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

Nurses Activism

Published

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

Every town in this country has free neonatal screening and checkups. Can't get much more intensley cheaper than that.

Yup and then people fight tooth and nail to stop a system of preventative medicine that would be IMMENSELY cheaper than what we have.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Every town in this country has free neonatal screening and checkups. Can't get much more intensley cheaper than that.

Umm everyone is not aware of that fact...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Jolie, Jolie, Jolie,

Why do you keep trying to bring logic and common sense into an argument. You know that if socialism is to prosper everyone has to drink the kool aid.

How in the world do you "penalize" someone who bears absolutely no responsibility or accountability (financial or otherwise) for their healthcare bills?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.
Every town in this country has free neonatal screening and checkups. Can't get much more intensley cheaper than that.

I am sorry but I have to point out that it is VERY basic screening and such that is offered......I have friend that utilize such services and they are nothing to write home about. There is no specialty care provided, so if they find anything abnormal they arent really going to provide you care for it anyway.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Still waiting to hear from someone opposed to UHC that has actually realized that the current system ISN'T working and propose a feasible idea or at least partial idea for how to fix it.

This is of course a highly used conservative tactic. Attack the person with an idea enough and you don't have to come up with an idea of your own and everyone else forgets what was going on. Two years later they are wondering why they still have the same broken system and what happened to the idea???

It's called a bait and switch. Republicans are the masters of it.

Hmm I think we got way off topic though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
In another thread, you decried the state of healthcare in the U.S. where you claim that pregnancy outcomes are inferior to those of 3rd world countries.

I responsed by challenging you to identify a single county in this nation which does not offer FREE prenatal and early-childhood preventive healthcare via county health departments, public health clinics, faith-based initiatives, academic medical centers, etc. My point is that maternal-child health is an area where FREE preventive care is universally available to those who will simpy be responsible enough to use it. But it doesn't happen. The poor outcomes you cite occur largely because irresponsible Americans fail to utilize the free, preventive healthcare that already exists.

Given this situation, how do you propose to fashion a system where Americans will responsibly access free preventive medicine rather than rely on ERs (and NICUs) for expensive emergencies that could have been prevented, and stop using ERs inappropriately for minor issues that don't warrant emergency care?

Free OB care is a joke in the US right now. For the most part, people who need these services are poor, lack access to transportation, are uneducated, live in areas where polution is high, and have low quality food. All of these lead to problems during/after pregnancy. Its not like they open the window of their two-story ranch, smell the fresh air, and go downstairs and eat a healthy breakfast before hopping into their Mercedes to go to the free clinic for OB care because they don't have private health insurance.

Free mom-baby health care offered in the US today is limited, overcrowded, poorly funded, and is not the holy grail to solving the high infant mortality rates in the US. We need a multi-system approach, and sweeping the problem under the rug doesn't make it go away.

Anyways, I personally think that universal health care would not cut RN pay. Besides, I know many people who work for the government - and they receive excellent retirement benefits and generous vacation time. Not saying this is true for all gov't workers; just something to consider.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, complications do arise during pregnancy but complications are less likely to occur if you are getting prenatal care. If they do, then they are caught early.

And how about personal accountability? How about not getting pregnant if you can't afford the medical bills or don't have insurance? How about getting a job that offers medical insurance?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Selfish is going over to your neighbors house and demanding he pay for your health care bills. Just because people have the opportunity to utilize something doesn't mean they will. Let's take a look at the D.C. public school system. $22,000 per student per year EVERYONE has the OPPORTUNITY to graduate yet only 40% do. Again where are these young and old that are struggling? This is the same fallacy of the person working 4 minimum wage jobs just to make ends meet, or the one paycheck away from being homeless, or my personal favorite choosing between dogfood and medicine. As for kids being diagnosed with cancer before they are walking how is universal health care going to prevent that? People get sick and people die universal health care is not going to change it period.

