NLN Calls on President Bush to Address Nursing Shortage in New Orleans

Lack of Nurses at Critical Level

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2007—New York, NY— As President Bush visits the Gulf Coast today for the first time in six months, the National League for Nursing asks that he pay attention to the reality of the dire lack of nurses in hospitals and communities in the area.

In a letter to the president, NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone said, "This shortage of nurses is creating health disparities, inflated costs, and poor quality of health care. The lingering situation in New Orleans is unacceptable for anyone in America seeking access to health care."

Though the White House says that President Bush has helped make the $110 billion in aid that Congress approved available for rebuilding, education, and rental assistance and that his Cabinet secretaries have visited the region dozens of times, the NLN points out that critical attention has not been paid to the ongoing problem of nurse shortages.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact NLN chief communications officer, Karen R. Klestzick, at 212-812-0376, kklestzick@nln.org.