WHEREAS, critical care transport nurses save hundreds of lives in the state of Florida each year; and

WHEREAS, Florida critical care nurses are committed to providing quality critical care; and

WHEREAS, they are continually striving to upgrade standards of practice and improve services to ensure that more lives are saved every day; and

WHEREAS, the National Flight Nurses Association (NFNA) is a national professional organization of nurses who are committed to critical care and who have specialized skills and knowledge related to critical care nursing and transport of patients via air, fixed wing and rotor wing (helicopter), and ground ambulance; and

WHEREAS, the NFNA establishes standards of excellence in the practice of critical nursing and provides leadership in identifying and addressing issues affecting critical nursing; and

WHEREAS, the NFNA also recognizes the importance of continuing education in critical care nursing practice and research professional nurses need to maintain the high level of health care they deliver; and

WHEREAS, Floridians are proud to recognize critical care nurses in our great state- we all depend on their skills, dedication, and compassion;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jeb Bush, Governor of the state of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing Critical Care Transport Nurses Day, February 18, 2000.