Nurses top the list with 84% of the public rating their standards as “high” or “very high,” while members of Congress fall to the bottom — the only profession for which a majority of Americans (59%) rate honesty and ethical standards as “low” or “very low.” Perhaps members of Congress would fair better if they listened to nurses and our professional organizations more.
Karen K. Kirby
MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN
President & CEO
Kirby Bates Associates
This Nurses’ Week we salute our fellow nurses and the work that our professional organizations are doing to protect and advocate for the health and well-being of all citizens in this tense and tumultuous healthcare environment.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is doing an exceptional job of advocating for sensible healthcare reform and they have tools that all nurses can use in the effort.
The American Organization of Nurse Executives, together with the American Hospital Association (AHA) is a strong voice for nurses, nursing leadership and the patients we serve. Their website also has information that all nursing leaders can use to advocate for meaningful change, such as the following statement about the AHCA:
“The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018 if this bill becomes law, and more than 24 million would lose coverage over the next 10 years. Over the same period, Medicaid funding would be reduced by $880 billion. The bill does nothing to restore the hospital market basket reductions used to help fund ACA coverage expansions, leaving you less able to respond to the needs of those who lose coverage. Learn more about the AHCA, including a video explaining what is at stake, on the American Hospital Association’s AHCA webpage.”
The American Organization of Nurse Executives, together with the American Hospital Association (AHA) is a strong voice for nurses, nursing leadership and the patients we serve. Their website also has information that all nursing leaders can use to advocate for meaningful change, such as the following statement about the AHCA:
“The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018 if this bill becomes law, and more than 24 million would lose coverage over the next 10 years. Over the same period, Medicaid funding would be reduced by $880 billion. The bill does nothing to restore the hospital market basket reductions used to help fund ACA coverage expansions, leaving you less able to respond to the needs of those who lose coverage. Learn more about the AHCA, including a video explaining what is at stake, on the American Hospital Association’s AHCA webpage.”
We also celebrate the DAISY Foundation for all their work to honor nurses across the globe. We are very proud to be a four-year DAISY Partner.
Please join me in celebrating all nurses, our professional nursing organizations and those who support and celebrate nursing!
