Whereas, The perioperative registered nurse is highly skilled in providing nursing care and managing the perioperative environment, giving the surgical patient the expert care needed to heal mind, body, and spirit; and,

Whereas, The surgical patient and family are experiencing a major event in their lives and the perioperative registered nurse is an expert in allaying the patient’s fears, preparing the patient for what will happen during surgery, providing family support, and discussing how the patient will feel during the entire surgical experience; and,

Whereas, Perioperative registered nurses have a long tradition of working toward patient safety and improving the quality of patient care; surgical patients rely on the skills, knowledge, and expertise of perioperative nurses; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of November 9, 2003, as AORN Perioperative Nurse Week in Michigan, and I urge all citizens to recognize the nation’s perioperative registered nurses who care for patients before, during and after surgery.