On the recordMay 12, 2010
As the old saying goes, ``Save one life, you're a hero. Save 10,000, you're a nurse.'' I rise today on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to honor America's nearly 3.1 million registered nurses as they celebrate this year's National Nurses Week themed ``Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow.'' Nursing is a profession that welcomes dedicated people with a variety of interests, strengths, and passions attracted by the numerous opportunities that the profession offers. Their dedication to improving the health of our Nation is unmatched, and with the recent passage of health reform, America's demand for nurses is greater than ever as we recruit more nurses to ensure patients' access to high-quality, affordable care, now and in the future. America's nurses are especially important to our rural and underserved areas as they are the most cost-effective and often the only preventive and primary health care providers available. Our registered nurses are there for patients during times of disaster and crisis, and they serve us well in our schools and at our offices. They devote their lives to improving the quality of life of others and frequently adapt to meet the public's growing needs. The indispensible contributions of our nurses to our health care system are far too often overlooked. I urge my colleagues to join with me in thanking America's nurses for their role in ensuring the health and well-being of our Nation.
