That was a close one!

I have purposefully not posted anything about healthcare reform in my blogs.  I have very strong political views and I didn’t feel this was the forum to express them.  But, after the historic election in Massachusetts this week, I needed to say a few things.
First thing I want to say is….Thank you to the voters of Massachusetts!  You all spoke loud and clear for so many of us throughout the country that felt that the underhanded, back room decisions being made by congress that would affect all of us was not going to be tolerated.  You gave a voice to those of us that want commonsense solutions that come from those of us that work with these issues everyday and not from politicians that only have their re-election as a priority and not what is best for the country.

I am not afraid to say I am a Republican.  There are not many of in nursing, at least not many that feel comfortable standing up and saying it out loud.  I believe in limited government, low taxes, a safe country and individual freedoms and responsibility.

That does not mean that I think healthcare does not need a change.  But I believe that the changes need to start with the input of nurses and physicians.  When I say nurses and physicians I don’t mean the American Nurses Association (ANA) or the American Medical Association (AMA).  These organizations may believe they speak for all of us, but they do not.

There are 2.9 million Registered Nurses in the United States and 180,000 of them are members of the ANA.  That is less than 6.5% of all nurses.  Are they really speaking for all of us?  And the AMA represents less than 17% of all physicians in the United States.

So, until those of us that know what we are talking about….nurses and physicians, are part of the decision making process, I can not buy into anything they try to shove down our throats.

Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent or you just don’t care…..get involved and make your voice heard.  Make those in Washington hear what the real experts have to say….that would be you and me, not the “leadership” of the ANA or AMA.

Again…..way to go Massachusetts…..that was a close one.