2023-11-07 IV. B. Proclamations - National Nurse Practitioner WeekOffice of the Mayor
City of Okeechobee, Florida
WHEREAS, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play a critical role as trusted providers of health care for
patients in our Treasure Coast Community who depend on the more than 355,000 licensed NPs in
the United States, 21,000 in the State of Florida, and nearly 1800 on the Treasure Coast, to
diagnose, manage, and treat their chronic and acute health care conditions; and
WHEREAS, NPs work to expand health care access in underserved communities, promote health
equity in care and improve health outcomes for all by providing 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 one billion visits made annually to NPs across the country, giving NPs a pivotal role in the
health and welfare of our communities; 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, the City of Okeechobee is proud to recognize and honor the countless contributions NPs
have made over the past half century and will continue to make on behalf of the health and well-
being of citizens in our community.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Dowling R. Watford, Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Okeechobee, do hereby proclaim the week of November 12 through 18, 2023, as
National Nurse Practitioner Week in the City of Okeechobee. `
In witness whereof, on November 7, 2023, I have
set my hand and caused this seal to be affixed
Dowling R. W or , Jr., Mayor
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Attest:
ane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk