I rarely get political on the blog these days because, frankly, my focus is elsewhere most of the time and I tend to rant and rave about politics on blogs where the writing is good and the commentary lively. That said, I cannot avoid this subject because it hits too close to home. This could very well determine my future regardless of what a board of insurers, doctors, lawyers, and a judge say I can do about my nursing career. While that illustrious panel may claim I’m fit to return to full duty because I’m miraculously healed as plotted and planned out by some California insurance lackey on a piece of paper, the simple truth is, if we go with this proposed happy fun healthcare for all, I will not return to providing patient care. And below, I explain why.
One nursing magazine poll asked the simple question: “Do you support healthcare reform in the U.S.?”
Here’s how it’s shakin’ out:
44% No
31% Yes
24% I don’t know enough about the President’s plans
In other forums, polls are definitely more decisive. One forum asked: “Based on the language presented in the packet posted to this forum (beginning to end of the proposal in all its glory), do you support the President’s plan for healthcare reform?”
The results:
93% No
4% Yes
3% Unsure — I’d like to have this put in simple language for us to better understand.
Another forum asked: “Watch the video of the President’s speech on healthcare reform. Now, are you for or against his plan?”
86% Against (with many citing in comments that the plan leaves doctors and nurses vulnerable to many lawsuits because the new plan will effectively tie their hands and limit the care they can give)
12% For (citing something has to be done! But they don’t know if this is the best idea, they just know it’s the only idea on the table at the moment.)
2% Unsure based on the double speak and lack of clarity when it comes to providing protection for those giving healthcare to patients.
Without tort reform, healthcare providers will be stuck in a precarious situation. I’ve heard from plenty of doctors and nurses by now to know that we’re going to lose some very skilled practitioners if these plans are put into place. Those who “opt out” will be fined for doing so and pay a premium to continue practicing and they will be limited in the amount of time they can spend in a hospital for surgery or testing, limiting the level of care we give and receive. The other option is to switch to outpatient surgical facilities that may be inadequately set up for the severity of procedures and outcomes.
This is something everyone should really consider.
Ask your doctors, nurses, and everyone who works at the clinic where you receive care how they feel about the President’s new plan. Tell them you really want to be informed so you can ask your congressperson to either support or fight the plan. Be informed! Don’t ask a politician. Don’t ask your family, but do consider their medical needs. Ask the people who provide your care.
And remember, while the AMA has said it’s behind the plan, the AMA only represents 15% of doctors practicing in the U.S. They definitely don’t have their finger on the pulse of what the vast majority of our physicians face or what they believe needs to be done.
Please notice, during my several paragraphs, I called no one names, impugned no one, and stuck to the facts as reported in polls taken in nursing forums, read the hundreds of conversations about the plan, read the plan myself, and discussed it with people with whom I have worked, professionals I trust, those I turn to for my own care, for the care of my family members. It is with a very heavy heart that I say “I’ll never nurse under this proposed system” and neither should any other nurse.
It’s a bold statement with serious reprecussions for everyone in this country. But it’s bad medicine, folks. It’s the sort of thing that can kill us. I’m not exaggerating for big hits. I’m not playing this up for the sake of drama. I’m telling you what this means for you, for me, for all of us from the perspective of someone who would have to deliver the care they’re proposing. I could not look myself in the mirror each morning and then go to work to sit around twiddling my thumbs instead of doing everything in my power to provide you or your family with the care you need and deserve. That is not in keeping with the oath I took. And because of that, I could lose my license and any money I would earn from such a job.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. Especially not here.
Educate yourselves, my friends. PLEASE! Don’t read some “fact” site. Don’t read one party or the other’s websites. Find the exact proposed plan and read it carefully. Talk to doctors and nurses and aides and anyone else you can find in the doctor’s office. Do it. It could mean the difference between life and death for you or a loved one if we don’t seriously overhaul this proposal.
As it stands, it’s a disaster for everyone. There aren’t nearly enough real doctors and nurses involved to get this thing in working order right now. We should not EVER rush to rebuild a system that is currently working (as far as the delivery of care…not the insurance side) well. The insurance issue is something entirely different and that must be restructured, but not hastily. None of this should be done hastily. And none of it should be done without every care provider getting involved and making sure it’s done right. As it stands now, it’s not being done right. Let’s put the brakes on this thing and start over, doing it the right way.
Nursing is about giving proper, educated care, not hasty and inadequate care. We took an oath. Yes, we did. And any care provider will not give anything less than what we vowed to provide.
Signed,
Da Goddess, Registered Nurse
Any guesses as to who this guy is? 
