Three Million Nurses, Three Million Votes

Look Beyond the Rhetoric by Maureen Shawn Kennedy, AJN Editor-in-Chief

Kennedy's editorial in the October issue of the American Journal of Nursing talks about the much needed reform of health care. She stresses "that if nurses are allowed to practice as we've been educated to practice, we will be key players in revamping of the health care delivery system."  She mentions the important IOM's 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. She also cautions the rest of us not to think that three million nurses will be three million votes for one party. Nurses are as divided as the rest of the American public. It is well worth reading her one page editorial. Here is the last paragraph:

"Like you, we've been bombarded with political ads, campaign phone calls, and the spin from an endless parade of political analysts on television, talk shows, and Twitter, in print and online--wherever "news" is found. We have much to gain in reforming health care, but we each need to do our homework, look beyond the rhetoric, and get the facts for ourselves. You can find the candidates' platforms at www.barackobama.com and www.mittromney.com Read them, decide who offers the best way forward and vote." That's good advice for all of us.