This issue's CEU article discusses the role of the nurse ethicist, an important service that facilities can consider providing to patients. This issue's NCSBN column focuses on how prospective nurses from other countries are tested for English language competency before being accepted to practice in the United States. Here in the District of Columbia, the drumbeat of healthcare reform is getting louder. If you could communicate one thing to the Obama administration about your opinions on what in our system is broken and what can be done to fix it, what would that be? Some leadership method trainers suggest making top 10 lists for things about a system that are broken or adversely impact patient care. What would your top 10 list look like? What should the administration's list look like? I would suggest the list below as a starting point for discussion:
1. overutilization of emergency rooms for nonemergency medical conditions
2. lack of standardization in evaluation of adverse events
3. application of "never events" list to diverse patient populations
4. lack of uniform tort reform resulting in forum shopping
5. disruptive providers
6. challenges in documenting thorough informed consent discussions
7. chain of command issues in teaching facilities
8. challenges with thorough and timely physician handoffs
9. electronic medical records
10. lack of primary care providers
As always, we would be interested in your feedback. Please e-mail at [email protected] with your input.