Nurse, Nursing Students Who Treated WTC Victims Join Members of Congress In Discussing Need for Passage of Nurse Reinvestment Act
Washington DC - Nov 5, 2001 - A nursing professor and nursing students who set up a mobile mash unit and treated victims of the World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist strikes discussed the urgent need for passage of the Nurse Reinvestment Act during a press conference hosted by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and James
Jeffords (I-VT) and Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) in front of the Capitol in Washington, DC, Oct. 3.
Providing a firsthand discussion of the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the WTC towers and the critical need for more nurses, particularly during times of crisis, was Elizabeth Ayello, PhD, RN, clinical associate professor, division of Nursing, New York University. Joining her were nursing students Faith Fisher and Junie Volcy.
On the morning of Sept. 11, Fisher, Volcy and other RN students at NYU were scheduled for their first day of clinical practice in medical-surgical care when the terrorists struck. The professor and her students immediately went to Chelsea Piers to set up an emergency mobile mash unit and began treating people with chest pains, respiratory problems, eye irritations and other ailments related to the terrorist attacks.
The Nurse Reinvestment Act, which comprises two companion bills (S. 706 and H.R. 1436), introduced last April, is aimed at attracting more nurses into the profession. The proposed act establishes the National Nurse Service Corps, which would fund nurse scholarships; public service announcements; grants for continuing education, recruitment and training; enhanced loan repayment programs; scholarships, loans and stipends to encourage nursing faculty development; and increased Medicare and Medicaid funding for nurse education.
The current nurse staffing crisis and emerging shortage of RNs poses a real threat to the nation's health care system, particularly in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Employers already are having difficulty finding experienced nurses -- especially in emergency departments, critical care, labor and delivery, and long term care and the impact of the subsequent military call-up on nurse staff vacancies combined with the threat of more terrorist attacks only adds to the state of urgency.
Now is the time to contact your Congressman and US Senator to urge their support of The Nurse Reinvestment Act .
