Following up on his address to Congress on Wednesday, President Obama spoke to a group of nurses gathered in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Thursday morning. The President was joined by 54 Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare RNs, as well as members of the American Nurses Association.
The participating SEIU members came to DC on very short notice from locals all over the country, including United Healthcare Workers East (New York and Maryland), SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, SEIU Healthcare Michigan, 1199 New England (Rhode Island and Connecticut). The RNs said they felt honored to represent SEIU at an event focused on such an important issue and thrilled to be involved in such an intimate gathering with the President.
"It was an awesome experience," said Dan Kenbeek, a member of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. "Being involved in this way reved me up to healthcare political activism. As stakeholders in this system it is great that President Obama recognized the value of nurses in decision making."
One SEIU member, Wendy Laprade from 1199 New England, said she felt especially lucky because she was able to attend Wednesday's speech, at the invitation of her Congressmen, Patrick Kennedy, and Thursday's event with the President.
During Thursday's speech, the President recognized the continuing commitment of nurses to health care reform, calling them the "bedrock of our medical profession" and noting that "few people understand as well as you why today's health care system so badly needs reform."
As the campaign for health care reform continues, the RNs in attendance praised the President for taking the time to listen to them, and not just the insurance company lobbyists. Standing together, the SEIU members and the ANA RNs presented a united front, focused on a common goal.
"It was wonderful to be in a room of nurses from all over and to be looking toward a common goal - healthcare reform," said Sherri Moore, also from SEIU Healthcare Michigan. "All nurses need to stand up and stand together to make healthcare reform a reality. It is crucial for ourselves, our families, our patients and their families. I am so glad that President Obama has taken on this fight."
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