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BY JASMINE BAILEY
A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would create a new health care position— the “National Nurse for Public Health.”
The Hill reports a national nurse would work alongside the surgeon general — the position is basically a spruced up version of the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health.
Rear Admiral Kerry Paige Nesseler currently serves as Chief Nurse Officer. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says in her position, Nesseler:
“Provides leadership and coordinates nursing professional affairs” for the Office of the Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services.
“She provides guidance and advice” to the Surgeon General, the Nurse Professional Advisory Committee and the Nation’s nursing community.
“Specializes in prevention, primary care, health systems development, recruitment, retention, readiness, and career development” of nurses.
Democratic representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, alongside dozens of others, introduced the National Nurse legislation at the beginning of the month. On her website, she described the proposed position, saying:
“As the first registered nurse in Congress, I know from experience how nurses play a critical role in health promotion and disease prevention. The National Nurse for Public Health would raise awareness about what each of us can do to prevent illness while improving our own health and that of our families.”
The Daily Beast writes:
“To clarify: The role of national nurse essentially exists already in the role of Chief Nurse Officer, a post alive and well since 1949. The person currently in that position...would in fact stay put, receiving a title change and enhanced duties.”
But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the proposal for a National Nurse.
A similar bill was introduced in March of 2011 by former representative Anthony Weiner. But was shut down before leaving the House Energy and Commerce committee.
And an almost identical bill was proposed that next December. That proposal, was also introduced by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
But the voice of scrutiny isn’t the only opinion being heard. There is an organization that is proudly waving a flag of support— The National Nursing Network, a non-profit organization. They write:
“There is overwhelming evidence supporting the critical need to boost health promotion and prevention efforts as well as answer the public demand for increased leadership in nursing. [This bill] will bring forth the significant and trusted voice of the nurse to the ongoing conversation about health and health care in America.”
And as The Washington Post points out— the organization could be right, more than 200 nurses packed a room in the nation’s capital last week, demanding a solution for the inadequate staffing of nurses. The Newspaper wrote:
“Nurse staffing has been an ongoing concern for the nurses and hospital administrators. It was a concern during a labor dispute in 2010 between the National Nurses United union and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.”
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson is expected to introduce a bill this month that would require a minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratio. As for the current National Nurse bill— it was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for review.