SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 20 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join Texans across the state in celebrating January 26 through 30, 2015, as Texas Nurse Anesthetists Week; and WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care to patients in the United States for 150 years and are members of the oldest nurse specialty group in the country; formal training for this important field began when a school of nurse anesthesia was established at Saint Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon, in 1909; and WHEREAS, Today, nurse anesthetists practice in every state and administer anesthetics to millions of patients each year; these committed professionals work in a wide array of settings, from large academic hospitals to outpatient surgery centers to individual physicians' offices; and WHEREAS, All certified registered nurse anesthetists in Texas are licensed by the state after graduating from an accredited educational program and passing a national examination; and WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists are the sole anesthesia providers in numerous rural Texas counties; our state is indebted to these health care professionals for the vital medical services they provide, and it is truly fitting that they receive special recognition for the crucial role they play in our health care system; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby commend nurse anesthetists for their commitment to quality care and extend to them best wishes for a productive and memorable Texas Nurse Anesthetists Week; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of these dedicated health care specialists. Schwertner ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 21, 2015. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate