ABSTRACT:
Healthcare reform has been a central focus for every administration in recent memory. The passage of healthcare reform bills by both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in the fall of 2009 demonstrates a tangible movement to bring healthcare reform to the United States. Nurses, as the largest group providing healthcare in the country, have played a key role in influencing healthcare reform through various professional nursing organizations. This article will review how nursing has influenced the current healthcare reform debate and delineate the key issues that are pertinent for nursing under the proposed healthcare reform bills. It is imperative that all nurses, including those nurses in the dermatology specialty, become knowledgeable about the issues involved in healthcare reform. Through increased knowledge, nurses will be able to continue to influence healthcare reform for the benefit of their patients and their profession.