Press Releases
Switalski Earns ‘Friend of Nursing’ Award from MNA
03.16.2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Michigan Nurses Association
Honor recognizes advocacy for safe patient care, health care professionals
LANSING – State Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren) today received the Michigan Nurses Association’s prestigious ‘Friend of Nursing’ Award in recognition of his advocacy for safe patient care and other nursing issues.
“Jon Switalski has impressed us with his passion for helping us improve the care that our patients receive,” said John Karebian, executive director of the Michigan Nurses Association. “We asked Jon to sponsor the Safe Patient Care Act because he is known as a champion of most vulnerable residents and working families. With some leaders, you get empty promises to make you go away – with Jon, you get commitment and collaboration to create change for the people we serve. The Michigan Nurses Association is proud to present Jon Switalski with our 2012 ‘Friend of Nursing’ Award.”
The Michigan Nurses Association, which represents more than 10,000 registered nurses around the state, presented Switalski with the award in front of hundreds of nurses and nursing students during their annual Michigan Nurses MARCH! event at the Lansing Center this morning.
The “Friend of Nursing” Award is the Michigan Nurses Association’s highest award given to an elected or public official who has shown great support of the nursing profession and legislative initiatives that advance nurses’ role in health care. Previous recipients include Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Sen. Mark Schauer and Congressman John Conyers.
Switalski is being honored specifically for his sponsorship of the Safe Patient Care Act (HB 5426), which requires hospitals to develop a plan that incorporates minimum patient-to-nurse ratios and also bans mandatory overtime for nurses.
“Nurses make tremendous sacrifices to take care of all of us, and I’m very humbled to be honored by the Michigan Nurses Association,” said Switalski. “I’m proud to sponsor the Safe Patient Care Act and do anything else I can to support registered nurses across the state.”
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