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 ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Obama is NOT for Universal Healthcare. That was part of Hilary Clinton's campaign platform.

That aside, unfortunately I do not believe universal healthcare will ever become a reality in the US. It would require a huge change in the structure of our whole healthcare system and require alot of monetary investment, that, frankly, too many Americans do not want to put the effort into.

And, there is a big difference between universal coverage and socialized medicine.

Obama is also supportive of UHC

There is a difference between UHC and socialized.

UHC is superior.

socialized is defunct

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Medicaid will pay for dental visits. My old dentist saw medicaid patients and I believe it might of been a $2 copay.

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.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
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...

All are excellent reasons to promote universal health care

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.
uhm...what?!?!? have you read the book...lol

mex

Are you angry about something

Of course we all read the book, It was required reading back then.

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While I agree it is not your fault for having been born with a chronic illness it is also not your neighbors responsibility to pay for it. We are not all vulnerable to medical cares financial ruin. some of us plan ahead by not buying the flashy car or the latest expensive gizmos. We also don't want to be taxed into oblivion paying for everyone else's health care. We have plenty of safety nets already for poor people and the working poor.

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 ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

Time to bow out of here, I do believe

Keep The Peace

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It's an even better reason to promote personal responsibility.

All are excellent reasons to promote universal health care
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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

:deadhorse:deadhorse !!!!

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Specializes in Emergency.
While I agree it is not your fault for having been born with a chronic illness it is also not your neighbors responsibility to pay for it. We are not all vulnerable to medical cares financial ruin. some of us plan ahead by not buying the flashy car or the latest expensive gizmos. We also don't want to be taxed into oblivion paying for everyone else's health care. We have plenty of safety nets already for poor people and the working poor.

:banghead: I in no way believe that my neighbors should pay for my illness. I do plan ahead, I save for retirement, I put money into FSA, I pay my bills months ahead, and I save money; heck, myself and my husband have one car and we utilize biking and public transportation to save money. We don't have cable TV. We don't have children because we couldn't afford to pay my medical bills if we had a baby - and it breaks my heart. We live in a small condo and do all the maintenence ourselves to save money. We haven't gone out to eat in years - literally. So don't even try to understand where I am coming from. Its hard paying over $1000 per month for medications alone. And I chose to work rather than take the easy road on the disability train. My illness has nothing to do with compliance, or diet, or lifestyle; I just happened to be one person out of a million that got dealt bad cards at birth. Is it your fault? Nope. Is it my fault? Nope.

There are holes in the "safety nets" you are speaking of. I don't know you and you don't know me, so please don't imply that poor planning rests on my shoulders. Bad things happen to good people and no one is invincible. And contrary to your belief, medical bills can run $100,000+ for some patients and just because someone has private health insurance doesn't mean that they will pay what is owed.

While I try to respect others opinions, I disagree with your mindset. It is our responsibility as human beings to help one another - its what sets us apart from animals. Help also comes in many forms. There are some of us who do what is right because its the right thing to do, and then there are others who do things because they have to, or because they get paid to do it.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.
wow, how were you able to get through college without any grants?

I was very lucky to have a supportive family and some good friends. While they did not pay for my schooling, they gave me rides to class when my crappy car broke down and helped me find various jobs that were flexible(although pretty low paying).

I worked my way through and took out some student loans like many others. I am not bitter about not getting grants, I managed to find other solutions, that is not what I mean at all. I mean it would have been really nice to get them. My only point is that its actually pretty hard to get them to totally pay for school. I dont know of too many who have actually gotten through school strictly through their use.

I also would like to say that I dont mean that I dont think people who get to advanced practice, like CRNA's and MD's dont deserve high incomes. Of course they do. I was in CRNA school briefly and was fully planning on doing it myself and had some life things come up that prevented me from doing it, but I am in NP school currently. My uncle and father in law are MDs who deserve their hard earned paychecks.

But, nobody I know who makes that kind of income has issues paying their bills and putting food on the table. They live pretty comfortably. So its hard for me to understand when people who make that kind of living have such an issue with paying towards social programs. Thats my main point.

Congrats on your CRNA. I know its a crappy road to get there.

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I would not think nurses pay would be cut, compared to many other industries we dont make that much. I do think a Physcians salary or amount they are allowed to charge for services would be cut. Hospital billing is totally ridiculous. However, maybe there would be reduced and it would offset. It's really the whole system that needs updating : the costs of drugs, medical care and medical testing in this country is completely absurd. Do you really think a dose of tylenol should cost $10 or a 1 week hospital stay for an emergency illness should cost $40,000? Based upon my impression of Obama's speech last night what he would fight for is the restoration of basic human kindness and to hold people accountable for their actions. Based upon his exact words and Clinton's previous presidency the taxes for middleclass would be lowered and salaries would increase. This seems good to me !

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.

First of all, those who think Drs salaries should decrease and they are getting paid too much should really get off your high horse. They worked very hard to get those salaries and deserve them. No one works for free, you dont, so why do you expect them to? Basically they have more training and experience than I do and they don't get to leave work at work and they get paid for it.

Next, I'm for EITHER system that makes it more affordable for all of us. I do think healthcare should be a right and people should not go broke to pay their bills. I also think there should be costs you DO have to pay if you want choice in your healthcare. If you choose to go to the ER when it could've waited for a day clinic, you should have to pay for that. If you get a second opinion and want 3 or 4 more, that should be on you. Anything unnecessary should be paid for out of pocket. Futile care should be paid for out of pocket. Any elective procedure should be paid for by you. All payments should be up front, kind of like bail lol. I'd just like to see how Universal Health Care will be regulated to make sure we aren't wasting money. I, however, dont trust that UHC will be regulated by anyone with people's interests at heart. The government has shown that they cannot be trusted and as always, the rest of us will suffer with either system in place. End result: The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, like always.

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