Road to Healthcare Reform

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Jenny — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:22:22 GMT

The ratio of nurse to patient is already to the extreme.There are not enough nurses to patients currently.A day in the life of a nurse is not by any means easy, and I don't agree that we are paid fairly for all that we do.To cut back salary would not ring in more nurses, which is exactly what we need.We are in every way, shape and form the backbone of the hospitals!If the shortage is not addressed before this new plan goes into effect, the result will be horrible!More than anything, it is going to effect the care we will be able to deliver to the patient population.It is a safety concern!As an ICU nurse, I can honestly say, I could not handle any more than the current ratio I have on board, nor would I want to chance it.So I truly hope Congress thinks long and hard about this whole situation!

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:31:42 GMT

Capitalism is fine but I believe people shouldn't be capitalizing when it comes to health. That is not moral. Give everyone the proper health care they need. Doctors and nurses in the US get paid too much for the work they do. Although I am aiming to be a doctor, I won't mind the pay cut to ensure everyone gets the health care they need.

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Alonzo — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:18:54 GMT

I am concerned about the new healthcare reform proposal that our President is trying to pass. First of all, nurses are paid from the room rate charges; that is a travesty in itself! Nurses are not paid for the services that they render. Doctors get paid for every service they provide. Nurses do not get paid for dressing changes, IV infusing, family dynamics, injections, cold calling, monitoring, assessing, re-evaluating, implementation of care and a host of other services we provide. The acuity ( level of care needed for a patient ), is not factored into how nurses are paid. Taking care of an alzheimers patient vs. an ICU patient, vs an expecting mom, all require various skill sets and different demands on nurses valuable time! How will the new healthcare reform effect the nursing industry? If there are cuts, who will be the recipient from the domino effect of those cuts?

When hospitals have to make budget cuts, nurses are the first group affected. If you think there is a nursing shortage now, you have not seen anything yet!

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re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Nate Poplin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:05:29 GMT

I think that the fear of wage cuts is real, however over exaggerated. We need to remember that this economy is still a capitalistic economy driven by supply and demand. There is a demand for nurses, and a shortage of them. This bodes well for salaries. Nurses are skilled professionals with a huge union base (ANA) who have got their proverbial finger on Obama's pulse. Don't worry about DR's, if they can be reimbursed more regularly and not have to fight with the HMO's so often because more individuals are now insured independently, then they may come out better off as well through a greater rate of reimbursement. I would not freak out about this just yet. Nursing demand will grow out of control in the next decade. PS here is a caption from Obama's speech: http://www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8899:remarks-by-president-obama-on-health-care-reform&catid=88888983:latest-national-news&Itemid=88889930

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Kayla — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:34:06 GMT

I am currently a nursing student and like many nurses I am afriad that the nursing salary will be cut. The nursing school that I go to cost between 5,000 to 7,000 each semester. I am half way through and I fear that I will owe more money in student loans than I will even be able to make my first year out. What are the estimated nurses salary? I honestly am offended by the health care reform, it shows how much people do not value what we do. Do I really want to take care of these individuals that get free health care while I work hard for way less than I was expecting, than I deserve? Going to school to be a nurse is expensive... is the government going to help me pay off my loans? This plan does not hurt the rich, it doesn't hit the poor, it just attacks the same people who always get attacked BLUE COLLAR Americans. The ones who work hard to support this country, depending on their own sweat and not some government handout. It is scarey to be me right now, because I really don't think I will be able to pay off my loans now!

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

vanessa king` — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:13:21 GMT

Susan, I share the exact same view, just because I do not support this new healthcare reform does not mean that I do not care for my patients. This will definately drive a wedge between the nurses and doctors. We need to stick together, we go to school and work hard to advance our education within our profession. You are correct, their will be no nurses left. Why will individuals go to nursing school to make no money. I am in the process of getting my bachelors. I'm debating whether to even continue. I love nursing also, but I will not sacrifice the hard work and education i have endured to better my family financially for a public health care system.

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

kay bensing — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:48:57 GMT

Susan,

Recently, I attended a forum in Washington, DC, "Nursing Worforce Solutions for the 21st Century," sponosred by the Center to Champion Nursing in America and Health Affairs, an initiaitve of the AARP, AARP Foundation and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The thrust of this meeting was while some nurses have lots jobs because of the economy, we must address the problems we have now to prepare for healthcare reform and the nurse shortage estimated to begin around 2018, when Baby Boomers will be retired.

Healthcare reform will increase the need for nurses, particualry in areas outside the hospital. To meet the needs of patients in the community and at home requires well-educated and skilled nurses. If nurses keep themselves educated and skilled, salaries won't be cut.

Look for my report on this meeting in www.advancefornurses.com

Kay Bensing, MA, RN, senior staff nurse consultant at ADVANCE.

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Lorettajo k — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:36:38 GMT

I love this analogy of reform to road construction. Right now, the town I live in is completely redesigning our downtown. It's an absolute traffic nightmare, but I feel it will be worth it. We will have a new brigde, parks and FINALLY a thriving downtown.%0d%0a%0d%0aChange is painful...for everyone involved. I am optimistic that nurses will come out on top with this reform. We just need to be an active and loud voice.%0d%0a%0d%0aThe road is going to get bumpy. The process is going to be a nightmare. Some people will leave nursing, while new ones see the value and join.%0d%0a%0d%0aAll that I know, is that I am tired of a system that makes the rich richer and the sick sicker. %0d%0a%0d%0aSo, where's my hard hat and I can I get involved?

re: Road to Healthcare Reform

Susan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:47:08 GMT

I am afraid that the "health care reform" and cutting health care costs will result in cutting my salary. There aren't enough Nurses as there is, if our salaries are cut there will be even fewer. The doctors aren't going to allow THEIR pay to be cut! So who's going to get the ax? Nurses. I hope people realize that if nurses salaries are cut, there won't be any nurses. Hope SOMEBODY can bring you your pain meds. when that happens cause it won't be me. I LOVE being a nurse. Can't imagine what else I would do, but if I can't make enough money to support my family, I will be forced to leave a profession I truly love.