Vascular Nurses Week

WHEREAS, the second week of June is designated as Vascular Nurses Week; and

WHEREAS, there are 3.1 million licensed registered nurses in the United States, and vascular nurses comprise an important part of this healthcare group; and

WHEREAS, in addition to providing excellence in direct patient care, vascular nurses participate in vascular research and serve as a valuable resource for policy makers; and

WHEREAS, the Society of Vascular Nursing (SVN) is a professional community of vascular nurses who advance the care for those persons living with vascular disease through excellence in clinical practice, education and research; and

WHEREAS, the core values of the SVN are to advocate for both vascular nurses and for people living with complex vascular disease; and

WHEREAS, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a vascular disease in which the arteries supplying a limb (typically one or both legs) are obstructed; 60 percent of PAD patients have coexisting coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebrovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately 8 million people in the United States with PAD, and 12 to 20 percent of American people older than 60 living with PAD; and

WHEREAS, people with vascular disease require an interdisciplinary team approach, and the vascular nurse is an integral part of this team; the specialized vascular nurse is able to identify the resources required by the vascular patient population and to assist in providing optimal care and compassion:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the week of June 9 through June 15, 2013, as

Vascular Nurses Week

in the state of Alabama.