Edolphus Towns: “I am happy to come tonight in terms of the fact and be supportive of the Nurse Investment Act. I think that the time is…”

“I am happy to come tonight in terms of the fact and be supportive of the Nurse Investment Act. I think that the time is here to take action. People are living longer now, so the fact that people are living longer we need more nursing personnel. We, right now, are 100,000 short nationwide in our nursing homes. And, of course, this is a small step in the right direction. Sure it is not a solution to the total problem, but it sure begins to move us in the right direction. In my earlier life, I was on the administrative staff of Beth-Israel Hospital in New York and I had the opportunity to work very closely about nurses. And I know in terms of the kind of job that they do on behalf of patients. But then it became very close to me. On September 11, I had the opportunity to visit a few hospitals in New York during the crisis there. And to watch to see in terms of the functions, the way the nurses carried themselves, and I tell you it is very difficult work; but I want you to know that they were performing in grand style. I think that we need to do everything that we can to encourage people to stay in nursing, encourage people to come into nursing.”