Thomson Reuters Foundation: At last, nurses get a seat at the table of health decision-making
Sheila Tlou, co-chair of the Nursing Now campaign

“…[The Nursing Now] campaign represents a turning of the tide for nurses who are too often undervalued and underutilized by health services. … We need nurses now more than ever. … Everywhere we hear the same refrain: nurses are the health professionals people know and trust. Who better than to manage a person’s health, from the cradle to the grave, in a holistic way, taking into account physical and mental health, as well as socioeconomic and lifestyle factors contributing to disease? … If they are genuinely committed to reaching the goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030, governments must prioritize investments in nursing. The benefits — for all of us — are clear. Studies in several countries have shown that when nurses are trained and given greater scope to expand their roles, they deliver impressive results for patients. However, beyond this, health leaders must listen to nurses and invest in new models of care if they are to get the most out of this most precious resource” (3/1).