Nurses Association supports ‘patients first’ approach

Latham, NY – Jan. 26, 2007 - Tina Gerardi, RN, interim executive director of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), was present today when Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced his health care reform plan. She issued the following statement:

“Registered nurses know what it means to put patients first. As the front-line providers of health care, patient advocacy is a hallmark of their professional lives.”

“We support the Governor’s concept of a patient-centered healthcare system. Affordable, universal health insurance for all New Yorkers has long been supported by the New York State Nurses Association.”

“Universal insurance coverage, however, must be accompanied by universal access to care. Regardless of their insurance status, all state residents must be able to receive health care they can afford, within a reasonable distance, from their choice of providers. If patients don’t have access to care, they won’t receive it. This should be a major concern when the state considers financing the healthcare system or closing community hospitals.”

“NYSNA also favors greater accountability in the expenditure of state funds for worker retraining. These funds should be targeted and allocated to help ensure that the healthcare workforce is ready to meet current and future demand. We would particularly welcome programs that help combat the statewide nursing shortage, which is expected to worsen over the next decade.”

With more than 34,000 members, NYSNA is the oldest and largest state nurses’ association in the nation. It is an influential union for RNs, representing nurses in New York and New Jersey. Offering a wide range of services to its members, NYSNA fosters high standards of nursing education and practice and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. It is a constituent of the American Nurses Association and of the United American Nurses, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

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