I am responding to the Jan. 19 letter titled “Healthcare: Look for ways to reduce costs,” by Fred Thompson.
As a registered nurse in one of our local emergency rooms, I take great offense to the comment “registered nurses could perform more routine and minor tasks.” Of what minor tasks does he speak? Who would perform the major tasks?
Registered nurses keep very busy with the tasks we have been educated for and trained to do. My co-workers and I are highly trained, highly educated registered nurses who know exactly how to respond should someone like Mr. Thompson comes into the ER. No matter what he should come in with, we know how to respond to possibly save his life. This is not a responsibility we take lightly.
When we are not actively working with a patient, we are thinking of a plan for our patient, consulting with physicians about our patient, or waiting for the next life-threatening emergency which is just minutes away from our door.
I only hope, Mr. Thompson, that when you or a loved one must go to the hospital, that a registered nurse is waiting and ready for you and not performing another “routine or minor task.”
Marysville
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