Title: Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 6 through May 12, 2017, as National Nurses Week.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Expresses support for the goals and ideals, and the designation, of National Nurses Week. Recognizes the contributions of nurses to the U.S. health care system.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 315 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals, and the designation, of 
        National Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses 
        Association;
            (2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to 
        the health care system of the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, 
        activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of 
        nurses to the everyday lives of patients.
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