A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2020.

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. BOOZ- MAN, 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 cele- brated annually from May 6, also known as ‘‘National Recognition Day for Nurses’’, through May 12, the birth- day of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nurs- ing; Whereas, in 2020, National Nurses Week falls within the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, as des- ignated by the World Health Organization; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 561 IS 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 serve on the front lines, risking their lives treating the injured and sick during wartime, natural dis- asters, and pandemics, including the COVID–19 pan- demic; 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 pa- tient 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, in- cluding clinical research, health systems and outcomes re- search, and nursing education research; Whereas nurses provide care that is sensitive to the cultures and customs of individuals across the United States; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •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 in- frastructure, 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 prac- tice 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 sci- entists who can develop new nursing care models to im- prove 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 Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 2 Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses 3 Association; 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 561 IS (2) recognizes the significant contributions of 1 nurses to the health care system in the United 2 States; and 3 (3) encourages the people of the United States 4 to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate 5 recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to 6 demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every- 7 day lives of patients. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 06, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS