SPONSOR:

Rep. Minor-Brown & Sen. S. McBride & Rep. Dorsey Walker

Reps. Baumbach, Harris, K. Johnson, Lambert, Morrison, Neal, D. Short, Michael Smith, K. Williams, Wilson-Anton, Yearick; Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Pinkney, Sokola, Townsend, Walsh

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 46

DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MAY AS "NATIONAL NURSES MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, there are over 5 million licensed nurses in the United States and over 27,000 in the State of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the American Nurses Association (ANA) extended the traditional celebration of Nurses Week from May 6th through May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday, into a month-long celebration of Nurses; and

WHEREAS, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses provide unique, holistic, compassionate care for numerous Americans across an array of settings; and

WHEREAS, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses, along with other health professionals, have made significant sacrifices and strides in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and additional public health priorities in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the ANA, which acts to represent the interests of registered nurses in the United States, is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Nurses Association (DNA), and its’ organizational affiliates, the Delaware Organization for Nursing Leadership, Delaware Emergency Nurses Association, Delaware State Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, Delaware Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, and Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists, which act to represent the interests of all licensed Delaware nurses is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, a renewed emphasis on primary, preventative, and mental health care will require better utilization of all our country’s licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses; and

WHEREAS, professional nursing is an indispensable component in the safety and quality of care offered to all patients; and

WHEREAS, through national polls, American citizens have ranked the nursing profession as the profession with the highest ethical standards and honesty for 21 years in a row; and

WHEREAS, the demand for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses is greater now than ever before due to the aging of the American population, multiple concurrent public health crises, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technologies, and the exponential growth of home health care services; and

WHEREAS, more qualified licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses will be needed in the future to meet the continually growing complex needs of health care consumers in Delaware and across the country; and

WHEREAS, the cost-effective, safe, and quality health care services provided by licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses will be an increasingly important component of the U.S. health care delivery system in the future; and

WHEREAS, the theme for this year’s National Nurses Month is “YOU Make a Difference.”

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the month of May 2023 be recognized as National Nurses Month to honor the licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses in Delaware who care for all residing in Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that licensed practical nurses’, registered nurses’, and advanced practice registered nurses’ accomplishments and efforts to improve our communities and health care system be acknowledged not just during National Nurses Month, but at every opportunity throughout the year.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution designates the month of May as "National Nurses Month" in Delaware.