2026 -- H 8540

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING THE WEEK OF MAY 6TH THROUGH MAY 12TH OF 2026, AS

"NATIONAL NURSES WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Hopkins,
Solomon, Shanley, Donovan, Spears, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Nurses in the United States constitute our nation's largest healthcare

profession; and

     WHEREAS, The depth and breadth of nursing meets the different and emerging

healthcare needs of the American population in a wide range of settings, including the frontline of

pandemics; and

     WHEREAS, The American Nursing Association is celebrating its 130th Anniversary, and

the Rhode Island State Nurses Association is celebrating its 121st Anniversary. Together they

serve as the voices for nurses in the United States, and the State of Rhode Island, working

together tirelessly to chart a new course for a healthy nation that relies on increasing access to

primary and preventative health care, and better utilization of all our nation's nursing resources;

and

     WHEREAS, Professional nursing is an indispensable component of the safety and quality

of care of hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients; and

     WHEREAS, The demand for nursing services will be greater than ever because of the

aging of the American population, emerging health challenges, the continuing expansion of life-

sustaining technologies, and the explosive growth of home healthcare services; and

     WHEREAS, More qualified nurses are needed in the future to meet the increasingly

complex needs of healthcare consumers in this community; and

     WHEREAS, The cost-effective, safe, and high-quality healthcare services provided by

nurses will be an increasingly important component of the United States healthcare delivery

system in the future; and

     WHEREAS, Along with the American Nurses Association, the Rhode Island State

Nurses Association has declared that the theme for 2026 for "National Nurses Week" is "The

Power of Nurses", with appreciation for nurses' unparalleled impact and their contributions to

health care, and an open invitation to celebrate the power of nurses to enrich our lives and the

world we live in; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

honors all nurses and joyously celebrates the commemoration of the week of May 6th through

May 12th as "National Nurses Week" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House furthermore urges all Rhode Island residents to celebrate

the accomplishments and tireless work provided by our national and Rhode Island nurses, not

only during this special week but throughout the year; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island State Nurses Association.

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