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Senator Jeff Merkley
Senate Floor Speech
May 12, 2009
I want to encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing the nurses of America and their commitment to addressing the needs of patients and their families.
Today, on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, we celebrate International Nurses Day. This is appropriate, since Florence Nightingale was known as the pioneer of modern nursing. National Nurses Week, which spans May 6 thru 12, focuses on recognizing the integral role nurses play in promoting public health and also highlights the work nurses are doing to improve health care for all Americans.
I know firsthand the critical role nurses play in providing safe, high quality, and preventative health care. My wife Mary is a bedside nurse. I am delighted that she has been able to join me here today to help put a spotlight on the critical role nurses play in health care.
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