The headlines about the ‘Big Ugly Bill’ passed by the Trump Administration and GOP majorities in Congress generally have highlighted the massive budget cuts to healthcare, skyrocketing insurance prices and other extreme dangers and hardships that will be experienced by working Americans and their caregivers in hospitals and nursing homes.

Nurses from 1199SEIU Florida have spoken out for months warning of these grave issues well before, during and after Florida Senators Rick Scott, Ashley Moody and all state Republican members of the U.S. House voted in favor of the bill. Floridians will be hit especially hard by the bill because of the high percentage of residents covered by the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. It’s projected about 2 million Floridians will lose health coverage and thousands of caregivers will lose their jobs in the state so billionaires can enjoy bigger tax breaks forever under the Big Ugly Bill.

All of these headline items already had nurses appalled before another insulting detail emerged in the 900-page piece of legislation: nursing would not be categorized as a "professional degree" and not be eligible for the same financial support for education and training in other medical professions.

“This is such an ugly slap in the face to nurses across the nation who worked hard for our degrees, certifications, licenses, education and expertise,” said Marlyn Hoilette, an RN at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. “More importantly, this change in designation will result in even fewer nurses entering the field while we already face a dangerous staffing crisis. It’s critical we elect new leaders in Washington and Tallahassee who will respect nursing professionals and actually serve the people in their communities.”

For more details, read the article in Newsweek: Nurses Furious Over Degree Classification Change: ‘Insulting’ about this harmful issue.

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