National Nurse Practitioners Week

WHEREAS, there are more than 150,000 licensed Nurse Practitioners in the United States and over 2,000 in Alabama, providing high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered, personalized healthcare; and

WHEREAS, Nurse Practitioners are licensed, expert clinicians with advanced training who provide primary, acute and specialty healthcare services to order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions and prescribe medication and other treatments; and

WHEREAS, Nurse Practitioners are partners in the healthcare of their patients, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling, guiding patients to make smarter health and lifestyle choices, in addition to providing clinical services; and

WHEREAS, the excellence, safety and cost-effectiveness of the care provided by Nurse Practitioners is established and well-documented; and

WHEREAS, Nurse Practitioners provide healthcare to people of all ages and in diverse healthcare settings, such as private practices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, state and local health departments, managed care facilities and retail-based clinics; and

WHEREAS, patients of Nurse Practitioners often times receive more personal time and attention than other healthcare providers are traditionally able to give:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the week of November 11 through November 17, 2012 as

National Nurse Practitioners Week

in the state of the Alabama to celebrate these unique healthcare providers and remind lawmakers of the importance of allowing nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their experience and education.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 9th day of October 2012.

 

Robert Bentley, Governor