How Will This Impact the Nursing Profession

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With healthcare reform inching closer to Universal/National/Single Payer/Socialized (which ever it may be called) care; would it or would it not have an effect on current and prospective nurses of the future? Our citizens, the uninsured and patients are a priority but I see the nursing profession taking a hit on this one. Will nurses be rationed so there are less and less being staffed (already happening) and reduced salaries, or similar to California furloughing and budget cutting out necessary services. Could it make nursing unions non existant? I'd feel better if I could hear some thoughts pro or con because I feel there would be a definite impact on nurses. The can of worms is open.

Specializes in med surg ltc psych.

MN Big J makes and excellent point on page 1.

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I think it is kinda hard to say what will happen as nothing has even been decided on what exactly is going to change with healthcare. I think this is a wait and see kinda thing as none of us can predict the future.. ( unless Miss Cleo is here :D and if she is I could really use the powerball numbers for Sat! ):nurse:

you haven't heard???? Ms Cleo is a fraud lol

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How long can hospitals and clinics remain open if they are paid less and less often?

I do agree the system has some broken parts, but is turning the whole thing upside down over the 17 million more people it would cover really worth it?

I could go on and on but my point is, yes it would be great for everyone to have insurance but do you really trust our government to figure out the best solution when they have yet to get Medicare/medicaid to work without losing billions and the VA system can't handle it's pt's?

MN.....in the single payer system the hospitals will be recieiving MORE money because more people will have insurance. Fewer uninsured people = more money.

17 million....I am reading 47-49 million uninsured.

Interestly, a few days ago I heard about RAM on NPR. I have provided a link below. Thousands of US citizens are lining up for free basic medical in outdoors tents. This looks and sounds like something that is provided in third world nations. Very sad.......

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111039701

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Specializes in ER.

Yes 17 million. The bill currently being worked on in the House will cover an addtional 17 million people. Even though the US Census estimates between 30 and 35 million Americans without insurance and Obama keeps pushing the number as close to 50 million only an addtional 17 million will be covered. That's a lot of people that are not going to be covered.

As far as recieving more $$, if they are paying less money per person, and more and more people are on the Government plan because of payer issues that will equal less money for the hospitals. If less employers offer health insurance because it is cheaper to pay the fine placed on them or if we get taxed on health benefits less people will be on private insurance which pays an average of 85% of the bill an will be on the government plan which pays an average of 50-60% of the bill. That's a lot of money. Especially when it's an estimated addtional 75-100 million people that will be off of private insurance and be on the government program.

Some of the great leaders in Washington(sense the sarcasm), when asked what about the additional people that need to be covered, said "that's what other programs are for." refering to Medicaid and some of the State funded programs.

Either way, no everyone will be covered and it will cause a decrease in funds to hospitals and clinics, causing them to close or reduce workforce, resulting in nursing lay offs. As those of us in MN have learned, a nursing shortage means nothing if they don't have the money to pay the nurses they have. Meaning Lay offs.

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Specializes in med surg ltc psych.

Exactly.

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I'm tired of hearing cries of "socialized medicine"! GEEZ....the military has gov run healthcare & it's supposed to be the best. BTW the VA hospital here gives great care and they have the HIGHEST pay for RNs in the area! Even our criminals have healthcare- state run and free for the inmate! & besides that...there are a lot of things in our lives that are "socialized" like PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OH...people have the right to an education but not medical care...right?

I can tell you that military run health care can be a joke. And I did say can be. I've had the worse and the best when dealing with them both as active duty and as a family member. The biggest problem for me was that I could not pick my doctor. I saw whomever was available. Some VA hospitals are good, but that is not the rule.

That aside, from what I understand, Obama is not discussing socialized medicine, but is looking to cover those that can't afford health insurance or those that don't have employers that supply it. I've heard some good and some bad in the plan. Sounds like he is attempting to cut waste in order to cover them. He also understands that there will still be those that choose not to pay for health insurance even if it is affordable. And there will also be those that cannot afford the premiums do to financial hardship - they will need more assistance for them. Last news conference he had, he mentioned 47 million uninsured and being able to cover about 97-98% of those. Not sure if he can do it, but that is what he stated.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/07/22/transcript_of_obama_prime-time.html

To the op...I think at this point wages and working conditions will reamin as they are. Although until we really know all the details, its hard to tell.

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With healthcare reform inching closer to Universal/National/Single Payer/Socialized (which ever it may be called) care; would it or would it not have an effect on current and prospective nurses of the future? Our citizens, the uninsured and patients are a priority but I see the nursing profession taking a hit on this one. Will nurses be rationed so there are less and less being staffed (already happening) and reduced salaries, or similar to California furloughing and budget cutting out necessary services. Could it make nursing unions non existant? I'd feel better if I could hear some thoughts pro or con because I feel there would be a definite impact on nurses. The can of worms is open.

The devil is always in the details and no one knows what those are...........and whatever they are now will be altered in some midnight conference.

There will be unintended, and unforeseen, consequences of any bill that passes.

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First, the 45 Million uninsured is an exaggeration...intentional at that. It includes 8 - 9 million non-citizens, most of whom are illegal aliens. The majority of the remainder are young adults who have chosen not to have insurance. I did this. The family cost was $1K per month. During that year, including an ER visit for DD's dislocated shoulder, my real cost of medical care was less than $5K. I SAVED $7K by refusing insurance - which would not be allowed in the Dem plan.

Next....it could be a boon for home healthcare. In the section 400ish, it explains that there will be grants to states to provide IN HOME parenting skills teaching for homes that have young children or for those about to have children. Now, in this section, it states that participation is "voluntary". In Section 600ish, it explains some of the "exceptions" to the voluntary nature...ie: if you live in a low income area, if there is a high degree of DV in your area, etc. It has been supposed that potentially, the government could require this "home intervention" if the child is obese since the child's obesity will cost the government run medical system much more money. It is coming out now that the obese cost the medical community 9 times what a smoker costs. Sooooooo

Big Brother is on his way! Welcome to 1984.:clown:

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flmomof5 you bring up a couple good points.

First of all, the only way to get insured those that choose not to is to mandate health care, which I know they want to do. MA is doing that, but I'm not sure how well that is working. Last I heard the fine for not getting health care is much less than the premiums, so many are still insured. But that was months ago, so I'm not sure the latest.

Second, in regards to big brother, Obama talked about doctors and grading them on their management of care. This makes me nervous since this not only violates patient privacy, but we all know that many patients are non compliant. I have to hear more on this issue, because it makes me nervous. We don't need more interference by gov't/health insurance companies when we care for our patients, we need less....IMHO.

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Specializes in None.

Does anyone have the link to the actual bill, I REALLY want to read it.

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Does anyone have the link to the actual bill, I REALLY want to read it.

I think part of the problem is that it keeps evolving and everyone has their own version. Even today they hammered out another compromise.

Here's the latest I can find on some details on each of the bills that are proposed:

A look at health care plans in Congress

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i41RM2oyMgCk3ZGKmxZ4mOvQUdhgD99PJH983

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