Guaranteed Healthcare

LOVELOCK and ELKO, NEVADA -- How do you change minds and hearts not sure about the right direction for healthcare reform?  Ask a nurse... you change minds one at a time and with honesty, with facts and with a healthy dose of reality.  In Lovelock, Nevada, at the Cowpoke Cafe, RNs of the Nevada Nurses Organizing Committee began their third day of a road show through one of the western states that is targeted by both presidential campaigns as critical as the election draws ever closer.

But the nurses are talking about healthcare reform and how we evaluate the candidates' plans, and in the process of educating citizens, they are learning some pretty interesting things about others and maybe even about themselves.  Many of the small communities are especially sensitive to any changes that might negatively effect their already struggling economies.  But many small town residents are leery of "outsiders" who arrive with a splash and haven't yet gained the trust that can take years to develop among tough, independent people.

But the usual period of skepticism is waived for RNs.  Small town Americans are no different than their urban counterparts in the trust they feel for nurses.  So in situations where other "newcomers" might be less than welcome, nurses jump right in...  and people open up with their opinions and their problems with their own healthcare issues.

At the Cowpoke diner, RNs sat with a couple from British Columbia, Canada, who chatted about their trust of their own healthcare system and their worries about a son living near Sacramento who married an American woman and now worries about the costs of having a child or ever getting sick. The couple had an easy and friendly style and talked openly about all the advantages they feel in having access to care when they need it most without worry about costs.

A few diners had a few laughs about the coconut cream pie and the assurances of the friendly proprietor who said, "I bless the pies every morning and the calories just float away."  She seemed to be so thrilled to have her restaurant filled with the RNs' energy and good will.

And on down the road in Elko, the nurses prepared for a evening debate watching gathering at Great Basin College by hosting a press conference with the local television news crew.

The small group of Nevada nurses are developing quite a presence among the communities they visit.  Maybe it's the big bus with its bold colors and message on the nurses' healthcare report cards that show Sen. Obama's plan as a "B+" while Sen. McCain's plan with a failing grade.  The nurses then step out from the bus with confidence, clarity and passion -- and with stories of their patients and families struggling under the current system. 

One-on-one they are powerful, and when they stand together as a group, they are simply stunningly disarming in their vision of what could be our reality: healthcare for all. Reporters and camera folks are human too -- and more often than not, even the journalists will share some of the horror they see in their own communities and families.

Parts of Nevada have been traditionally very conservative and very protective of a way of life that values independence and a courageous pioneer spirit.  That conservative streak appears to be weakening during this election cycle as more and more Nevadans face real life issues and cannot afford to stay out of the political discussions surrounding healthcare and the economy.  So students at Great Basin College joined the nurses to watch the last debate between Senators Obama and McCain.

The students were a relatively quiet audience.  But when asked how many currently have health insurance coverage, only three raised their hands.  At least in this part of Nevada, it seems many young people are opting to risk going without insurance when premiums are too high or they cannot get coverage because they lack jobs or have pre-existing condition issues.  On one of the posting boards in the students center, a nurse noted that students as young as 15 were being sought for mine work.  These are clearly not traditional Ivy League students who can afford to spend much time pursuing anything but pragmatic courses of study and concrete plans for future jobs.  They listened intently to the debate, and many seemed non-committal as each candidate tried his best to win points and votes.

People in small town America have been through a lot.  And in recent weeks the nation has been through a lot as the economic crisis deepens -- and predictions for the future include significant financial stresses for not only the country but for individual citizens.  These students needed concrete answers and plans.  And the RNs were able to bring some of those answers, even if the candidates still had to focus a good deal of attention of campaign bantering instead of issues. 

As the nurses headed back to the bus, they were tired but pleased with the impact they felt they made during a day of touring through Lovelock and Elko.  It was time to begin looking forward to some rest and getting ready for another day.  Ely and Las Vegas await.