Designates month of May each year as "Nurse's Month."
By officially designating May as 'Nurse's Month', the resolution seeks to elevate the profile of the nursing profession in New Jersey, where there are over 141,000 registered nurses among a larger workforce of nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses. This recognition serves not only to celebrate nurses but also to highlight ongoing challenges within the profession, such as workforce shortages and the need for better educational resources to train future nurses. The resolution reflects a broader intention to ensure that nursing continues to be a respected and vital profession in the state.
SJR123 is a joint resolution introduced in the New Jersey legislature which designates the month of May each year as 'Nurse's Month.' This resolution aims to recognize the extensive contributions of nurses to healthcare and to promote public appreciation for their dedication and hard work. The resolution outlines the critical role that nurses play in the healthcare system, noting their interactions with patients and the high demand for nursing services across various healthcare settings.
While the bill is largely seen as a positive acknowledgment of nurses, it does not address the underlying issues of staffing and education that the profession faces. As noted in discussions surrounding the bill, a significant report indicated that New Jersey's healthcare workforce could lose 10,000 nurses in the coming years due to inadequate faculty training capacity in nursing programs. The resolution is therefore a call to action not only to honor nurses but also to address the systemic issues that may impede their ability to deliver quality care in the future.