WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues to introduce a resolution recognizing National Nurses Week. The resolution was led by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), as well as U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-Ohio-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-02), and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14). National Nurses Week will run May 6th through May 12th.
“Our nurses in West Virginia play a critical role in our state, providing important medical services to those who need it most. For years, I have worked to bolster the resources available to our nursing programs, help ensure these programs are able to continue to train future nurses, and create programs at universities that didn’t have an established nursing school. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing their diligence, dedication, and hard work,” Senator Capito said.
BACKGROUND:
Nurses represent the single largest component of the health care professions, with an estimated 4.5 million registered nurses in the United States. Our country needs nurses, yet the reality of our nursing workforce demands our immediate attention and appreciation. With nearly a third of the nation’s nursing workforce stating they plan on leaving the profession and an aging workforce, with a third of all nurses in WV at 50 years of age or older, this resolution comes at a critical time. The resolution recognizes the importance of nurses in providing quality care, conducting medical research, tailoring care to each community and individual, eliminating public health disparities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and more.
The resolution recognizes the need to strengthen nursing workforce development and education, and calls upon all Americans to recognize and celebrate National Nurses Week this year, and to support our nursing workforce today and every day.
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
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