Board of Nursing 90th Anniversary Reception

Board Of Nursing 90TH Anniversary Reception

Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
State Capitol
7/31/2003

Flying Hawk, an Ogala Sioux Chief, said "Nobody can be in good health if he does not have fresh air, sunshine, and good water." I would add, "And a good nurse."

I'm pleased to be here tonight to celebrate 90 years of the Board of Nursing actively working to protect the health and well-being of Montanans through careful regulation of the nursing profession.

Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your celebration.

I hold nurses in very high regard. You work hard every day in many different capacities to carry out your role in the medical field, and for that, I'm grateful.

I'm often humbled when I hear stories about the kind words spoken by nurses to bring comfort to patients and their families.

The ability to comfort another human being, and to care so deeply for their emotional well-being, in addition to their physical health is one of the most important abilities nurses bring to work with them every single day.

I think that quality - that high level of compassion and consideration - is an intrinsic gift that nurses use so effectively, whether they are working the night shift in a busy emergency room, or administering a vaccine that will save a child from polio, or providing hospice services to the terminally ill.

Nurses are very special people who have been helping Montanans since even before there was Montana.

In the nine decades that the Montana Board of Nursing has been in existence, the nursing profession has changed considerably.

Yet, your mission as a board has remained consistent through these changes - to protect the health and well-being of Montanans.

I thank you again for your efforts, and look forward to the next 90 years of dedicated service by the Montana Board of Nursing. (Let's all hope we're here to celebrate)