Online Exclusive

NFN President attends key Healthcare Reform speech

  Luke Sharrett/The New York Times/Redux
  Barbara Crane, RN, BC, CCRN (third from left) appearing at a speech at the White House
on March 8. (Photo: Luke Sharrett/The New York Times/Redux)

Representing the American Nurses Association and the National Federation of Nurses and its national nurse membership, NFN President and NYSNA board member Barbara Crane, RN, BC, CCRN, stood beside President Barack Obama on March 3 as he urged lawmakers to quickly pass much needed healthcare reform legislation.

The White House invitation to stand in support of the President demonstrates an understanding of nurses’ critical role in the healthcare system and unique perspective as both employees and front-line healthcare providers.

“I’m honored and humbled by the experience but, most of all, grateful that nurses finally have a seat at the table in this debate,” said Crane. “As our healthcare system strives to serve more people, reduce costs, increase quality and provide preventive care, nurses will take on an ever more central role and demand for our services will increase — making it essential that nurse voices be represented when shaping health reform policies that will affect our profession, workplace and the patients we serve.”

Image: The White House  
Image: Courtesy of The White House.  

The National Federation of Nurses strongly supports President Obama’s good faith measures to reignite the healthcare reform dialogue, and are encouraged to see an increased emphasis on primary and preventative care, accessibility of affordable health coverage for Americans, and the inclusion of the Healthcare Workforce Act in the draft legislation. This act will increase the number of nurses in the United States by addressing financial barriers that nurses, nursing students and nurse faculty face today.

Visit nfn.org or more information about the National Federation of Nurses, and its position on healthcare reform and other key issues.