Re: “Fund state nursing programs or face critical shortage” (Viewpoint, 5-6).
Having more registered nurses would save hospitals a lot of money. Patient outcomes would improve, and overtime and traveling nurse costs would lessen. Expensive medical supplies would be used more wisely.
The authors are big union leaders, though. I’m an RN and a member of the Washington State Nurses Association and cannot disagree more with them because theirs is a socialist ideology. The WSNA leadership takes several million dollars every year from RNs and produces minimal pay increases.
If the pay for RNs were to significantly increase, there would be a significant increase in the number of RNs. This is the rule of supply and demand. Capitalism can work if we let it.
This is much better than putting government inefficiency in charge and increasing our tax burden. Now we just need hospitals to step up to the plate.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.