National Nurse

Back On Capitol Hill

Update: On Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, Host/Producer of Health in 30™ and Nurses in Motion™ with Scribe Media has invited Keith Olsen, BA, RN and Edie Brous, JD, RN to be guests on the show, Nurses in Motion™, to talk about the proposal to create an Office of the National Nurse. A videostream of the program will be made available after filming, and as soon as it is, the National Nursing Network Organization will make the link available on this website.

Pictured: Susan Sullivan, Alisa Schneider, The Honorable Lois Capps (CA-23), Teri Mills

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, seven members of the National Nurse Team were able to return to Capitol Hill the end of last month. Packets including donor certificates were delivered to 39 Congressional offices. Meetings were held with the staff of 14 members of the House of Representatives. It was also an honor to meet with RADM Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS Carol Romano, Chief of Staff to the Surgeon General Robert Williams, Chair of the Nursing Professional Advisory Committee of the USPHS CAPT David Kelly, and Fellow to the Office of the Surgeon General Mary Beth Bigley.

Team members were encouraged and heard time and time again that creating an Office of the National Nurse to complement the efforts of the Surgeon General and assist with the delivery of the prevention message was a good idea, that we are on the right track, and that that we should proceed forward.

Pictured: Keith Olsen, Edie Brous, Julie Ide, Susan Sullivan, Nils Tillstrom (Legislative Assistant to Congressman David Wu (OR-01), Alisa Schneider, Laura Stokowski, Teri Mills

Here are statements from two nurses who joined us in Washington DC:

“The irony is that many of us were far from home, but in fact were dealing with a primary issue that "hits close to home," for everyone-quality of life via education and prevention. This mission, in an increasingly fast pace demanding society and world, by its nature seemed to be very much embraced by everyone we spoke with on Capitol Hill.”

Keith Olsen BA, RN
Governor, NY Emmys
Callicoon Center, NY

“I have been a nurse for over 40 years. This was my first foray into the political process and what an introduction! I felt such pride in nursing (and especially in Teri and Alisa for their continued enthusiastic leadership of this campaign). I experienced an adrenaline high due to the excitement of being at the Capitol, and visiting the actual offices of U.S. Congressmen and women. But the clincher was seeing the existing support for this initiative, sensing how the staffers received our National Nurse Team informational packets, and spent their valuable time meeting with us. Their interest is confirmed by their comments and their sense of awareness of the significance of this initiative. The staffers and congressional members truly grasp the potential nurses have to make a significant contribution to public health prevention generate positive outcomes in the health care system. The good work nurses do everyday to become the most trusted profession and make a difference in people's lives is recognized and valued by Congress. That is so good to know!”

Susan Sullivan, RN PHN MSN
Orange County California

- posted by Natl. Nurse Team @ 10:01 AM

An Office of the National Nurse would:

Endorsements

Monday, April 23, 2007

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