will universal healthcare ( in the usa) cut RN pay?

I agree with icyounurse -- and to add to that...

In the US, the concept of universal healthcare seems very fair. It's fine and dandy to say "I don't want to take a pay cut in exchange for universal healthcare for all US citizens." Then think about the grand scheme of things. In the ED, we see a lot of the problem with NO healthcare, and the non-effectiveness of public aid. People go without, or with minimum, and then when they get really sick, and are on their death bed, we treat them and invest tons of money just to care for them until they die. Who pays the bill?

With universal healthcare, at least everyone will have the same opportunity to maintain their health. I think the best part of the movie "Swing Vote" was one of the lines that essentially said, "If the United States is one of the richest countries in the world, why can't we afford to live here?" And furthermore, why can't our own citizens have healthcare? The young and the old are struggling, all with health problems. Kids are diagnosed with cancer before they are even walking. But the wealthy, who could still maintain their lifestyle on a small pay cut, are concerned that universal healthcare might make a little dent in their annual salary?

Sorry, that's awful selfish. This world has become SO self-centered... everyone out for themselves. "It's all about me." Makes me SICK. The only place that people are guaranteed to be seen and treated, no matter how bad or minor their illness, is the ER. That's really sad.

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.

Yes, complications do arise during pregnancy but complications are less likely to occur if you are getting prenatal care. If they do, then they are caught early.

And how about personal accountability? How about not getting pregnant if you can't afford the medical bills or don't have insurance? How about getting a job that offers medical insurance?

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.

Yes, complications do arise during pregnancy but complications are less likely to occur if you are getting prenatal care. If they do, then they are caught early.

And how about personal accountability? How about not getting pregnant if you can't afford the medical bills or don't have insurance? How about getting a job that offers medical insurance?

How about NOT getting hurt when you don't have medical insurance. How about letting your kids starve to death because you can't afford them and they aren't mine.

How about saving us all some money and making parents educate their own children.

How about dumping Medicare and SS because your parents/grandparents should have been as smart as mine and actually prepared for retirement.


You see the silliness of that argument... It can never end. Everyone for themselves and to hades with everyone else...

Yea, that was SO the point of America.

Actually being that I'm more libertarian than anything, I actually agree with most of your post.

I don't mean that kids should starve but that's what charity organizations are for.

Most wealthy don't have a probably giving to charity, they have a problem being FORCED to give to charity.

How are they going to starve with WIC and food stamps? And people that are that poor certainly qualify for medicaid. Once again the wealthiest poor in the world in this country. How about not buying alcohol and cigarettes when you have a hungry baby at home? How about getting a job and actually supporting one's child instead of making the kids mother bear the full burden of raising them. Hope and change ain't going to pay the bills, but personal responsibility will.