50th Anniversary of The Emergency Nurses Association

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency Nurses Association. Comprised of 51,000 members worldwide, the Emergency Nurses Association, or ENA, is the only professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in emergency nursing.

Founded in 1970, ENA has become the world's premier organization for emergency nurses. It was originally established to set standards for best practices in emergency nursing care and has since worked to provide both continuing education programs and a representative voice for emergency nurses.

ENA has successfully raised awareness and improved outcomes for our nation's trauma patients. Sadly, traumatic injuries such as head injuries, bums, and those resulting from car crashes, falls, and firearms are currently the leading cause of death for Americans aged 44 years or younger. ENA offers courses for emergency nurses that provide them with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training needed to deliver high-quality trauma care. Since its inception in 1986, ENA's critical trauma nursing core course has been taken by more than one million emergency nurses and is now considered the gold standard for the education of nurses in lifesaving trauma care techniques.

ENA's advocacy for the recently enacted Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act, known as the MISSION ZERO Act, has led to the creation of an innovative program allowing military trauma teams and professionals to work in civilian trauma centers to ensure the highest quality trauma care in both peace and war.

Last but certainly not least, ENA also effectively raises awareness about workplace violence directed towards emergency nurses and other emergency department personnel. It has advocated at both the State and Federal level to enact laws that hold those who assault healthcare workers in hospitals accountable for their actions.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, I ask our colleagues to join me in congratulating the Emergency Nurses Association on its 50th anniversary and extending our gratitude to its members for their commitment to improving the quality of emergency care which has helped save the lives of millions of Americans.

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