TO Joy Behar and Michelle Collins Co-Hosts of The View
On behalf of the 20,000 nurses of 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare union in the nation, we feel compelled to educate you on the integral role of the Registered Nurse on the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. Our roles are far reaching and we, as nurses, have the ethical obligation to maintain the integrity of our profession and its practice.
Registered Nurses are highly trained and educated professionals who save lives. We care for patients, whether individuals or families, on a daily basis in diverse settings. We affect the health of groups and communities across the lifespan. Nurses advocate for and protect the safety and health of patients. When your family member is hospitalized the healthcare team works collaboratively to assure your loved one receives excellent medical care and is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. The nurse is the backbone of that team.
Registered Nurses are on the frontlines during emergencies and national catastrophes. We have been at the forefront during health-related crises over the years including the AIDS epidemic, SARS, H1N1, responding to 9/11 and the anthrax scare, and most recently, keeping all Americans safe from Ebola.
As commissioned officers in our armed forces, registered nurses serve in war zones, delivering competent and compassionate care even under the most difficult circumstances. Nurses also work at our VA hospitals tending to those men and women who secure the safety of our nation.
Nurses sit at policy-making tables at the local, state and national level to improve healthcare quality. Registered Nurses promote public awareness and have been instrumental in assuring that all Americans have access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. We, as 1199SEIU RNs, are actively involved in transforming our healthcare system from one focused on chronic disease to one dedicated to comprehensive wellness and prevention. Registered Nurses affect legislative change and assure the health of our nation. We advocate and fight for patients!
Nursing, like teaching, is a predominately female profession and clearly under appreciated. Sometimes it is a thankless job, but as Kelley Johnson so eloquently stated, we are not “just” nurses – we are lifesavers. Nurses are not in it for the money – we have dedicated our lives to this profession because we believe passionately in keeping our nation healthy and providing the very best care to our patients.
The Registered Nurses of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare union in the nation.
