OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives this week recognized House Resolution 1028, which honors May 6 through May 12 as National Nurses Week.

Authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and coauthored by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, the resolution highlights the important role nurses play in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients across the state and nation.

Roe, a longtime nurse and chair of the House Public Health Committee, said she was proud to celebrate Oklahoma nurses on the House floor.

“As a veteran nurse and nurse practitioner with more than 40 years of experience, I’m thrilled to celebrate our nurses this week and to honor them on the House floor,” Roe said. “They deserve that recognition and so much more.

"I have seen firsthand the vital role nurses play in the health and well-being of our communities. Nurses are not only caregivers and healers, they are the foundation of our healthcare system, supporting everyone from patients in hospitals to students and staff in our schools.

"With nearly 5.2 million registered nurses across the nation and more than 77,000 here in our state, their presence is felt in every corner of our lives. They bring new life into the world, mend broken bones and wounded spirits and stand beside us in our most vulnerable moments. Their work is often quiet, but their impact is immeasurable. 

"To every nurse, thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices you make, for the care you give and for the strength you show. We simply couldn’t do this without you. You are true heroes.”

Stark, a former nurse and vice chair of the House Public Health Committee, shared her appreciation for the care nurses show in every setting.

“Before I served in the Legislature, I worked in health care, directly supporting patients and families,” Stark said. “As a former nurse, I know the long hours, the tough calls and the quiet moments that define this profession.

"Nurses are at the center of patient care. They’re often the first to notice when something’s wrong and the last to leave a patient’s side. Their compassion, clinical skill and steady presence bring hope and healing in life’s most difficult moments.

"This resolution is one way we can say thank you—to recognize their devotion and remind them that their work truly matters.” 

House Resolution 1028 encourages Oklahomans to join in recognizing National Nurses Week and the life-saving contributions of nurses in every community.