The Campaign for a "National Nurse"

“Health education and promotion is the cornerstone of every nurse’s practice,” says Mills. “Nurses have a really good record in promoting health literacy. The national nurse could inspire and engage nurses to participate in health prevention.”

The grassroots campaign has been gathering momentum over the last few years. It does not employ professional lobbyists in Washington. Instead, it relies on support from nurses in the field who are slowly spreading the word and debating whether a national nurse can be a unifying voice for the profession. Mills encourages nurses to visit the website to learn more about what she believes a national nurse could accomplish.

In the meantime, although the bill has 17 cosponsors, it will likely need another trip through Congress before it gets close to passing. The National Nursing Network Organization is soliciting input from across the healthcare spectrum to craft a bill with the best chance of success.