Nurses: Leaders in Health Reform

"Never underestimate the power of a small group of
dedicated people to change the world. Indeed it is the
only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

This is an unprecedented year for transformational health
system change. It is not only important for nurses to be
involved ~ it is Critical!

The illness care system is in crisis. People seek basic
health care in hospital emergency rooms, 51% of the
American population takes medication, and our greatest
killers, obesity and lifestyle diseases are escalating.

As treatment costs rise exponentially, the number of people
covered by health insurance is decreasing. Often modern
illness care results in financial bankruptcy. These trends
are disastrous.

Additionally, the current economic down turn requires that
solutions be radical, cost-effective and immediate in order
to turn the tide.

The system cannot survive if we continue to focus
exclusively on a medical model of symptom diagnosis and
treatment. The trends demand a radical shift toward
helping people learn how to become and stay well.

What profession focuses on helping people become and stay
well? Nursing!

With the overwhelming mandate for change demanded by our
recent election, a window of opportunity is open for health
system evolution. Not a revolution that throws out the
medical model, rather an evolution that expands the system
to include a continuum of care supporting and promoting
health from birth through the life-span and transition into
death.

There will never be a more critical time for Nurses to
Show-up, Speak-up and Step-up to Make a Difference for the
Health of America. If you are ready to seize this
unprecedented opportunity to influence how the health
system evolves, now is the time.

Now is the Time to Show-Up as a Leader.
Nurses led every major health reform in history.
Nightingale reformed hospital and battlefield health.
Lillian Wald began reforming public health as a nursing
student, later establishing the Henry Street Settlement to
provide care to the poor and immigrant population. Mary
Breckinridge, a nurse-midwife, reformed maternal-child and
family health by founding the Frontier Nursing Service,
educating and employing nurse-midwives, and establishing
family care centers in the Appalachia Mountains. Margaret
Sanger reformed reproductive health and Dame Cicely
Saunders, known for her role in birthing the hospice
movement, emphasized the importance of palliative care.

Today, nurses are showing up to lead by creating innovative
health care delivery models and shaping public policy.

Now is the Time to Speak-Up as a Nurse.
Nurses once again rank #1 as the most trusted professionals
in the annual Gallup Poll. Talk with your public. They want
to know what you think. What nurse has not received a call
at all hours from family and neighbors asking for advice or
counsel before seeking medical care?

Nurses comprise the largest number of 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 your views.

Speak up with other nurses. Share your concerns and ideas
as colleagues and team members. Form a nursing mastermind
group to refocus your practice on health and create
innovation together in whatever nursing arena you practice.

Speak up with your legislators, the people who decide the
scope and limits of your nursing practice.

Now is the Time to Step-Up as a Professional.
If the purpose of nursing is helping people become and stay
well then nursing is about not only attending patients in
hospitals and other tertiary care settings. Only 3% of the
population is in an institution. The other 97% needs
nursing in the form of primary care, health education,
health coaching and wellness.

Who will decide the future of Nursing and Health Care?
Your Legislators will!

When I was President of the WV Nurses Association, I
learned that the only thing more important than big money
in influencing legislators is big numbers.

We sent out the Call and Nurses Showed-Up in record numbers
to Unite at the Legislature. These nurses filled the
galleries of the House and Senate to overflowing. As a
result, we were able to support the passage of three bills
including landmark needle stick and mandatory overtime
protection, and block a fourth, which allowed unlicensed
personnel to dangerously perform nursing functions. The
legislators heard the nurses' message loud and clear!

The nurses, who Showed-Up, Spoke-Up and Stepped-Up for that
challenge protected the public and the ability for all
nurses to practice safely and effectively.

Will You Show Up as a Leader to meet today's challenge of
health system reform, Speak Up as a Nurse to advocate for
the health of all Americans and Step-Up as a Professional
to articulate the cost-effectiveness and need for expanding
access to professional nursing care?

Borrowing from our President-Elect ~ "Together, We Can"!

----------------------------------------------------
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: http://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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