Recognizing the Nurses Who Help Keep Millions of Americans Healthy

April 7 marks World Health Day. In 2020, World Health Day focuses on the important work of nurses and midwives, who stand at the front lines protecting us as we battle COVID-19 all across the country.

These health care professionals play an vital role when it comes to helping Americans 65+ and people with disabilities receive the stable health care services they deserve. Whether it is through in-person care or by telephone, nurses are there to help.

Over the years, nurses have expanded their role beyond traditional medical facilities. For example, some nurses work with health insurance providers to deliver home health benefits. This connects skilled nurses with patients to address their health care needs from the comfort of their own homes.

Additionally, nurses are ready to assist patients by phone. Many health insurance providers offer services where enrollees can speak with a nurse to discuss medical concerns and questions over the phone or even your smartphone. This includes helplines that can offer services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing Americans to conveniently connect with dedicated health care professionals and address their health concerns. It also includes technology called “telehealth” or “telemedicine,” which enables you to video chat with health providers like nurses.

Services like home visitations and phone calls that connect nurses to patients help make health care services more stable and accessible. Americans 65+ who have used the health system for years know that nurses are go-to resources and problem solvers.  In fact, nursing has been recognized in annual Gallup polls as the most trusted profession. In the most current survey, 85% of Americans surveyed rated nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as either “high” or “very high.”

Over the past month, as COVID-19 began spreading in the United States, nurses have played a huge role in keeping health care facilities open and prepared to meet their patients’ health care needs. Like other front-line health care workers, nurses are among the groups who are most at risk of contracting the virus because they work to treat people before their health condition is identified. Nurses are health care heroes, fighting every minute of every day to fight this pandemic.

Today, millions of Americans receive care thanks to nurses. With their help, millions of Americans are receiving better services, better access to care, and better value.