Note: Mike Kingsbury is an RN and a Grassroots Lobbyist through SEIU's Change That Works campaign. You can read more about the program here.

The crowd spilled into the overflow room Monday, as the Senate Finance Committee, Chaired by Montana Senator Max Baucus, began the process of, at last, making health care reform a reality in this country. The tone was mostly bipartisan and cooperative, with everyone agreeing that we spend too much in this country for extremely disappointing results - not the least of which is 47 million uninsured Americans.

The task before Congress seems daunting, and so was Monday's hearing; there were 12 witnesses representing every group from insurance companies, to nurses, to women and families. Plus, 23 senators were in attendance, with questions and statements of their own.

Senator Baucus did a good job of maintaining order, but the hearing was conducted as more of an informational roundtable conversation than a formal proceeding. There seemed to be the beginnings of agreement in some key areas that left me hopeful:

First, it is cost efficient to keep people well! Nurses have known this for a long time, but having a witness from a corporation that is both a provider and insurer back it up was good to hear. A representative from a provider/insurance company talked about how they have geared their business to first provide the care necessary to maintain health and also provide care to chronically ill patients that keeps them from constantly returning to the emergency room. He referred to it as "giving concierge care to the sickest not the richest." It was good business sense support for one of nurses' oldest common sense arguments.

Second, we need to move quickly. A lot of the conversation was at the 35,000 foot level, and we know the devil will be in the details, but there was real progress on health care happening. That was exciting for everyone.

Third, health care professionals need a seat at the table! I was glad that there was at least one nurse at the table, even though she was a researcher and not a bedside caregiver. Still, it was clear that, if RNs and other health care professionals are willing to make their voices heard on this issue, Senator Baucus and other members of Congress are willing to listen

Finally, I was excited to see that the public health insurance option is still a key piece to health care reform. Senator Baucus said yesterday that it absolutely "must be on the table" as the discussion over how to fix health care progresses.

We still have so much work to do in our movement to fix health care. But Monday's hearing was another encouraging sign that we're on the right track.