Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Kaufman on September 18, 2009 at 3:02pm

"What can we do, NOW, without asking Government for money, to help increase capacity to educate nurses?"

All I can do is speak from my personal experience. My son was pursuing a degree in nursing. The first hurdle was trying to get into the nursing program. There is a waiting list that is at least two years long. The list ended up being three years long. The second hurdle that recently surfaced is financing for college. The gov't grants and guaranteed loans are not enough to cover the increasing cost of tuition. Since the recession hit there aren't companies out there willing to extend credit. They simply do not want to loan for educational purposes. I recently heard something about the gov't stepping in to finance all college tuition. That is entire different debate though.

I don't think there is anything that can be done in the short term "to increase the capacity to educate nurses." I would suggest that the only solution is more nursing colleges. The hurdles to open a college are one thing and being accredited is another. Both of these things take a lot of money and time to accomplish.

Permalink Reply by Tracey Jamieson on September 18, 2009 at 4:05pm

Being a baby boomer myself (and who isn't these days), I have great concern for the quality of my upcoming golden years. Unemployment, dwindling pension plans, and our failing economy aid further to an already critical situation.

The Health Care issue is such a complex topic today, it is hard to know where to begin with a response. Where do we concentrate our efforts to see the greatest relief?

In a "what's in it for me" society, as our next generation ages, some drastic measures will be needed. Perhaps it's time to take some personal responsibility in our own health. Obesity, adult onset diabetes, heart problems and cancer for a large part are products of lifestyle choices. Grant it, heredity and environment can also play a large part in your odds at good or not so good health, but making the right choices will most often deliver you your best odds.

It's a riddle to me how people will sit in coffee shop lineups for 20 minutes and wait for 30 minutes or longer for order-in meals when the most economical, most nutritious and easiest meal options are a couple of vegetables and a lean protein choice away. And of course the cigarette break is another "habit" that is in my personal opinion, polluted thinking. Grant it, it is a habit, but then again, so is going to the gym.

These are all choices . . . .and I believe it is in our own best interest to make those choices sooner than later, even if you haven't done so in the past. Education is our greatest allie in our fight for good health, but it is not easy leading a horse to water; he has to want to drink. Education has to start in youth, forming good habits by example.

With regards to the nursing dilema, this still remains a dilema. It is a very certain individual who will choose this remarkable profession; one with many qualities not everyone possesses. I personally commend anyone who makes this choice of service and I encourage our society to recognize their dedication and their value in our health care system.

For optional information on herbal biomedical research see the attached video:

To Your Good Health,

Tracey Jamieson
http://traceyjamieson.com

Attachments:

• Ganoderma used in BioMedical Research.wmv, 26.2 MB

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on September 18, 2009 at 4:15pm

I think the problem lies with the cost of education today. There are many articles online citing the flimsy reasons for why colleges are raising their tuition costs. Some have raised the cost of their tuition to imply that the education is better at their school - the chivas regal effect - and their enrollment AFTER the tuition hikes was at record high levels. More expensive education is not always better.

I think more students would enroll in nursing if the education were more affordable, and if the job security of a nursing degree was further reinforced. If you're a nurse, you can work anywhere in the US, it is a steady job as there will always be patients.

Permalink Reply by Nancy Hovde on September 18, 2009 at 5:15pm

Perhaps it is time to restructure the nursing degree programs. There are 2 yr degree programs and 4yr degree programs. You can only learn so much from books and classroom, the best learning is hands-on.

The other part of the problem, many institutions will only hire nurses with a four year degree. Many want the nurses they hire to have their BSN. Nurses with 2 year degrees could begin working and if they want to obtain a Masters, further their education, could have the option of going to school part-time while they are working.

More nursing collages would be another option. The wait lists are a little long -two and three years??!