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Two years ago the New York Times published an op-ed written by Teri Mills MS, RN, ANP, CNE, a nursing instructor at Portland (Oregon) Community College. Mills expressed her vision for our country to establish a high-ranking federal official titled, “National Nurse.” The article highlighted a proposal that would unite nurses from all educational backgrounds to address the nation’s rise in preventable conditions that are causing human suffering and contributing to the rise in healthcare costs.
The popularity of the story led to the formation of The National Nursing Network Organization (NNNO), including a Board of Directors. One member serving on the board is Terri Polick, a mental health nurse from Maryland, who has authored and published numerous stories for ADVANCE and Nursing Spectrum.
Please watch the video about the National Nurse from You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASoKqgi_JhE
From the National Nurse website, an Office of the National Nurse is needed to:
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Establish symbolic national leadership by elevating and strengthening the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS to make this position visible to the nursing profession and the public.
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Complement the work of the US Surgeon General.
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Promote involvement in the Medical Reserve Corps to improve the health and safety of the community.
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Incorporate proven evidence-based public health education when delivering prevention.
The idea made sense to nurses around the country. One nurse that took notice is Congresswoman Lois Capps, U.S. Representative for California. Capps transformed Mill’s idea into a bill proposal and introduced it into the 109th Congress where it amassed the bipartisan support of 42 House co-sponsors.
In the past year, the NNNO has fulfilled many interview requests and presented at several nursing conferences. The inspiring presentations have led to more and more nurse involvement.
Endorsements have poured in from all corners of the nation, including the New York State Assembly, who unanimously passed a resolution memorializing the United States Congress to enact legislation to establish the Office of the National Nurse.
Future legislation is planned for the 110th Congress. It is now being advocated that the position of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for the U.S. Public Health System (USPHS) should assume the role of the National Nurse. This will likely expedite the passing of the bill, minimize cost, and avoid duplication of services. However, the NNNO feels that it is crucial to also re-title the position to “National Nurse,” rather than keep the title, “Chief Nursing Officer.”
Mills states, “We seek the title "National Nurse" because it will be unique and recognizable. Presently there are thousands of nurses working under the title of Chief Nursing Officer (you only need to google this as evidence) and few really understand or know of the important roles that the Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS performs.”
Teams composed of volunteer nurses would most likely be incorporated into the Medical Reserve Corps to focus on delivering health promotion information in their communities, and could provide a ready supply of nurses in cases of large-scale emergencies, such as the Southern California fires. These activities will focus on strengthening health related linkages and creating a culture of prevention.
The National Nurse continues to gain momentum. As elections draw closer, it will become imperative for nurses to be heard. The public depends on nurses to be their advocates, much in the same way nurses practice patient advocacy at the bedside. As nurses, our collective voice must be heard politically so that our profession can take the lead on preventing health problems.
To learn more about the National Nurse, go to www.NationalNurse.org or email Teri Mills at Teri@NationalNurse.info.
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