| R 311 |
| 2026 -- H 8540 Enacted 05/12/2026 |
| 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 |
| 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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| LC003180 |
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