H.R. No. 459
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Nurse practitioners contribute immeasurably to the
health and wellness of countless people in the State of Texas, many
of whom turn to nurse practitioners for their primary care needs;
and
WHEREAS, Nurse practitioners are health care providers with
the expertise to order and perform diagnostic tests, diagnose and
treat acute and chronic conditions, and prescribe medications and
other treatments; to become nurse practitioners, registered nurses
must undergo a rigorous process of national certification, and they
are subject to periodic peer review and evaluation to ensure that
they adhere to a high standard of practice; nurse practitioners
must also complete a master's degree program, and an increasing
number hold doctorates as well; and
WHEREAS, These qualified medical professionals attend to the
health care needs of people in a diverse range of health care
settings, which include hospitals, private offices, schools, state
and local health departments, urgent and long-term care facilities,
and retail-based clinics; nearly one-fifth of them practice in
rural areas with populations of fewer than 25,000 people, providing
quality care where access might otherwise be limited; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the clinical services that they
offer, nurse practitioners are trained to advise clients on disease
prevention and assist them in making informed health and lifestyle
choices; this holistic approach is shown to help lower overall
costs and result in fewer emergency room visits and shorter
hospital stays for patients who choose nurse practitioners as their
primary care providers; and
WHEREAS, Currently, there are more than 200,000 licensed
nurse practitioners in the United States, and over 13,000 are
estimated to be practicing in Texas; at a time when the state is
facing a significant and growing shortage of health professionals,
nurse practitioners are ideally positioned to help alleviate the
overburdened medical system, particularly in underserved areas
that stand to benefit most from their presence; and
WHEREAS, With the expert care and personalized treatment that
they administer every day, nurse practitioners play an
indispensable role in health care delivery, and this special
observance provides an opportunity to extend appreciation to those
individuals who choose this demanding yet vital profession; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 11, 2015, as Nurse
Practitioner Day at the State Capitol and commend nurse
practitioners for the health care services they provide.
Bell
Howard
Klick
King of Taylor
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 459 was adopted by the House on March
5, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House