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H.R. 4601, The National Nurse Act of 2010 (47 comments ↓)
H.R. 4601 would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of the National Nurse.
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Visitor Comments
sarah
February 10, 2010, 10:28am (report abuse)Great idea, vote yes.
c.grover
February 10, 2010, 10:48am (report abuse)This is the right direction for health care in America!!!
Vermont Resident
February 10, 2010, 10:54am (report abuse)I've been following this legislation from its inception and am excited to see that it has been reintroduced. I'm tired of waiting for health care reform. This is a way to get something done now that will move the nation's focus toward prevention, while supporting nurses, and strengthening the connection between citizens and nurses, who, let's face it, are the most trusted of all health care givers. We deserve a National Nurse! I have contacted my Rep in the House.
Deaniac
February 10, 2010, 10:57am (report abuse)Voted Yes!
janefordean
February 10, 2010, 11:01am (report abuse)Yes!
Susansphn
February 10, 2010, 12:02pm (report abuse)Haaving a prominent publicly recognized National Nurse will enhance the public's understanding of the broad contributions nurses make in our society. This will enhance recruitment and help focus on significant nursing issues in healthcare. But most importantly, nurses can begin a much needed shift to focus on prevention efforts in every community. Nurses across all specialties can be proud that this legislation has been introduced at this critical time in healthcare reform.
dnoret
February 10, 2010, 12:15pm (report abuse)Who better to make effective change in health care , but those who are active participants. Nurses are the change agents, and we need representation. It is about time Washington may accomplish something! Thats a YES for me.
Elizabeth McPhee
February 10, 2010, 12:21pm (report abuse)Nurses should be at the forefront of improving our Nation's health under the guidance and leadership of a National Nurse! It's time for more attention towards prevention and Keeping-Well care. It can save our country billions. Vote yes for a National Nurse!
Nurse Teri
February 10, 2010, 2:05pm (report abuse)The time is right to elevate the visibility of nurses so that Americans can finally see first hand the important role nurses fulfill in protecting our nation's health.
YES on 4601!
A necessity
February 10, 2010, 2:25pm (report abuse)toward advancing the quality and cost-effective care of one of the health care system's strongest links.
BULL
February 10, 2010, 4:34pm (report abuse)We certainly do not need some academic who has not worked a floor or on a unit for years trying to make decisions. No reason to do thid at all.
...
February 10, 2010, 4:37pm (report abuse)Absolutely not!
This would not create an additional office
February 10, 2010, 6:03pm (report abuse)A Chief Nursing Officer already exists. This new title for that person of *National Nurse* would come with a fresh focus on prevention and support and education of the public. As a mother and grandmother, I support this very strongly.
Anne Llewellyn
February 10, 2010, 7:59pm (report abuse)This is an important bill which will be the first step toward steps toward prevention, educating and empowering consumers to engage in their health care. Make it happen!
Reverend Josh Taylor
February 10, 2010, 8:26pm (report abuse)This bill is wrong. Estabilishing an Office of the National Nurse will only employ and direct nurses to give elders the "Assisted suicide" option. This bill wants your grandparents, the disabled, and the mentally-ill dead. This bill is Nazism, Communism, and a "Human Rights" violation.
Marilyn
February 10, 2010, 8:58pm (report abuse)I really like that it does not create a new position, but designates someone already in an excellent position to represent nursing!! Ditto most of the comments above :-)
FrankO
February 11, 2010, 1:08am (report abuse)Just what we need - another hack sitting on their backside in washington doing nothing. VOTE NO.
Oregon Gal
February 11, 2010, 3:19am (report abuse)This is the year of the Nurse, let's bring Nurses to the forefront, as a recognizable resource for education on preventable diseases and conditions.
The Office of the National Nurse is very appropriate, timely, and relevant.
The nursing profession has come along way, with Florence Nightingale's career as a turning point in nursing history to elevation of the role of nurses with recognition through the Office of the National Nurse.
An appropriate title for such a respected profession.
The Time is NOW !
...
February 11, 2010, 9:18am (report abuse)And just how would this help the patient in the trauma unit? Not one damn bit. Just another chunk of wasted money. I say NO.
