November 13-19, 2022: Nurse Practitioner Week

WHEREAS, nurse practitioners (NPs) play a critical role as trusted providers of health care for patients in our state; and,

WHEREAS, NPs work to expand health care access in underserved communities, promote health equity in care; and,

WHEREAS, patients depend on the more than 355,000 licensed NPs in the United States, and over 12,000 in Michigan to diagnose, manage, and treat their chronic and acute health care conditions; and,

WHEREAS, NPs provide high-quality primary, acute and specialty health care services while emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling, guiding patients to make smarter health and lifestyle choices every day; and,

WHEREAS, the confidence that patients have in NP-delivered health care is evidenced by the more than 1 billion visits made annually to NPs across the country; and,

WHEREAS, more than five decades of research demonstrates the high quality of care provided by NPs; and,

WHEREAS, better utilization of NPs through modernized state laws and improved policies creates better health through a more accessible, efficient, cost-effective, and higher-quality health care system; and,

WHEREAS, leading governmental and policy entities including the National Academy of Medicine, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, National Governors Association and Federal Trade Commission have taken notice of the benefits of providing patients full and direct access to NP-delivered care; and,

WHEREAS, NPs serve as the primary care provider of choice for many Michiganders and play a pivotal role in the health and welfare of our communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 13-19, 2022, as Nurse Practitioner Week in Michigan.