Professional nurses are used to hearing arguments like the one expressed by James S. Todd, executive vice president of the American Medical Association, against our quest to provide high quality health care to patients (Jan. 31).
Some physicians and physicians’ organizations have worked to block legislation which would allow appropriately educated nurses the ability to fully utilize their skills in advanced practice. Yet, the evidence of the effect that these nurses have had on the health care provided to patients indicates that nurses are a valuable resource in providing top quality care at reasonable cost.
Too many people in our country are being denied health care because there are not enough primary health providers to do the work. Advanced practice nurses can help to make sure each person is brought into our system of health care.
