04-R 231

2004 -- S 3096

Enacted 05/06/04

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING MAY 6TH- 12TH AS "NATIONAL NURSES WEEK"

Introduced By: Senators Polisena, Damiani, Connors, Algiere, and Roberts

Date Introduced: May 06, 2004

     WHEREAS, The 2.6 million registered nurses in the United States comprise our nation's

largest health care profession; and

     WHEREAS, The depth and breadth of the registered nursing profession meets the

different and emerging health care needs of the American population in a wide range of settings;

and

     WHEREAS, The American Nurses Association, as the voice for the registered nurses of

this country, is working to chart a new course for a healthy nation that relies on increasing

delivery of primary and preventative health care; and

     WHEREAS, A renewed emphasis on primary and preventative health care will require

the better utilization of all of our nation's registered nursing resources; and

     WHEREAS, Professional nursing has been demonstrated to be an indispensable

component in the safety and quality of care of hospitalized patients; and

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

of the aging of the American population, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technology,

and the explosive growth of home health care services; and

     WHEREAS, More qualified registered nurses will be needed in the future to meet the

increasingly complex needs of health care consumers in this community; and

     WHEREAS, The cost-effective, safe and quality health care services provided by

registered nurses will be an ever more important component of the United States health care

delivery system in the future; and

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

Nurses Association has declared the week of May 6th – 12th as "NATIONAL NURSES WEEK

2004" with the theme "Nurses Keeping the Care in Health Care" in celebration of the ways in

which registered nurses strive to provide safe and high quality patient care and map out the way

to improve our health care system; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the citizens of Rhode Island celebrate registered nursing's

accomplishments and efforts to improve our health care system and show our appreciation for the

nation's registered nurses not just during this week, but at every opportunity throughout the year;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he 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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LC03263

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