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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 21, 2020 01:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judy Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | 2020 as “Year of the Nurse and Midwife” |
| I am introducing a resolution recognizing and celebrating the designation of 2020 as "Year of the Nurse and Midwife." The Executive Board of the World Health Organization designated the year 2020 as "Year of the Nurse and Midwife" in conjunction with the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. The intent of this designation is to highlight the contributions of nurses and midwives in the health care system, acting as a bridge between the community and health institutions. Pennsylvania has 224,132 registered nurses, 52,351 licensed practical nurses and 13,707 certified registered nurse practitioners, making nursing the largest licensed health care profession. There are more than 450 active certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) licensed through the State Board of Nursing and State Board of Medicine in this Commonwealth. CNMs are primary care providers throughout women's lifespans, promoting the health and well-being of newborns and women, and care for families and communities during a time of an obstetric workforce shortage in the country. In addition, there are 160 schools of nursing and three midwifery programs in Pennsylvania. The care provided by nurses in this Commonwealth is the primary component to a successful health care delivery system. Nurse researchers in Pennsylvania have been awarded the most funding in the country from the National Institutes of Health in excess of $22 million to provide the evidence-based findings to improve health for individuals, families and communities. Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution as a way to recognize the vital role of nurses and midwives in promoting and providing health care to the residents of this Commonwealth and the importance of investment in nursing and midwifery education and research to develop a sufficient and effective workforce. |
Introduced as SR397