Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman GARNET R. HALL
District 28 (Essex and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Sampson
SYNOPSIS
Designates month of May each year as Nurses Month.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the month of May each year as Nurses Month.
Whereas, Nurses provide essential care throughout all stages of life and work with patients in their most intimate and vulnerable moments; and
Whereas, Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the United States, with approximately 4.7 million registered nurses; and
Whereas, There are four times as many registered nurses than physicians in the United States; 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 provide a variety of independent services from delivering direct patient care to establishing quality assurance procedures to directing complex nursing care systems; 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, Nurses are the leading providers of quality care to patients in highly regulated and complex health care systems; and
Whereas, Nurses are on the front lines of hospital patient care and deliver most of the countrys long-term care; and
Whereas, According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, employment of nurses is projected to grow by five percent over the next seven years; and
Whereas, Nurses are in high demand in both acute care systems as well as community settings which include: public health agencies, primary care clinics, home health care, nursing homes, outpatient surgical centers, hospices, the military, nursing education and health care research; 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, Nurses 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. The month of May each year is designated as Nurses Month 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 Nurses Month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would designate the month of May each year as Nurses Month 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 have expanded their knowledge and skillset in the medical field through ongoing education and scientific advancements. Nurses are the cornerstone of community health services and essential to acute care settings. Nurses are on the forefront of maintaining public health infrastructure and educating communities on healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. Nurses are facing issues in regards to not having enough trained nursing professionals to provide educational services to the next generation of nurses. In 2023, the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing reported that the States 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.