In "Wishing and Hoping" (Editorial, January), Maureen Shawn Kennedy poses some interesting questions. Could it be that one of the reasons nursing isn't as united as it could be is that there's little room for prudential judgment or disagreement about important issues?

When has the American Nurses Association (ANA), for instance, published minority views on important topics? In a recent issue of American Nurse Today, Pamela F. Cipriano stated that "nurses are passionate about assuring affordable health care"1 without acknowledging that not all nurses support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In fact, I know nurses who canceled their ANA membership because of its support of this legislation.

There should be room within our discipline for nurses to fully debate all aspects of an issue. Doing so will help us to advance nursing science and enable RNs to make informed decisions that affect patient care.

Diana M. L. Newman, EdD, RN

Plymouth, MA

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