More Emails From California

Here is another email received by the National Nurse Team:

"There is concern that a National Nurse could end up giving the impression that there is only one voice in nursing and that that voice, whomever this individual is, would attempt to control the national nursing message."

Answer:

Excellent comment and a very real concern by the way. Thanks for writing and also for expressing this so clearly. You are absolutely correct, and even the words first used in describing the National Nurse were incorrect. As we hear from nurses, supporters, and even opponents around the country, we are better able to explain what we would like to see happen, as we see how words can be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

The National Nurse will not be a spokesperson for the nursing profession. There is absolutely no way in the world this person could be or would be. The main premise is that the National Nurse is a representative from nursing, with a strong public health background, with the mission of focusing every American on health promotion and prevention.

We always knew there could not be one single nurse in America with the knowledge or expertise to deliver a weekly message on ways to live healthy to the nation, thus the idea to have a nurse "expert" who would actually be responsible for delivering this content with the National Nurse introducing the subject. We describe the nurse "expert" as one who has the experience in a specialty area of nursing, for instance diabetes or cardiology.

The National Nurse is not to take the place of the work of the American Heart Association or the American Nursing Association, or the National Black Nurses Association, or PH Commission Corps of Nurses. The Office is not to deliver care, it is about delivering the message of prevention to ALL Americans, not targeted groups. Nurses and doctors have always worked together, and why not have a National Nurse to work alongside of the Surgeon General?

Please continue to email teri@nationalnurse.info with your comments and concerns.