,,iii  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #bbd  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #bc  
7legislative day1 ,may #bb71 #bjai,mr4  
,wicker 7for himself and ,mr4 ,merkley7 
submitted the following resolution2     
which was considered and agreed to      
,,resolution  ,supporting the goals and 
ideals of ,national ,nurses ,week1 to be
 observed from ,may #f through ,may #ab1
 #bjai4  ,whereas1 beginning in #aiia1  
,national ,nurses ,week is celebrated   
annually from ,may #f1 also known as    
,national ,recognition ,day for ,nurses1
 through ,may #ab1 the birthday of      
,florence ,nightingale1 the founder of  
modern nursing2 ,whereas ,national      
,nurses ,week is a time of year to      
reflect on the important contributions  
that nurses make to provide safe1       
high-quality health care2 ,whereas      
nurses are known to be patient          
advocates1 acting to protect the lives  
of individuals under their care2        
,whereas nurses represent the largest   

single component of the health care     
professions1 with an estimated          
population of #d1jjj1jjj registered     
nurses in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas 
nurses are leading in the delivery of   
quality care in a transformed health    
care system that improves patient       
outcomes and safety2 ,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 
model2 ,whereas1 when nurse staffing    
levels increase1 the risk of patient    
complications and lengthy hospital stays
 decreases1 resulting in cost savings2  
,whereas nurses are experienced         
researchers1 and the work of nurses     
encompasses a wide scope of scientific  
inquiry1 including clinical research1   
health systems and outcomes research1   
and nursing education research2 ,whereas
 nurses provide care that is sensitive  
to the regional and community customs of
 individuals needing care2 ,whereas     

nurses are well-positioned to provide   
leadership to eliminate health care     
disparities that exist in the ,united   
,states2 ,whereas nurses are the        
cornerstone of the public health        
infrastructure1 promoting healthy       
lifestyles and educating communities on 
disease prevention and health promotion2
 ,whereas nurses help inform1 educate1  
and work closely with legislators to    
improve--  7#a7 the education1          
retention1 recruitment1 and practice of 
all nurses2 and  7#b7 the health and    
safety of the patients for whom the     
nurses care2  ,whereas there is a need--
 7#a7 to strengthen nursing workforce   
development programs at all levels1     
including the number of doctorally      
prepared faculty members2 and  7#b7 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 ,states2  ,whereas nurses touch 
the lives of the people of the ,united  

,states through every stage of life2 and
 ,whereas nursing has been voted the    
most honest and ethical profession in   
the ,united ,states3 ,now1 therefore1 be
 it  ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports  
the goals and ideals of ,national       
,nurses ,week1 as founded by the        
,american ,nurses ,association2  7#b7   
recognizes the significant contributions
 of nurses to the health care system in 
the ,united ,states2 and  7#c7          
encourages the people of the ,united    
,states to observe ,national ,nurses    
,week with appropriate recognition1     
ceremonies1 activities1 and programs to 
demonstrate the importance of nurses to 
the everyday lives of patients4