Sandy Summers
February 11, 2010, 9:26am (report abuse)We need a nurse leader with a high profile who can help raise awareness that nurses are college-educated professionals who save lives and improve outcomes. Bill HR 4601 for the National Nurse will help create a world where society and decision makers understand the value of nursing. Nursing is drastically undervalued and underfunded. See http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/faq/funding.html. When nursing education, practice, residencies and research are underfunded, patient care is weakened by insufficient quality and quantity of nursing care. The Office of the National Nurse would help end the societal disrespect of nursing that leads to this underfunding--underfunding which leads to patients needlessly dying.
Susan Sullivan
February 11, 2010, 4:19pm (report abuse)In reaction to this comment..."And just how would this help the patient in the trauma unit? Not one damn bit. Just another chunk of wasted money. I say NO."
While appreciating the frustration of providers in emergency and trauma units, I respectfully disagree with this comment... Nurses can have a great impact on presenting, emphasizing and reinforcing safe behaviors which in turn can reduce accidents/trauma and discourage violence. Having nurses become more directly engaged in community health promotion and injury prevention programs is not a panecea... it is a start.. It will enable communities to begin a new focus that truly emphasizes prevention, a longterm need in our education and healthcare systems.
Reverend Josh Taylor
February 11, 2010, 5:20pm (report abuse)Sandy Summers and the rest of you who want this bill passed need to reconsider and tell your rep to vote "No". This bill is a health hazard to the elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill. The Office of National Nurse will employ and give instructions to force elders, the disabled, and the mentally ill to choose the "assisted suicide" option. This bill is making America drunk with the blood of the innocent. In the name of Jesus, "Come out of Her" and say "No" to HR 4601.
The Office of the National Nurses is NOT okay for the elders, the disabled and the mentally ill.
Say it with me:
"NO on 4601"
Georgette
February 11, 2010, 8:05pm (report abuse)If any of you think this national nurse office will have any impact on the major providers you are living in lala land. There isn't a chance in hell that any of them will listen. It's a waste of resources. Put your effort into training and developing the new nurses coming out of school and less on political BS that won't make a tinker's damn.
Marcia Moody
February 11, 2010, 11:26pm (report abuse)I have supported this concept from the very beginning. In 2008 I introduced a resolution in the New Hampshire House of Representatives in support of establishing the Office of the National Nurse. I am so very pleased that finally we have a bill in Congress. I urge everyone to call their Congressman or woman and their Senators to sign on as co-sponsors. This bill will promote good health practices across the country. It is very much needed.
Terri Polick
February 12, 2010, 5:44pm (report abuse)Reverend Taylor: As a psychiatric nurse, I can assure you that this bill would not cause harm to those with a mental illness. I would not endorse a bill that would hurt my patients. Please go back and read the bill. Support this bill. Every American deserves a nurse.
...
February 12, 2010, 7:52pm (report abuse)And just what does this bill make sure every american has a nurse? Sounds like more of the same old crap. Just another boondoggle.
elpy
February 12, 2010, 10:56pm (report abuse)Voted Yes, and wrote my rep.
CDB
February 13, 2010, 12:14pm (report abuse)Voted NO and called my rep and senators to tell them how I feel.
Katie
February 13, 2010, 4:32pm (report abuse)Voted yes and contacted my rep.
JC
February 13, 2010, 8:19pm (report abuse)I vote NO and have urge my fellow nurses to do the same.
Jonathan Causey SN
February 14, 2010, 1:59am (report abuse)I voted, yes!
A well crafted piece of legislation from some experienced nurses who know the challenges faced in health-care today...
Andrea 2
February 14, 2010, 12:12pm (report abuse)Would someone please explain just how this will ever help me with patients? I see absolutely no use for this kind of bill.
Susan Sullivan
February 14, 2010, 8:02pm (report abuse)In response to Andrea 2, I would like to respectfully clarify that having a National Nurse is not about acute care, but about shifting society to emphasize prevention and lower the percentage of persons who progress to becoming patients. It is an attempt to slow the growing epidemics of chronic preventable diseases and their serious consequences.
Many nurses will become activists and messengers to introduce, emphasize and reinforce healthy living practices in their social circles, neighborhoods and communities. This is about PREVENTION ... which is an important role of nursing and one some nurses are very willing to address. Stronger prevention programs have potential to curb rising health care costs and reduce morbidity. But prevention needs to be delivered by effective trusted messengers like knowledgeable nurses, (including students and retirees) who can do great service by becoming active in local prevention programs.
