This week we celebrate National Nurses Week. Since 1991, National Nurses Week has been celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12, to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. National Nurses Week is the time of year to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make in providing safe, high-quality health care to their patients.

To mark the event, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued a press release commemorating National Nurses Week.

We celebrate and honor all nurses, especially our nursing clients: the American Nephrology Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, the Dermatology Nurses Association, and the Oncology Nursing Society. Thank you for all that you do for patients and their caregivers!

UPDATE (May 7, 2013): Late Monday evening Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30) introduced H.Res. 201, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week on May 6, 2013, through May 12, 2013. The bill had 45 bipartisan cosponsors when introduced.

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