School of Nursing at the Legislature

Submitted by: Mary Pattock, School of Nursing, 612-624-0939, patto017@umn.edu

School of Nursing at the Legislature

The School of Nursing, as part of a coalition of a dozen nursing organizations, participated in Nurses Day on the Hill on March 18. Nurses visited their legislators, explaining how proposed health care cuts for low-income people could jeopardize the health care of all Minnesotans, not just the ones targeted. They said proposed measures won't save money in the long run, and don't address the serious problems in our health care system. Nurses proposed offering basic access to health care for all Minnesotans, and preparing more nurses and more nursing faculty to help meet the nursing shortage. According to the Minnesota Department of Economic Security, Minnesota is already short 6 percent, or 2,436 nurses. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts the shortage to grow nationally to 12 percent by 2010.

Ann Jones, PhD, School of Nursing Director of Undergraduate Studies, testified that day in the Health and Human Services Policy Committee, Subcommittee on Licensing, on behalf of legislation that would protect the use of the word "nurse" in a professional setting. The measure passed out of committee.