You also make the assumption that wealthy would be paying for it. Again you call us selfish because we don't want to pay for socialism, but who is really being selfish? Compassion starts with deeds not words. Anyone can take out their checkbook and write a check to the government to pay for someone else's health care. I have great health care because I worked hard to get where I am at. I certainly do not want to be forced into some lame government program by a bunch of liberals who will then exempt themselves from the same care that the rest of us will be forced into.

I agree with icyounurse -- and to add to that...

In the US, the concept of universal healthcare seems very fair. It's fine and dandy to say "I don't want to take a pay cut in exchange for universal healthcare for all US citizens." Then think about the grand scheme of things. In the ED, we see a lot of the problem with NO healthcare, and the non-effectiveness of public aid. People go without, or with minimum, and then when they get really sick, and are on their death bed, we treat them and invest tons of money just to care for them until they die. Who pays the bill?

With universal healthcare, at least everyone will have the same opportunity to maintain their health. I think the best part of the movie "Swing Vote" was one of the lines that essentially said, "If the United States is one of the richest countries in the world, why can't we afford to live here?" And furthermore, why can't our own citizens have healthcare? The young and the old are struggling, all with health problems. Kids are diagnosed with cancer before they are even walking. But the wealthy, who could still maintain their lifestyle on a small pay cut, are concerned that universal healthcare might make a little dent in their annual salary?

Sorry, that's awful selfish. This world has become SO self-centered... everyone out for themselves. "It's all about me." Makes me SICK. The only place that people are guaranteed to be seen and treated, no matter how bad or minor their illness, is the ER. That's really sad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.
Free OB care is a joke in the US right now. For the most part, people who need these services are poor, lack access to transportation, are uneducated, live in areas where polution is high, and have low quality food. All of these lead to problems during/after pregnancy. Its not like they open the window of their two-story ranch, smell the fresh air, and go downstairs and eat a healthy breakfast before hopping into their Mercedes to go to the free clinic for OB care because they don't have private health insurance.

Free mom-baby health care offered in the US today is limited, overcrowded, poorly funded, and is not the holy grail to solving the high infant mortality rates in the US. We need a multi-system approach, and sweeping the problem under the rug doesn't make it go away.

Anyways, I personally think that universal health care would not cut RN pay. Besides, I know many people who work for the government - and they receive excellent retirement benefits and generous vacation time. Not saying this is true for all gov't workers; just something to consider.

Thank you!! I was wondering when someone would acknowledge this. The "care" provided in these clinics is very basic, if you can wait for 2 days in a dirty waiting room with like 2 nurses for 200 people to even get to see a doctor to receive it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, complications do arise during pregnancy but complications are less likely to occur if you are getting prenatal care. If they do, then they are caught early.

And how about personal accountability? How about not getting pregnant if you can't afford the medical bills or don't have insurance? How about getting a job that offers medical insurance?

How about NOT getting hurt when you don't have medical insurance. How about letting your kids starve to death because you can't afford them and they aren't mine.

How about saving us all some money and making parents educate their own children.

How about dumping Medicare and SS because your parents/grandparents should have been as smart as mine and actually prepared for retirement.

You see the silliness of that argument... It can never end. Everyone for themselves and to hades with everyone else...

Yea, that was SO the point of America. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow. Then maybe they shouldn't have gotten pregnant. Guess what life ain't fair and life ain't easy. Stack an unwed mother with a baby or two and it just gets tougher. We have the wealthiest poor in the world in this country. They never seem to lack access when I worked in the ER they would just call an ambulance to take them where ever they needed to go. Heck unlike a taxi you don't have to pay for the ambulance.

Free OB care is a joke in the US right now. For the most part, people who need these services are poor, lack access to transportation, are uneducated, live in areas where polution is high, and have low quality food. All of these lead to problems during/after pregnancy.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Actually being that I'm more libertarian than anything, I actually agree with most of your post.

I don't mean that kids should starve but that's what charity organizations are for.

Most wealthy don't have a probably giving to charity, they have a problem being FORCED to give to charity.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment