NLN Lauds President on Health Care Reform Address To Joint Session of Congress

Praises Follow Up Meeting with American Nurses Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — September 10, 2009 — The National League for Nursing reaffirmed this morning its great appreciation of President Obama's continued public acknowledgement of the importance of nurses and nurse educators to an America with quality health care for all. He has made clear his understanding of the importance of expanding nursing education capacity – including faculty, clinical resources, and physical space – to enroll and educate the numbers of students needed to meet future nursing demands.

Said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, "Fundamental to the nursing profession and integral to the NLNs core values is the principle that all individuals must have equitable access to comprehensive health care services. So we are especially thrilled that the president chose the American Nurses Association and other nursing organizations to be among the first groups to meet with after his speech before a joint session of Congress. Kudos to our colleagues at the ANA who continue to work at keeping the momentum going toward health care for all."

Where health is fundamental to the country's stability and advancement, disparities in health care delivery and in health outcomes are a matter of social and economic consequence, as reinforced by the overwhelming body of health research. The NLN is committed to the principle that everyone in the nation must have access to a health home for health promotion, disease prevention, basic care, urgent and non-urgent health needs.

Added Dr. Malone, "As the voice for nursing education, the National League for Nursing calls on Congress to work with all deliberate speed toward the health care reform bill that is essential for the prosperity and health of all Americans."

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education offering faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 30,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members.