Nurses are at the forefront of change — from quality improvement at local hospitals to proposing and enacting legislation at the state and national levels.
Nurses have always worked promoting the welfare of their patients. And now, RNs in the political arena have the power to promote the welfare of our nation. Currently, three nurses hold office and are running for re-election in the United States House of Representatives; three others have announced their candidacy for the U.S. Congress; and a fourth nurse has announced she will run for the U.S. Senate.

Running for their first term in the U.S. House of Representatives are Paula Hollinger (D-Md.), John Russell (D-Fla.), and Sheila Sorensen (R-Idaho). Rosalind Kurita (D-Tenn.) is running for the U.S. Senate, and if elected, she will be the first nurse to serve as a U.S. senator.
While the candidates have differing opinions on how to improve our nation’s troubled health care system, as nurses, they told Nursing Spectrum they believe they have a working knowledge those outside the nursing profession do not possess.

Maryland State Senator Paula Hollinger (right), a 26-year veteran of the Maryland state legislature, believes that access to health care is one of America’s most pressing issues and says that nurses can provide that access.
“While in the Maryland legislature, I’ve supported nurse practitioners, particularly in the community setting, and will continue to do so when I get to Washington,” says Hollinger.
Hollinger believes her nursing background, coupled with legislative experience, gives her a decisive edge over other candidates, and in the end, she will prevail.
Hollinger believes that nurses need to understand the importance of their power in the political world.
“Nurses from around the country must become involved in the political process in order to put more nurses on Capitol Hill.”

Former Idaho State Senator Sheila Sorensen (left) told Nursing Spectrum her background as a nurse practitioner and state legislator has given her a greater understanding about health care issues.
“Knowing there are problems that can’t be solved at the state level, I knew running for Congress was the natural next step,” she explains.
“My nursing background helps me critically assess situations, identify problems, and come up with various plans of action.” To improve access to health care, Sorensen backs medical care savings accounts, allowing patients to have more involvement and control over the cost of their health care. She also proposes giving tax credits to small businesses that provide health insurance to their employees.

John Russell (right), from Florida, who is also a nurse practitioner, disagrees with Sorensen about the usefulness of medical savings accounts. Calling them a “tax dodge” for individuals with discretionary funds, Russell favors national health care coverage and would support a bill to repeal the recently passed Medicare drug plan because it is too expensive relative to the benefits. Russell also calls for a national focus on prevention in health care and would propose legislation to provide funding for national preventive health care programs. He says that, if elected, his background in nursing will help him serve in Congress.
“We need everyone to work together so we can elevate the stature of this nation,” Russell says.

Tennessee State Senator Rosalind Kurita (left) says she’s running for the U.S. Senate because there are issues nurses need to fight for. Her colleagues in the Tennessee State Legislature recognize her, as a nurse, as an expert in health policy issues. While serving in office, Kurita has taken the lead to improve nursing education, raise standards for nursing home care, and provide home care for seniors. She also pushed for legislation that holds HMOs accountable when they harm patients.

Nurses currently serving on Capitol Hill are U.S. Representatives Lois Capps (D-Calif.) (right), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.). All three believe their nursing experience played a pivotal role in preparing them for the Hill. Capps sponsored the Nurse Reinvestment Act, an act passed in response to the national nursing shortage, authorizing new programs to increase the number of qualified RNs and the quality of nursing services in the U.S. She helped found the Congressional Nursing Caucus to educate Congress on the issues important to nurses and the impact nurses have on other important issues, such as homeland security preparedness efforts.

“When I first ran for public office, I was told that it [being a nurse] was a liability. Actually, it was the biggest asset I could ever have,” says Capps. She explains other legislators respect her nursing knowledge.
“As a nurse, I’ve been where my non-nursing colleagues have never been. Nursing is a trusted and well-respected profession.” Capps says she works closely with the other nurses in Congress adding, “We are at a critical juncture in our country because of the challenges people face in providing for their health care needs.”

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (left) has represented her district for seven terms. She was the first nurse elected to the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Johnson first ran for public office because she saw things in the health care system that weren’t right, and, as a nurse, she wanted to advocate for her patients and their families. Her political career now spans 30 years, and she continues to work to improve health care and to advocate for the nursing profession. She says, “I’d like to see nurses more active in influencing legislation. We can use more nurses in Congress.”

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (right) sits on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. McCarthy says that her understanding of health care, by way of her nursing career, helps her make informed decisions on pending legislation. Currently, McCarthy and her colleagues are working on the higher education bill. McCarthy says she is working to introduce language in the bill that would help get more nurses into teaching and forgive loans for those going into nursing or for individuals advancing their nursing careers.
McCarthy and her nursing colleagues on Capitol Hill also believe that Medicare and Medicaid funding cuts would create a disastrous situation for American health care. They are working to stop health care budget cuts.
“Cuts in funding would be a disaster for our hospitals and nursing homes. The first ones to feel the cuts would be the nurses.”

All the candidates urged Nursing Spectrum to tell nurses to get involved in the political process by volunteering to work for the candidate of their choice, making campaign contributions, and registering to vote. Rep. Johnson said that one year, 1,100 people gave her $5 to $10 each which helped her keep her campaign office open. Rep. McCarthy adds, “Most of the donations I receive are less than $10. I’m appreciative because I know that making a donation is a sacrifice for most people.”
Rep. Capps agrees and reminds America’s 2.7 million nurses they can shape U.S. health care policies by supporting the candidates of their choice and by going to the polls to vote.
Terri Polick, RN, is a contributing writer for Nursing Spectrum.