Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Today is National Nurses Day

So that we can honor and thank our nurses, I offered a resolution, up for consideration before the Senate, to express our gratitude and appreciation to the members of the nursing profession. Here is the text:

Whereas in 1953, Dorothy Sutherland, an employee at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare wrote to President Eisenhower suggesting that a National Nurses Day be officially declared;

Whereas, in January 1974, the International Council of Nurses designated May 12 as "International Nurses Day." In February, President Nixon issued a proclamation that the White House would recognize a week in February as National Nurses Week;

Whereas, in February 1982, the American Nurses Association (ANA) formally recognized May 6 as "National Nurses Day" and in 1982, the United States Congress declared May 6th to be National Nurses Day, and on March 25, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating this date as "National Recognition Day for Nurses."

Whereas, in 1990, National Nurses Day begins National Nurses Week, including National Student Nurses Day on May 8th and concluding on May 12 the birthday of Florence Nightingale

Whereas, National Nurses Day and National Nurses Week is a time of the year to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make to provide safe, high-quality health care

Whereas, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nursing is the nations largest health profession with more than 3.8 million registered nurses nationwide;

Whereas, as of 2018, Massachusetts had over 151,000 RN and LRN Licensees and 12,112 Active Advanced Practice Registered Nurses licensees;

Whereas, nurses and other medical professional are on the frontlines in handling the COVID-19 pandemic;

Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges for the Commonwealth’s healthcare system, and nurses in a wide variety of settings have risen to meet these constantly reoccurring and intensive demands of providing compassionate and professional service to those in their care;

Whereas, taking action on the front lines of the fight against the COVID-19 public health emergency, nurses in Massachusetts have consistently exhibited courage, skill, dedication and an unyielding commitment to their patents, the health care system and public health;

Whereas, National Nurses Day and Week celebrate the historical progress of the nursing profession and hard work of nurses nationwide. The level of compassion and commitment required during patient care is immeasurable- and praise is well-deserved; now therefore be it

Resolved, the Massachusetts Senate hereby commemorates National Nurses Day and further expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the members of the nursing profession for their selfless work; and be it further

Resolved, that copies of these resolutions be transmitted forthwith by the clerk of the senate to the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Leaders