Dingell Joins in Celebrating National Nurses Week

Washington, D.C. – Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today joined with Senators Tim Hutchinson and Barbara Mikulski and more than100 nurses from Johns Hopkins University in kicking-off a week-long celebration of nurses that culminates in the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birthday.

"Today we kick off a week-long celebration of Nurses whose profession is both noble and, at times, challenging. In the past year, we have seen several studies of the nursing profession that highlight the more challenging side of their career. This portrayal has become all too familiar, grueling schedules, mediocre wages, endless paperwork, all of which conspire to take nurses away from patient care.

"Nurses have fought for years to improve their working conditions, to gain respect and to raise awareness about the integral role they play in the nation’s health care system. Without them it would be safe to assume that many, if not all, hospitals in this country would come to a screeching and painful halt. Nurses not only tend patients’ ills -- they care for America.

"During National Nurses Week, it is important not only to celebrate our nurses and their profession but to call attention to and act on the critical shortages this profession faces.

"I worked diligently in the House with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass legislation that does just that -- The Nurse Reinvestment Act. This bill is a solid down payment in our effort to address severe shortages in the nursing professions. The Senate has also passed a good bill and now we must work together to make the payment in full.

"As is the case with any bill of importance, and this bill is very important, much of the credit goes to our colleagues who are willing to do the hard work. None has worked harder on behalf of the nursing professions than my friend and colleague, and nurse, Representative Capps.

"This bill will help us recruit more nurses through public service announcements and other educational programs. These will inform the public about nursing as a profession and career and will tell potential nurses about the resources available to them if they choose to enter this critical profession. This legislation also mandates a study of the shortage in nursing faculty and requests an analysis of methods to address faculty shortages.

"Finally, this bill adds educational scholarships to the loan repayment program for nurse education. This is an important new tool and is a significant step in the right direction.  Educational assistance in the form of scholarships reaches a new pool of applicants and it also pays the additional dividend of delivering quality health care to underserved areas as aspiring nurses work off their scholarship commitments. The types of facilities that can accept nurses through this program is expanded, which should add to the appeal of the program for both nurses and the health care facilities in which they serve.

"I look forward to seeing this important legislation signed into law, and to helping nurses across America celebrate their profession."

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