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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, | ||||||
| 3 | providing essential care, advocacy, and expertise in a variety | ||||||
| 4 | of settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, long-term | ||||||
| 5 | care facilities, and community health organizations; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical | ||||||
| 7 | Nurses (LPNs) in the United States constitute our nation's | ||||||
| 8 | largest healthcare profession, meeting the different and | ||||||
| 9 | emerging healthcare needs of the American population, such as | ||||||
| 10 | serving on the frontline of the pandemic; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, Professional and licensed practical nursing is an | ||||||
| 12 | indispensable component of the safety and quality of care of | ||||||
| 13 | hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) play an | ||||||
| 15 | essential role in the healthcare team, providing critical | ||||||
| 16 | support to nurses and direct care to patients, ensuring | ||||||
| 17 | positive health outcomes and enhancing the quality of care; | ||||||
| 18 | and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, CNAs assist with daily living activities, monitor | ||||||
| 20 | patient conditions, and provide compassionate care in | ||||||
| 21 | hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home | ||||||
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| 1 | health settings; and | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The contributions of nurses and CNAs extend | ||||||
| 3 | beyond direct patient care to include leadership in healthcare | ||||||
| 4 | policy, research, education, and innovation; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, The demand for nursing and CNA services will be | ||||||
| 6 | greater than ever due to the aging of the U.S. population, | ||||||
| 7 | emerging health challenges, the continuing expansion of | ||||||
| 8 | life-sustaining technologies, and the explosive growth of home | ||||||
| 9 | healthcare services; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, More qualified RNs, LPNs, and CNAs are needed in | ||||||
| 11 | the future to meet the increasingly complex needs of | ||||||
| 12 | healthcare consumers in this State; and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, The cost-effective, safe, and high-quality | ||||||
| 14 | healthcare services provided by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs will be an | ||||||
| 15 | increasingly important component of Illinois' healthcare | ||||||
| 16 | delivery system in the future; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Nurses and CNAs serve as advocates for patients, | ||||||
| 18 | ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met with | ||||||
| 19 | dignity and respect; and | ||||||
| 20 | WHEREAS, National Nurses Week, observed annually from May | ||||||
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| 1 | 6 to May 12, recognizes and celebrates the dedication and | ||||||
| 2 | invaluable service of nurses, coinciding with the birthday of | ||||||
| 3 | Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; and | ||||||
| 4 | WHEREAS, National CNA Week, observed annually from June 12 | ||||||
| 5 | to June 18, recognizes the dedication and commitment of CNAs, | ||||||
| 6 | whose contributions are critical to patient care and the | ||||||
| 7 | healthcare system; and | ||||||
| 8 | WHEREAS, It is fitting and appropriate that the General | ||||||
| 9 | Assembly acknowledge the significant impact of nurses and CNAs | ||||||
| 10 | and express gratitude for their service to the people of this | ||||||
| 11 | State; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 12 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 13 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 14 | we declare May 6 through May 12, 2025 as Nurses Week and June | ||||||
| 15 | 12 through June 18, 2025 as CNA Week in the State of Illinois | ||||||
| 16 | in recognition of the contributions of nurses and Certified | ||||||
| 17 | Nurse Assistants (CNAs); and be it further | ||||||
| 18 | RESOLVED, That we recognize the need to invest in the | ||||||
| 19 | nursing and CNA workforce through policies that address | ||||||
| 20 | staffing shortages, provide mental health support, and improve | ||||||
| 21 | working conditions for healthcare workers; and be it further | ||||||
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| 1 | RESOLVED, That we encourage all residents, businesses, and | ||||||
| 2 | healthcare organizations to show appreciation for nurses and | ||||||
| 3 | CNAs and support efforts to enhance the nursing profession and | ||||||
| 4 | CNA workforce, including workforce development, education, and | ||||||
| 5 | workplace well-being; and be it further | ||||||
| 6 | RESOLVED, That we encourage the residents of Illinois to | ||||||
| 7 | celebrate the accomplishments and efforts of nurses and CNAs | ||||||
| 8 | to improve our healthcare system and show our appreciation not | ||||||
| 9 | only during these weeks but also at every opportunity | ||||||
| 10 | throughout the year; and be it further | ||||||
| 11 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 12 | presented to nursing and CNA organizations, healthcare | ||||||
| 13 | institutions, and educational institutions as a symbol of our | ||||||
| 14 | appreciation and recognition of their vital contributions to | ||||||
| 15 | healthcare and society. | ||||||