Reps. Wojno, Sak, Vander Veen, Caswell, DeRossett, Elkins, Julian, Phillips, Plakas, Sheltrown, Zelenko, Spade, Accavitti, Garfield, Kooiman, Lipsey, Murphy, O'Neil, Waters, Whitmer, Brandenburg, Adamini, Brown, Condino, Gieleghem, Gillard, Hopgood, Jamnick, Kolb, Milosch, Stakoe, Tobocman, Bieda, Pappageorge, Pastor, Shaffer, Shulman, Smith, Voorhees, Richardville, Casperson, Clack, Farhat, Hood, Rocca, Minore, Gleason, Byrum, Hummel, LaSata and Dennis offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 237.

A resolution recognizing the week of May 6-12, 2004, as National Nurses Week in Michigan.

            Whereas, Over 114,000 registered nurses in Michigan comprise the largest group of licensed health care professionals in Michigan; and

            Whereas, Registered nurses provide the most direct and continuous care to populations of every age and in every environment of care; and

            Whereas, The depth and breadth of the registered nursing profession meets the different and emerging health care needs in a wide range of settings; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Nurses Association celebrates its 100^th anniversary as the voice for the registered nurses of the great state of Michigan; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Nurses Association is working to ensure safe patient care, and an improved health status for all Michigan citizens; 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 cost-effective, safe and quality health care services provided by registered nurses will be an ever more important component of Michigan’s health care delivery system in the future; and

            Whereas, The demand for 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, The development and maintenance of a vital nursing workforce in Michigan is of concern to all of our residents; and

            Whereas, More registered nurses are needed to meet the increasingly complex needs of health care consumers in Michigan; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Nurses Association celebrates the week of May 6-12, 2004, as National Nurses Week with a year-long theme of “Safe Patient Care” in recognition of the ways in which registered nurses strive to ensure safe and high quality patient care in all settings; and

            Whereas, National Nurses Week provides an excellent opportunity to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the registered nurses of Michigan who serve twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week throughout the state; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That members of this legislative body recognize the week of May 6-12, 2004, as National Nurses Week in Michigan and ask that all residents of Michigan join in honoring Michigan’s registered nurses who strive to ensure safe patient care for all of us; and be it further

            Resolved, That the residents of Michigan celebrate registered nurse’s accomplishments and efforts to improve the safety and quality of our health care system, and show our appreciation for the registered nurses not just during this week, but at every opportunity throughout the year.