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

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I been hearing this debate off and on for a long time about how if Obama gets universal healthcare to go ( if he gets elected of course)though in the US that nursing pay will be cut dramatically. I would think this has to do with the fact that we would all be working for the government and that there will no longer be competition. There are many people in my nursing class that said they will leave nursing if thats the case. I also talked to several doctors that said the same thing about medicine in general. Im just curious if anyone has some good info about this. Thanks

Specializes in Cardiology.
Yes, one time I got a $150 grant when I went to pay my bill. It was automatic and I didn't even apply for it. So yes, apparently it is a simple process. Plenty of people I have went to college with got grants and it was not a hard process at all.

WOW! You impress me more and more all the time! You actually got a **$150** grant, and therefore getting grants is a simple process??!!

You must be an incredibly special and talented person. Why, you were well on your way to a free education! Only $29,850 more and you'd have had a free ride through an undergrad degree at a reasonably-priced public college with in-state tuition.

If only the rest of us had known how easy it is. I think I shall go enroll in grad school right now, now that you've enlightened me.

Or maybe someone just endowed a $150 grant to anyone with a W sticker on her car, and didn't tell you. Life is full of little surprises. Some of them are even pleasant.

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Specializes in Emergency.

If you do volunteer then you should be aware of free clinics (unless you live in a town of 500 people) that are offered in the area. Ask one of the nurses in the local ER. When I worked in the ER we referred people who couldn't pay to the free clinics all the time.

I work in an ED and we do refer people to free clinics. The equipment at these clinics are failing, staff are spread thin, and you're SOL if you need to see a specialist. I know first hand how difficult it is finding a pulmonologist AND oncologist for a 33 yo male who is one of the many uninsured "working poor", that finds out he has lung cancer during a free checkup. Its difficult on a patient to switch around their meds at each visit because you don't have enough of the "free, expired" meds that were donated (last month it was aciphex that expired in January, and this month it will be prevacid that expired in March). How can we expect compliance if we can't provide reliable meds?

Its even harder getting into a community dental clinic. I've never met a patient who was successful at obtaining free/low-cost dental care following an ED visit for a dental abscess.

It is my opinion that hospital ED's are community sanctuaries. Lights may go out throughout the city, but hospital generators keep the power on. They're open 24-7 and provide care regardless of ability to pay. They always have food and they always provide shelter away from the elements. Do you think that people enjoy living in cramped housing, infested with cockroaches and rodents, yet are proud to get free ED visits? Free ED visits are all these people have. They come for minor complaints, plug in their phone because they don't have electricity at home, and demand food because they haven't eaten in days. There is a loss of value for these free visits because they have never learned to value anything in their lives, for they have nothing. I personally think it is pathetic that so many people exploit the ED system, and I've come to realize that it is all they have to exploit - and this is quite sad if this is all you own, cherish, and have in your life.

Are there people who abuse the system? YES. Is it the poor's fault? NO. It is a flawed system with a lack of accountability, and we shouldn't stereotype everyone as lazy, stupid, money-grubbing freeloaders with nothing better to do but smoke crack, make babies, and play with guns.

Even I struggle to pay my medical bills. It's not my fault that I was born with a chronic illness. I pray each day that I don't become so ill that I can no longer work, because I fear I'll be cared for by someone as cold-hearted as you. We are all a step away from a catastrophic injury/illness, and we're not as far removed from the poor as we'd all like to believe. We're all vulnerable to medical care's financial ruin. All you need is one clot, one fall, one car accident...

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
Trust me if the doctors get paid less the nurses are gonna get paid less. Out of curiosity why is it fine by you if a doctor gets paid less

Because they are already overpaid!

Mex

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
i believe that health care workers will work for less and have higher taxes which cuts into income a lot

as for solutions there are programs for the 'working poor' where by their children can receive dental care, vacinations, preventive care etc which can be utilized

i would have no problem whereby these programs can be maintained for an indefinite time as long as the need remains

but you don't have to swallow the whole elephant steps can be taken t

perhaps a catastrophic care would help those who would otherwise use their retirement funds

btw- - why the vindictiveness against those who have studied and worked so hard to improve themselves...doctors, nurses and those with advanced schooling finish with high debts and they provide a service to us all..they SHOULD be rewarded

They SHOULD be rewarded but NOT at the expense of healthcare for profit which is currently what we have in this country

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http://www.uhaul.com/

I do have one question: what about those who don't? I mean, there are 47 states not specifically mentioned in your links. .
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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
I would love to see Insurance companies crash and burn...crash and burn baby!!! Cut out the middle man and things get so much cheaper!!

Mex

Didn't they chant that in LA a few decades ago

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
Free neonatal screening and checkups??? What town are you refering to??? you just lost credibilty on this board...sweeping coments as such without actually knowing for a fact this to be the case is just....too funny! You actually are so wrong it's disgusting. Don't look at a wall that's white and call it black with such conviction that you think people will actually consider whether you are on to something...Orwell's 1984 anyone??

That was 2.4 decades ago.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
They have that system it's called socialism. People become doctors because of the great salaries. Take away the salaries who will become doctors? They have exactly what your looking for in Europe and Canada have at it.

Personally as I recall, Socialism was pretty much defunct, oh say 30 years ago.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
Didn't they chant that in LA a few decades ago

And finally it will happen if Obama is elected...They will cease to exist or be put on short leash!

Mex

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If you have the financial need the grants are there if you do not then there are federal student loans available to provide one's self with an education if that is not enought then a person could get a part time job an go through school. If still no money for college then one could opt to join the military and utilize the GI bill. I wasn't on my way to a free education but I do not feel I have a right to be a free loader on the backs of the American tax payer. Instead I chose to work full time take out personal loans and put myself through college.

WOW! You impress me more and more all the time! You actually got a **$150** grant, and therefore getting grants is a simple process??!!

You must be an incredibly special and talented person. Why, you were well on your way to a free education! Only $29,850 more and you'd have had a free ride through an undergrad degree at a reasonably-priced public college with in-state tuition.

If only the rest of us had known how easy it is. I think I shall go enroll in grad school right now, now that you've enlightened me.

Or maybe someone just endowed a $150 grant to anyone with a W sticker on her car, and didn't tell you. Life is full of little surprises. Some of them are even pleasant.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
That was 2.4 decades ago.

uhm...what?!?!? have you read the book...lol

mex

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We'll she's running Congress for another few months.

Personally as I recall, Socialism was pretty much defunct, oh say 30 years ago.
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