New health care bill..

tewdles, RN · Mar 25, 2010

To date about 6,000 American troops have died from injuries resulting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Currently, as many as 18,000 Americans die every year because of poor access to health care.

RN1982 · Mar 26, 2010

To date about 6,000 American troops have died from injuries resulting from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Currently, as many as 18,000 Americans die every year because of poor access to health care.

And? You are making it seem like the death of our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan are insignificant. Tell me why Obama has yet to withdraw them? Why are we still there? He said during his campaign that he was gonna get us out of there and here we are a year later, still there. It's not as if we can just stop spending money on those two wars, we're still there. We can't abandon our troops and not give them what they need to survive. Obama needs to grow a pair and get us the hell out of there.

allnurses Guide · Mar 26, 2010

You know, I've heard the argument "Well, you don't mind paying for two wars, do you. So why don't you mind paying for healthcare so everyone has it?". The money we pay is to keep our troops alive. No, I don't mind that we are paying that money. We have to because they are still there because despite what Obama has said, he still has not had the balls to pull us out. Until then, we pay.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Bring them home.

Allow all Americans to buy into Medicare.

(Just my opinion)

tewdles, RN · Mar 26, 2010

And? You are making it seem like the death of our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan are insignificant. Tell me why Obama has yet to withdraw them? Why are we still there? He said during his campaign that he was gonna get us out of there and here we are a year later, still there. It's not as if we can just stop spending money on those two wars, we're still there. We can't abandon our troops and not give them what they need to survive. Obama needs to grow a pair and get us the hell out of there.

please notice that I made no comments about the significance of one vs the other, you read my post and formed that opinion....I simply posted the numbers for informational purposes.

obama did say his objective was to bring all iraq troops home by august, not fast enough for me (we should not have EVER gone to iraq in the first place, IMHO) but better than indefinite occupation until they "get democracy right". I hope they have jobs when they get back...but I still want them back...

nobody said anything here about abandoning troops and support of health care reform is not the same as disregard for our men and women in uniform. they are 2 different subjects and it is dishonest to make an argument that they are somehow related.

the lives and health of people in the USA are important to me whether or not they serve in the military.

drmorton2b · Mar 26, 2010

I live in MA where we have universal care, ER visits have not decreased. Nurse's salaries have gone down, patient census is down. Hospitals are in the red, insurance rates are skyrocketing and going higher. 98-99 % of all people are covered.
Doctors are leaving the state and waits to see docs has increased.

People have to remember unless your doing private cash duty nursing or some other special non insurance based nursing. The insurance companies are paying your salary.

Hospitals and nursing jobs will still exist. The truth of the matter is the smaller hospitals that were barely hanging on before are now on their way out. The only good thing (it is also sad) is that most of the nurses who mentor us or who have been on the job for decades will be retiring in droves in the next 10 to 20 years.

Both of my Primary Care docs left the country. Leaving me with no Primary care coverage for a year (NO one was taking any new patients due to the influx) and having to rely on the docs at work for my basic medical needs (I have no health problems thankfully).

Finally a year latter they hired a MD from down south and a PA.

I hate to be negative but nursing may have just gone from a safe secure job to as a made up example "There closing my unit that I just transferred to from the other closed unit last month!"

Hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities can adapt to these changes, however this results in more patients per nurse and other things that are stressful to nurses.

As far as preventive care goes. Don't worry about not having sick people. Worry about your back. Morbid Obesity. etc.

The people who take preventive measures are never in the hospital anyway. Shorter stay surgeries are the norm now. 1-2 days in the hospital for somethings that you would have been in a week for 10-20 years ago.

Treat em and Street em.

Tranquil Epitome · Mar 26, 2010

:oI was horrified to see that our government is trying to take over health care! Why try to fix what isn't broken? I am in the process of getting my certification in EKG and Phlebotomy. I am signed up to be a nurse for May 2010, and I'm seriously second guessing whether or not I should. To hear your story of how health care is in MA, makes me scared for the rest of the nation! So hopefully everyone will get out there and vote November 2, 2010, to get these people out of office that are trying to destroy our nation!

tewdles, RN · Mar 27, 2010

:oI was horrified to see that our government is trying to take over health care! Why try to fix what isn't broken? I am in the process of getting my certification in EKG and Phlebotomy. I am signed up to be a nurse for May 2010, and I'm seriously second guessing whether or not I should. To hear your story of how health care is in MA, makes me scared for the rest of the nation! So hopefully everyone will get out there and vote November 2, 2010, to get these people out of office that are trying to destroy our nation!

Welcome to heath care. I hope that your studies are going well and that you develop a real passion for nursing as you achieve your goals.

I think that our system is broken and that there is a great deal of evidence to support that notion. There are several good threads (on AN) that discuss some of the statistics and concerns on both sides of the subject. There are clearly areas in the discussion where it is appropriate to have concerns...on both sides of the subject.

We are in complete agreement in the importance of voting. As citizens we have an obligation to inform ourselves and vote to make this the best country as is possible. I, for instance, will vote in a fashion that reflects a belief that we SHOULD have term limits for all elected officials. Others might vote in a manner which reflects passion in a about education, or gun ownership, etc.

I am not sure that anyone is trying to destroy the country. However, that does not mean that our politicians are making correct choices for The People.

Look forward to reading your posts.

P34m · Mar 31, 2010

New member, I have been reading many postings on this website for a long time and just decided to finally post. I am a nursing student and am very concerned on this whole topic. I have a huge problem when talking to people my age in my classes and they have no idea what could take place. I do not know if it is the uncertainty of my future career or the fact that other people going into this career think its a good thing just because our leader(who we did elect) says it is, but I have not been able to sleep. I by no means have entered this field for the pay(not saying it is not a huge bonus) but why are there 22 year olds who know nothing or refuse to try and know something. With all this new health care stuff I am becoming more sleep deprived then normal. Just wanted to vent.

drmorton2b · Apr 1, 2010

Anyone under the age of 25 usually have no idea what is going on. Only 1 person in my class had any idea what it was about.

To be honest, the health care industry will adapt. Hardest hit will be nursing homes. Especially in Massachusetts. Since money resources set up to help them are working against them (MA Bed Tax issues, medicare cuts, etc.) .

Mom and pop and nursing homes falling apart will be the most hit. Hopefully things will be fixed.

There will still be a bunch of nurses retiring/leaving in the next 10 years.

mari55 · Apr 1, 2010

The health care reform bill that passed this March and the revisions that passed will be good for nurses. Please read the bill. The problem in Massachusetts is that the reform is only statewide. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid were all criticized when they were first passed as well.

CFitzRN, ADN · Apr 1, 2010

The health care reform bill that passed this March and the revisions that passed will be good for nurses. Please read the bill. The problem in Massachusetts is that the reform is only statewide. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid were all criticized when they were first passed as well.

Yes, and have you noticed that they all s.u.c.k? They're all (along with the post office) running huge deficits. Using those programs to speak encouragingly about this new reform is not the most intelligent thing to do.

dnnc52 · Apr 1, 2010

If they would lower the age for medicare. This nurse would be Gone like a Nixon file saying hello to retirement!!!