Let's Fix It at Home

Abstract

Former third world countries such as China and India are rapidly emerging as competitors to the United States. This is occurring not only in consumer goods but in the service sector, including health care. One has only to recall an hour on the phone with colleagues in India assisting us with our software problems. Countries with resources such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and others are building new, clean, and modern cities, and universal access to health care is available through a variety of financial means. These countries are even competing with the United States to provide medical services, just as we have wooed many to come here for specialty care such as cardiac surgery and the latest technological applications. Personally, I think it is wonderful that these countries are or will be able to provide economic stimulus, education, and opportunities for their citizens; after all, nations that are educated and do not suffer extremes in poverty are not interested in the economic and human costs of war. The days of “butter versus guns” has long past. What about us? Where are we? As experts in health care, we as nurse leaders are fully cognizant of the more than 47 million Americans without health care access. We are dismayed by the mounting numbers of individuals at or below poverty levels. Premature death among African American men and the high infant mortality rate are appalling in spite of our improvements in the areas of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The decrease in the number of people graduating from high school and the lack of literacy are frightening trends. We do have a responsibility as nurse leaders. One only had to listen to the plenary session featuring Dr. Sue Hegyvary at AONE's convention in April to understand the trends that are occurring globally, nationally, and locally. Although health care is our primary area of expertise, we are far from insulated from the rest of society's needs. As responsible leaders we must take important and united positions to improve the state of affairs within our beloved country. What can we do? We must lobby for and support universal access to care. There are multiple methods to finance this; let's become knowledgeable and vocally and operationally support the candidates who care and make honest commitments to address this critical need in a fiscally accountable way. Next we must overtly support and take necessary steps to promote diversity regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual preferences, and culture. We must lobby strongly for more skilled professionals and better educational systems for our children. Last but not least and not all inclusive is the necessity to work together collaboratively. Competition has been a hallmark of the democratic way of life. Dr. Hegyvary has demonstrated through research that democracy is highly correlated with the best outcomes, but true democracy means accountability and responsibility for the welfare of others and the future of our country as a whole. The days of the Marlboro man and rugged individualism are over. We can be successful only if we work collaboratively and cooperatively. Perhaps in the not too distant future we will be able to cooperate globally regardless of ethnic, religious, and racial lines to achieve a far better world. As nursing leaders we are in a unique position to model the way. The future we envision most likely will not happen in my lifetime, but with the commitment of many, it may well be a strong probability in the lifetime of our grandchildren.