HR0856 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0856 LRB101 21382 LAW 72136 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, May 12th marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a woman whose trailblazing spirit laid the foundation for nurses to be recognized for their work today; and

WHEREAS, Florence Nightingale was born in Italy to a wealthy aristocratic family on May 12, 1820, and she grew up in England; as a teenager, she felt a strong desire to become a nurse, although the profession was not considered respectable in Victorian society; despite her family's disapproval, she educated herself in arts and science and gained some nursing experience in Germany; and

WHEREAS, During the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale was appointed to lead 38 volunteer nurses at a military hospital in Scutari, in modern-day Turkey, in November 1854; she encountered horrible conditions, surrounded by unclean hospital wards and more soldiers dying of diseases than from battle wounds; and

WHEREAS, Florence Nightingale remained steadfast, taking several measures to improve sanitation and hygiene at the hospital, including washing the linens, purchasing necessary kitchen supplies, and emphasizing handwashing with soap and water, which was not widely practiced at the time; she was noted for caring for both common soldiers and officers equally; she earned her famous moniker "Lady with the Lamp" for checking on her patients by lamplight, often writing letters to their loved ones at home on their behalf; and

WHEREAS, Despite Florence Nightingale's efforts, the mortality rate continued to rise through 1855; she had mistakenly believed that nutrition and supply problems were the main cause of death, but poor sanitation and contaminated water were the more lethal culprits; she returned to Britain in 1856; she had learned from her experience, developing better sanitary practices in addition to more efficient hospital planning and design; and

WHEREAS, For the next 50 years of her life, Florence Nightingale prioritized the establishment of nursing as a respected profession; she wrote a book titled Notes on Nursing in 1859 that was written in simple language intended for women who were providing nursing care in the home to understand, and it is still regarded as a pioneering text; she also set up the world's first training school for nurses in 1860, which still runs today; and

WHEREAS, Florence Nightingale's bicentennial comes at a poignant time for nurses as they stand on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Nurses play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention, and the delivery of care in all settings; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has 185,992 registered nurses living and working in the State, of which 13,746 are also licensed as advanced practice registered nurses, and 24,763 licensed practical nurses, making nursing the largest licensed health care profession; and

WHEREAS, The care provided by nurses in Illinois is the primary component to a successful health care delivery system; and

WHEREAS, The inherent sense of duty nurses possess has been on full display in Illinois; they continue to serve as their patients' last line of defense, to adapt at a moment's notice as treatments and practices evolve to better combat COVID-19, and to champion the need to be with patients until the very end at the risk of their own health and lives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend nurses for continuing the legacy of Florence Nightingale in their continued care of patients and for their resolve during the COVID-19 pandemic; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the vital role of nurses in promoting and providing health care to the residents of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Advocate Aurora Health, Amita Health, Loyola University Medical Center, Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Rush University Health, Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses Chicago Chapter #317, the Illinois Nurses Foundation, Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Science, all colleges and trading schools that offer nursing programs in the state of Illinois, and Illinois museums and libraries.