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Kerry the Clear Choice for Nurses

Senator John F. Kerry released the following statement celebrating Nurse Day 2004:

Washington, DC - "From the battlefield to the emergency room, today's 3.5 million nurses are on the frontlines of our nation's health care system. I salute their dedication, commitment and service to the noble work of saving lives and promoting health. Our nation's nurses are crucial in our efforts to build a stronger America.

"However, nurses across the country are confronting enormous challenges in their efforts to deliver a high-level of service. Nowhere is the need to address the nation's health care crisis more urgent than in the nursing profession, where widespread understaffing is undermining nurses' ability to provide quality patient care.

"The shortage of nurses is not only compromising patient care, but it is also fueling an exodus from the nursing profession. For example, the majority of the 500,000 licensed registered nurses who are not working in the nursing profession stated that they left their job due to chronic understaffing in their units.This situation is creating a vicious circle and must come to an end.

"Unlike the current administration, which has ignored the health care crisis, I have a comprehensive plan to ensure safe staffing levels, combat the nursing shortage and establish strong and enforce-able rules for a safe and healthy workplace.

"Our nurses provide an invaluable service to our country. They care for millions every day, and I think they deserve an America that cares for them. A true celebration of their gift to us is to provide them with the staff they need to offer the highest quality patient care. We will do that when I am President, and together, we will build a stronger America. "

Senator Kerry can back up this statement with his long and impressive record of fighting for nurses and quality health care. Senator Kerry teamed with Senator Edward M. Kennedy to fight against mandatory overtime. He co-authored the Nurse Reinvestment Act to establish incentives for more nurses to enter the workforce, improve training and education, and retention for those already working as nurses. Senator Kerry opposed the Bush administration's effort to eliminate the right to overtime pay for 8 million workers, including the overtime rights of nurses and other health care workers.

For more information on John Kerry's positions on health care and nurses issues, visit the official web site.

This portion of the website is posted in full compliance with FEC regulations (11C.F.R. Sect.11 4.5(i)). It is paid for by the AFSCME PEOPLE Committee, with voluntary contributions from union members and their families, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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