Survey: Do you think the federal government is taking the nursing shortage seriously?

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 8, 2003

Originally posted by Youda
Ah, now there's the rub.
These people can afford the best of care, at private hospitals or private duty, so have no worries about healthcare or shortages.

exactly, and our legislators are in that esteemed group, so of COURSE there is no personal motivation to address shortages in health care distribution or nurses to care for them. Those who have the money need never worry. Too bad, they are the minority, tho.

beepers40 · Jan 9, 2003

"Shortage? What shortage? All the nurses I know are tall."

--Alleged comment from our illustrious leader.

maureeno · Jan 9, 2003

medicare payments are to be further reduced by 20% over the next 4 years.

community health clinics are closing all over the country.

states are struggling to meet medicaid funding.....

the national debt is over 16$trillion dollars, 1/10 dollars in the federal budget goes to service this debt which will rise with the deficits planned to pay for tax cuts and wars. Missile defense alone could cost up to 1.6$ trillion

the nursing shortage is only a small part of our problem.

Stargazer · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by Psynrs
The Government doesn't have a clue--they just think they do. Just remember Hillary Clinton's comment, "RN's get paid too much!!!!" This from a woman who thought she'd "reinvent" Healthcare, and was married to President "B.J." Clinton (go figure!).

O/T: to the best of my knowledge, this is an urban legend. No one who has alleged this has ever managed to produce a cite for it, and when I Googled it just now I got dozens of hits on articles showing Clinton speaking to and in support of nurses and being endorsed by the ANA. If you have a cite from a reliable source that says differently, I'd love to see it. Thanks! :)

LoisJean · Jan 10, 2003

Well...the points made are certainly excellent ones. I agree that there is no "shortage of nurses" in this country. I agree that less than adequate working conditions exist across the board in the Nursing Communities, from Hospitals to Home Care and everything in between. However, there is one point I would like to make that may be of interest here- and perhaps I'm all wet, but...: The Government is still 'of the people, by the people and for the people'. Opinions and decisions based on those opinions refect the mind set of the public at large--the voting public. That means your parents, your

neighbors, your co-workers. It means people everywhere; in all States. I want to ask you: what do you think the public perception of a 'nurse' is? Do you think that the average John and Jane Doe really understand at depth the role of the nurse in health care--in THEIR health care? Do they truly understand the impact of nurses on the daily lives of patients EVERYWHERE?

A nurses strike in a city not too far from my home town elicited these responses from some of my clients: "So what. There are always nurses around to step in." and "No hospital is going to NOT take care of me just because nurses want to walk out. Someone will be there to do the job, so what do I care?" or "Yeah, well I don't understand what they're walking out for. They get paid better than I do."

The point I'm making is that we, as nurses, are responsible for more than making Government aware...we are responsible for making the PUBLIC aware of who we are and why we are. It is the average Joe on the street who needs to be educated in the working life of a nurse. Your patient may know what you do at his bedside but he hasn't a clue as to what the rest of the story is. He doesn't know what you do each day on his behalf. He has not been introduced to one iota of data which would give him a good view of his nurse's responsiblities on a day to day basis nor what was required for that nurse to even be at his bedside to begin with. And not just in hospitals, as I said above.

I would like to see an in-depth Ken Burns documentary on Nurses. I would like to see a representation of a nurses on something other than ER, Scrubs or a soap opera.

If nurses want better working conditions and pay commenserate with education, experience and job description then perhaps it's time to go directly to the American People with ourselves.

Just a few thoughts. The question is an excellent one, Brian.

Peace,

Lois Jean

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2003

I'm not up to speed on my American federal policies, but in terms of Canada -- no.

It is, however in Canada's best interest for the American federal government to do whatever it can to deal with the shortage. If there wasn't such a temptation for Canadian nursing grads to relocate to the States, nursing in Canada would be better off.

mario_ragucci · Jan 11, 2003

Of course, I have only worked in it for 9 months, ok. But I been going to school to join health-care specifically for 3 years, and during this time the student loans are from the gov't, I guess.

The future of healthcare is exciting because no one knows whats in store, or if the gov;t will be around (sometimes I wonder).

Rock, LPN, RN · Jan 11, 2003

There is a shortage of nurses because the young applicants to nursing schools believe it's like being on a TV show. Sit at the desk, never get dirty, and call the young doctors by their first name, i.e. "Hi Bill, are we going out for cocktails later?"

If you had a career-ladder system, whereby prospective nurses would start at the shit-cleaning stage, advance to LPN, then RN

and BSN.

Requirements to get on the ladder would be high school graduation, compassion, caring, loving and willing to work hard, with remuneration last on the list.

Do you think these people on the ladder would quit in six months or a year and go into something else? Not hardly - if they reach

the RN stage, they would be in it for life. They already know what a nurse's role is a long time before they reach the RN rung.

:nurse:

caliotter3 · Jan 12, 2003

Know somebody in nursing school, happens to be single mom away from abusive mate. Every time she was forced to try the welfare route, she got tired of resubmitting the same documentation 3 and 4 times, etc., etc. Even when it took months to get a new job she managed better by begging from her friends and moving from living room couch to living room couch. Now she is in nursing school and so proud because somebody is helping her move into a homeless shelter with her two kids next week. And she thinks nursing is the answer? I pity her. (And yes, she got "wonderful" financial aid for nursing school, a new loan payment when she is already losing her car.)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2003

Why is it when MDs in a particular state decide to quit/strike over increased malpractice premiums, it rates national coverage, immediate attention and a big fast fix...........but when nurses' leave/strike/quit over dangerous conditions, poor staffing, mandatory overtime, and lousy pay, no one gives a darn.

ucandoit · Jan 14, 2003

wonder what they would think if us nurses were to all of a sudden decide to"walk off" on a national level? They probably know that wont happen, just because nurses care about the patients too much, but just think for a minute about the attention that would call toward the shortage.

Laura C · Jan 14, 2003

Goodmorning to All.....I was sitting here reading the BB... This has been my thing for a long time..I have been a nurse for 20 years. I have often wondered how football players, golf players, basketball players and etc. can make all of this money for entertainment. When they get sick who takes care of them. when they catch a cold who takes care of them. when they get hurt playing their sport who takes care of them...Sooner or later everyone gets hurt or sick. They grow old and problems arise. WHO TAKES CARE OF THEM....I feel that they put the money in the wrong areas. They ( sports players) get upset when they can not get a 3 million dollar contract. It just amazes me. Who is going to take care of Hiliary Clinton when she gets sick...Nurses are the basis of everyones lives. They everyone will need a nurse/Doctor at least once in their life time..We put ourselves at risk everyday we go to work. Not only do we have to worry about the increase of law-suits, we have to worry about what we catch. No matter how well we protect ourselves any thing can happen. No one seems to undersand that. Nurses have to leave their families at night, work on weekends, and holidays. Some one has to do it.............Right?