Re: will universal healthcare ( in the usa) cut RN pay? Originally Posted by Jolie 
In another thread, you decried the state of healthcare in the U.S. where you claim that pregnancy outcomes are inferior to those of 3rd world countries.
I responsed by challenging you to identify a single county in this nation which does not offer FREE prenatal and early-childhood preventive healthcare via county health departments, public health clinics, faith-based initiatives, academic medical centers, etc. My point is that maternal-child health is an area where FREE preventive care is universally available to those who will simpy be responsible enough to use it. But it doesn't happen. The poor outcomes you cite occur largely because irresponsible Americans fail to utilize the free, preventive healthcare that already exists.
Given this situation, how do you propose to fashion a system where Americans will responsibly access free preventive medicine rather than rely on ERs (and NICUs) for expensive emergencies that could have been prevented, and stop using ERs inappropriately for minor issues that don't warrant emergency care?
Free OB care is a joke in the US right now. For the most part, people who need these services are poor, lack access to transportation, are uneducated, live in areas where polution is high, and have low quality food. All of these lead to problems during/after pregnancy. Its not like they open the window of their two-story ranch, smell the fresh air, and go downstairs and eat a healthy breakfast before hopping into their Mercedes to go to the free clinic for OB care because they don't have private health insurance.
Free mom-baby health care offered in the US today is limited, overcrowded, poorly funded, and is not the holy grail to solving the high infant mortality rates in the US. We need a multi-system approach, and sweeping the problem under the rug doesn't make it go away.
Anyways, I personally think that universal health care would not cut RN pay. Besides, I know many people who work for the government - and they receive excellent retirement benefits and generous vacation time. Not saying this is true for all gov't workers; just something to consider.
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