Nurses: Leaders in the health reform
"Never underestimate the power of a small group of people dedicated to changing the world. In fact, the only thing it's okay. "Margaret Mead
This is an unprecedented year for transformational change health system. Not only is it important for nurses ~ part is critical!
Disease care system is in crisis. People are looking for basic health care in emergency rooms, 51% of the U.S. population taking the medication, and our greatest murderers, obesity and lifestyle diseases are increasing.
As increased treatment costs exponentially, the number of people covered by health insurance is declining. Often modern illness care results from financial default. These trends are disastrous.
Moreover, the current economic downturn requires solutions to be radical and immediate cost in order to change course.
The system can not survive if we continue to focus exclusively on a medical model of diagnosis and treatment of symptoms. The trends in demand a radical change to help people learn to be and stay healthy.
What profession is focused on helping people become and stay well? Nursing!
With the overwhelming mandate for change that requires our recent election, a window of opportunity is open to the evolution of the health system. It is not a revolution gives the medical model, rather an evolution that the system is expanded to include a continuum of care support and Health Promotion from birth to life and the transition to death.
There will never be a most critical moment for Nurses to show-up, Speak-up and Step-up to make a difference America's Health. If you are ready to seize this unprecedented opportunity to influence the way the health system evolves, now is the time.
Now is the time to show-up as a leader.
The nurses took all the major health reform in history. Nightingale hospital reform and the battlefield health. Lillian Wald began the reform of public health as a nursing student, later establishing the Henry Street Settlement to care for the poor and the immigrant population. Mary Breckinridge, a nurse-midwife, renovated maternal and child health of the family with the founding of the Frontier Nursing Service education and employment of nurse-midwives, and the establishment of family care centers in the mountains of Appalachia. Margaret Sanger and reproductive health care reform Dame Cicely Saunders, known for his role in the birth of the hospice movement, stressed the importance of palliative care.
Today, nurses are showing to lead the creation of innovative models of health care and to shape public policy.
Now is the time to speak-up as a nurse.
The nurses again ranked # 1 as the most trusted professionals in Gallup's annual survey. Talk to your audience. They want to know what you think. What the nurse has not received a call at all hours of their relatives and neighbors for advice or an attorney before seeking medical attention?
Nurses are the largest number health care providers. The mandate of our license is to serve the public and advocate for safe, effective and accessible health care. Let the public hear their views.
Talk with other nurses. Share your concerns and ideas, colleagues and team members. Form a mastermind group to refocus nursing practice in health and create innovation in any field, along with practice nursing.
Talk to your legislators, people who will determine the extent and the limits of nursing practice.
Now is the time for Step-Up as a professional.
If the purpose of nursing is to help people to be and stay healthy after nursing is about not only assist patients in hospitals and other tertiary care centers. Only 3% of the population is in an institution. The other 97% of nursing needs in the form of primary care, Health Education, health coaching and wellness.
Who will decide the future of Nursing and Health? Your Legislators will!
When I was president of the WV Nurses Association, I learned that the only thing more important than big money to influence legislators is a big number.
We send the Call and the nurses showed-Up record numbers to join in the Legislature. These nurses filled the galleries of the House and Senate to the brim. As a result, we could support the approval of three projects law including needlestick reference point and the protection of mandatory overtime, and the block room, allowing unauthorized personnel to perform nursing roles dangerously. The legislators heard the message of nurses in loud and clear!
The nurses, who showed-up, and he spoke-Up a step-up for the challenge protected the public and all the nurses ability to practice safely and effectively.
Will appear as a leader meet the current challenge of health reform, talk to a nurse to advocate for the health of all Americans and Step-Up as a professional joint cost-effectiveness and the need to expand access to care nurses?
Borrowing from our President Elect ~ Together we can "!
© 2008 Aila Accad
About the Author
Aila Accad, RN, MSN, past president of the West Virginia Nurses Association, is a professional Nursing Speaker, Author and Well-Being Coach, who presents innovative Nurse De-Stress & Leadership Programs. Learn more or contact her for speaking or coaching at: www.ailaspeaks.com where you can sign up for her complimentary De-Stress Tips & News and “Ten Instant Stress Busters” e-book.
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