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The Honorable Lois Capp Praises Emergency Nurses During Emergency Nurses Week in the Congressional Record ! |
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—October 9, 2007 f RECOGNIZING EMERGENCY NURSES WEEKHON. LOIS CAPPS OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, October 9, 2007 Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize October 7 through October 13 as Emergency Nurses Week. As a nurse for over 40 years and the cochair of the House Nursing Caucus, I have a longstanding commitment to the work nurses do and to highlight the impact they have on other important issues, such as homeland security preparedness efforts. There are approximately 100,000 emergency nurses in the United States. Emergency nurses make a difference each day in peoples' lives, both within and beyond the traditional boundaries of the hospital emergency department. Working in areas such as critical care, research, technology, flight and ground transport and injury prevention, emergency nurses combine state-of-the-art skills with heartfelt compassion for those they serve. Since 1989, the Emergency Nurses Association has celebrated the second Wednesday in October as Emergency Nurses Day, a day set aside to honor emergency nurses for their commitment to patient care. Starting in 2001, because 1 day is simply not enough to recognize all contributions made by emergency nurses, the Emergency Nurses Association expanded the celebration to devote an entire week to honoring emergency nursing. This week is particularly important as evidenced by a survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association last year showing that 86 percent of emergency nurses had been victims of assault on the job at least once in the past 3 years. Nonetheless, a vast majority say they will continue to be emergency nurses in the years to come. This is a noble profession practiced by noble women and men and they deserve our recognition and thanks. Emergency Nurses Day is Wednesday, October 10, and this year's theme, ''Stepping into their lives when they need you the most'' reflects the dedication of emergency nurses in the United States and around the world. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Emergency Nurses Association for its work to define the future of emergency nursing and emergency care. Founded in 1970, the Emergency Nurses Association serves as the voice of nearly 33,000 members and their patients. Finally, Madam Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to help spread the word about the critical importance of nursing to our Nation's health care system. Also, I ask that my fellow colleagues join me and my cochair, Congressman STEVE LATOURETTE, in the work of the House Nursing Caucus. I thank my colleagues for their attention to this important public health issue and again am pleased to recognize October 10 as Emergency Nurses Day and this week, October 7 through October 13, as Emergency Nurses Week.
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