HR0564 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0564 LRB097 13726 KXB 58273 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, St. John's Hospital School of Nursing, the first Catholic school of nursing in the United States, was established on October 4, 1886 in Springfield for the members of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis; and

WHEREAS, Their mission was to care for the sick and the needy of the community in a spirit of joy, respect, and commitment to competence; and

WHEREAS, From that day until the present, the values and vision of the Hospital Sisters have underscored and directed the efforts of the faculty and students; and

WHEREAS, In 1912, the school accepted the first laywoman and voluntarily sought approval from the Illinois Department of Registration and Education; and

WHEREAS, In 1952, when the National League for Nursing first began its accreditation program for schools of nursing, St. John's was among those who came forward to meet this new challenge; and

WHEREAS, Today, St. John's College students earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing; and

WHEREAS, St. John's College has a vision to educate nurses and health care professionals for innovative practice excellence and values-based leadership; and

WHEREAS, Over 3,327 nursing students have been educated at St. John's since the establishment of the school; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim October 4, 2011 as "St. John's College Day" in the State of Illinois and congratulate the College on their 125th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to St. John's Hospital School of Nursing as a symbol of our respect and esteem.