A National Nurse will provide leadership for such efforts.
Yeh, Right
February 14, 2010, 11:38pm (report abuse)Just another political hack to be a mouthpiece for whoever is in power. If it won't help the nurse working with patients then it is of no value. I vote No.
Wilson, Candyce
February 16, 2010, 8:12am (report abuse)Nurses are at the frontline in patient care. Adding this role would ensure our voices are heard. Politicians need to stop having photo ops with nurses and actually look to us to guide healthcare reform.
...
February 16, 2010, 9:28am (report abuse)Not a chance. Let's not create another silly position that has no credibility.
HEG
February 18, 2010, 12:16am (report abuse)Traditionally, the Surgeon General has been a specialist in charge of the healthcare of the nation. I am glad to see that President Obama has chosen a Family Practice physician because they are trained to look at the big picture of health, not just one body system. Nurses are also trained to see the big picture, so I think this would be a perfect way to continue what the President started. We need to spend less time specializing and more time looking at the whole body for health.
...
February 18, 2010, 12:25am (report abuse)We do not need another political hack who is just going to repeat the current party line. This bill does nothing to improve patient care and that is the only thing we, as nurses, should be concerned with. Vote NO.
Concerned nurse
February 20, 2010, 5:42am (report abuse)This is not the time to consider another self-serving position. Nursing is highly trusted and valued by the public. Let's put our efforts into activities that are meaningful--improving access, working with our communities to prevent disease and getting a health reform bill that will be passed.
>>>
February 20, 2010, 11:17am (report abuse)And let's put some effort into getting the new graduates some jobs. The last class that graduated here is still less than 30 percent employed. The common thread is that the hospitals don't want to hire new graduates because they have no experience. Put your support behind getting this changed and getting these nurses to work.
Susan Sullivan
February 21, 2010, 8:53pm (report abuse)Experience is valuable to fully function independently as nurses. However, hospitals are not the only settings nurses can gain experience. Placing emphasis on prevention and the expanded roles nurses are able to play in community prevention efforts can result in more community based nursing jobs! Grants and local funding sources could support efficient programs that target risk behaviors, expand access and improve outcomes in local jurisdictions. Having a National Nurse will sanction these efforts, spearhead rapid change and guide existing networks to develop partnerships for involving nurses in prevention, in both volunteer and and paid capacities. New nurses can be guided by experienced public health nurses to implement and evaluate evidence based interventions in community health settings, thus becoming more experienced nurses, while gathering important data on which approaches have most impact to address health disparities in different communities.
...
February 22, 2010, 12:28am (report abuse)Susan,
Spoken like a true politician. Are you, by chance, in the running for this worthless position? Sure sounds like it listening to your toe-the-party-line rhetoric.
Malgorzata B. Witczak
February 22, 2010, 10:17pm (report abuse)Nursing as a profession needs and deserves the type of recognition physicians take for granted( like the office of Surgeon General).National nurse would ensure visibility of public health problems with acess to care and coordination of efforts to help promote and sustain prevention of major health treaths to public health : obesity, diabetes, unhealthy life styles that lead to chronic illness. This office would raise public awareness of nurse and faculty shortages and the implications for the U.S. complex healthcare system.Office of the National Nurse would help make the issues more visible.One million nurses short by 2020? It's not just propaganda - it's for real!Thank you.
Ron Albers SN
February 25, 2010, 6:33pm (report abuse)Great step in the right direction. This bill will improve healthcare in the U.S.A. and is an important part in stressing the need for preventive healthcare.
YES
TE
March 1, 2010, 4:40pm (report abuse)Silly. We have more important things to worry about.
Susan Sullivan
March 18, 2010, 3:30pm (report abuse)In response to TE, most nurses agree that slowing the rapid growth of chronic preventable diseases is an "important thing." To label a cost effective proposal for starting effective efforts "silly" is rather self-serving and counter-productive.
TE
April 16, 2010, 11:48am (report abuse)This bill is nothing more than another political hack job. All it will really do is make for another "position" that is useless and without any credibility. We already have enough worthless administrators in this country. Put your time and effort into getting more trained nurses on the hospital staffs.