But where is it going? And how beneficial is it going to be for nurses in general?

Those are my questions, Barack. Do tell.

A Reuters article that I found the other day (I don’t know what I did with the link–but I had copied it to send to my editor), says that:

“The economic stimulus bill Obama signed last month included $500 million to address shortages of health workers. About $100 million of this could go to tackling the nursing shortage. There are about 2.5 million working U.S. registered nurses.”

So what does this mean, exactly? How do “we tackle” the shortage of healthcare workers without addressing the root causes of shortages in the first place. Yeah, I know, get out the violins and let’s here that the nursing shortage is caused by not enough schools or teachers, and has absolutely nothing to do with working conditions, or the fact that there are more desirable jobs out there. There are certainly a lot desirable jobs in healthcare than being a nurse. I think even scrub techs get more respect, or radiology techs.

What is the money going to be spent on? More studies to tell us that we have a shortage of healthcare workers, which is tempered a little now due to economic conditions, but which will flare up as soon as the economy starts pumping away again? More studies to look at the causes of the nursing shortage?

“Separately, Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Nita Lowey, both Democrats, have introduced a measure to increase federal grants to help nursing colleges.” Now, what is a “nursing college?” I don’t know of any college that specializes in nursing, do you? Do they mean nursing programs? And how is the money going to help? Are nursing instructors going to get more money than instructors in other subject areas–that will go over real well, I’m sure.

I can’t stand these vague statements which are nothing more than gobbly-gook. A good reporter, like in the olden days, would actually inquire what they plan on spending the money on, and how they assume it will help the shortage. The whole article is just sound bytes from experts, and doesn’t touch on where the money will be siphoned.

You know what? I am going to write to the White House. Barack says he wants to hear from us? Well, he will hear from me.