Bill Text: NJ AJR184 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [AJR184 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR184-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day."
Whereas, Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the United States, with approximately 4.7 million registered nurses; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, there are 141,000 active registered nurses, 13,500 nurse practitioners, and 23,400 licensed practical nurses; and
Whereas, Women make up 88.5 percent of the nursing workforce; and
Whereas, Nurses are the primary providers of hospital patient care, delivering most of the country's long-term care, and make up the largest portion of the healthcare professionals; and
Whereas, Nurses provide a variety of services from delivering direct patient care to establishing quality assurance procedures to directing complex nursing care systems; and
Whereas, Nurses provide essential care throughout all stages of life and work with patients in their most intimate and vulnerable moments; and
Whereas, In addition to working within the healthcare industry, nurses work in tandem with legislatures to improve nursing education, workforce development, and patient health and safety; and
Whereas, In 1982, the American Nurses Association declared May 6 as Nurses Day, affirming a joint resolution of the United States Congress providing for the same acknowledgment; and
Whereas, Nurse's Day is intended to celebrate nurses for providing safe, high-quality health care across the diverse populations and communities of the United States; and
Whereas, It is all together fitting and proper for New Jersey to recognize and celebrate nurses for their personal and professional contributions to the improved health of the residents of this State; now, therefore
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. May 6th of each year is designated as "Nurse's Day" in order to recognize and celebrate nurses for their dedication to the health and wellbeing of patients and to acknowledge their accomplishments in, and contributions to, the medical field.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to observe "Nurse's Day" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would designate May 6th of each year as "Nurse's Day" to promote greater public appreciation of the professionals who work tirelessly to provide quality healthcare to all patients. New Jersey is home to over 140,000 nurses in addition to thousands of nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses. Nurses are vital to maintaining our healthcare systems and perform critical services to people during all stages of life. In 2023, the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing reported that the State's healthcare workforce could lose 10,000 nurses over the next few years and that 9 out of 10 nursing programs are unable to enroll additional students due to lack of faculty nurses. In the face of workforce shortages and relentless public health crises, nurses have continually shown up and given back to the community. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic while many individuals were able to work remotely, nurses appeared in person to perform lifesaving services. New Jersey seeks to honor nurses from every walk of life as they have so valiantly provided indispensable care to residents throughout the State.+
