and graduate programs is critical to sus-
taining a healthy nursing workforce and providing pa-
tients with the best care possible; 
Whereas nursing colleges and universities across the country 
are struggling to meet the rising demand for nurses; and 
Whereas increased support is needed to enhance efforts to 
educate nursing students at all levels, to increase the 
number of faculty members to educate nursing students, 
and to create educational opportunities to retain nurses 
in the profession: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
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(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses Asso-
ciation; and 
(2) acknowledges the importance of quality higher 
education in nursing, including baccalaureate and grad-
uate programs and programs that help expand the sup-
ply of nursing program faculty, to meet the needs of one 
of the Nation’s fastest growing labor fields. 
Attest: 
Clerk.