357-2021

Whereas, registered nurses in the United States constitute our nation’s largest health care
profession; and

Whereas, the depth and breadth of the registered nursing profession meets the different and
emerging health care needs of the American population in a wide range of settings; and

Whereas, the American Nurses Association, as the voice for registered nurses in this country, is
working to chart a new course for a healthy nation that relies on increasing access to
primary and preventive health care; and

Whereas, a renewed emphasis on primary and preventive health care will require better utilization
of all our nation’s registered nursing resources; and

Whereas, professional nursing is an indispensable component of the safety and quality of care of
hospitalized patients; and

Whereas, the demand for registered nursing services will be greater than ever because of the aging
of the American population, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technologies, and
the explosive growth of home health care services; and

Whereas, more qualified registered nurses are needed in the future to meet the increasingly
complex needs of health care consumers in this community; and

Whereas, the cost-effective, safe, and high-quality health care services provided by registered
nurses will be an increasingly important component of the United States health care
delivery system in the future; and

Whereas, along with the American Nurses Association, Oregon Science & Health University has
declared May 6 as National RN Recognition Day and the month of May as Nurses Month,
with the theme “You Make a Difference,” a nod to nurses’ sheer numbers, their
unparalleled impact during the pandemic and health care, and an open invitation to
#ThankANurse for enriching our lives and the world we live in.

Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,”
do hereby proclaim May 2021 to be
Portland Nurses Month
In Portland and encourage all residents to observe this day.