Message on the
Observance of National Nurses Week,
I
am delighted to send warmest greetings to everyone celebrating National Nurses
Week, especially to
One
has only to imagine for a moment a world without nurses to realize how vital
their services are. In hospitals and ambulatory settings, in the inner city, in
rural and metropolitan communities, in homes and on military posts -- wherever
a need exists -- nurses are there working diligently to serve and to protect
the health of our people. It's not an easy task. Nurses work all hours and long
hours, respond to shortages of nursing personnel, and face many other adverse
conditions.
No
medical staff person spends more time with individual patients than nurses do.
In addition to their technical skills, they must bring to their duty stations a
generous dose of compassion in dealing with patients who are severely ill and
in need not only of constant care but also of emotional support and
encouragement. To perform their tasks in a rapidly changing scientific
environment, nurses must continually study to keep abreast of developments in
the health care field.
Nurses
have responded to these challenges with the highest commitment to excellence,
helping make all of us the beneficiaries of the finest health care in the
world. For this they deserve our profound gratitude and respect.
Nancy
and I gladly salute our Nation's nurses during this special week of
recognition. God bless you.
Ronald
Reagan