The U.S. health care system is in a state of crisis. Costs continue to rise astronomically, the public health workforce will soon be unable to keep up with growing demands, over fifty million Americans lack health insurance, and another 25 million are underinsured.
Health care must be seen as a human right, not a luxury. I support the American Nurses Association position that Americans are entitled to ready access to quality and affordable health care services offered by an adequately sized and well educated workforce.
Author: Katharyn May is the Dean of the UW-Madison School of Nursing.