How the Commission For Nurse Reimbursement is Fighting for Fair Pay
This is a guest article written by Melissa Mills, BSN, RN, Executive Director of The Commission For Nurse Reimbursement.
Nurses are the most trusted healthcare profession and the largest in number. Yet, if you ask any nurse or healthcare colleague to state the value of nursing services, you probably won’t be met with a standard answer. Instead, you might get a “soft” answer about patient care or a list of our skills and tasks.
The one thing you won’t get is a dollar value attached to the care nurses provide. Why? Because we’re a hidden cost to the system rolled into the room rate along with other overhead costs, like housekeeping and food items.
Many nurses share the frustration of being unable to state our value quickly. For too long, the complex world of healthcare reimbursement has undervalued our contributions, often overlooking the unique expertise and dedication we bring to patient care. But that’s changing, thanks to the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement (CNR) and their upcoming initiatives.
The undervaluation of nursing isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s deeply rooted in historical gender biases and a healthcare system that struggles to quantify the full scope of our impact. In the 1920s, nursing provided the largest economic vehicle for women’s financial independence. Nurses ran their own companies and provided direct care to patients in their homes and, sometimes, inside hospitals, which were deplorable.
Hospitals began to recognize the need for nurses in the hospital setting. However, hospital leadership didn’t want nurses to see their economic power, so they created new financial models for nurses’ services. Hospital leaders looked to the hotel industry and rolled nursing care into the room rate, much like maids and housekeeping services are done in the hotel industry.
Today, this same system for nursing reimbursement remains. While nearly nothing else in our healthcare delivery system is the same as it was almost 100 years ago, nurses are still an overhead cost to hospitals and are often one of the first to be cut when money needs to be saved.
The CNR was founded in 2023 to address this long-standing issue head-on. We’re a diverse coalition of nurses, healthcare leaders, policy experts, and advocates united by a shared mission: to elevate the nursing profession by championing equitable reimbursement models that reflect the true value of nursing care. We believe that nurses are the key to transforming our profession and the future of healthcare.
The CNR thrives on the passion and expertise of nurses like you. Unifying the voices of the nearly five million nurses in the U.S. today will be one of the most potent movements modern healthcare has seen.
Your insights, experiences, and perspectives are invaluable in driving change. Here are just a few ways you can contribute:
- Join a Volunteer Committee: Our committees are the heart of our action. Whether you’re interested in business and finance, outreach to CNOs and nurses, communication, or federal advocacy, there’s a place for your skills and passion. Help shape our strategies and make a tangible impact.
- Become an Early Adopter Member: As an early member, you’ll pioneer this movement. Access exclusive resources, stay informed about the latest developments, and network with like-minded professionals. Your voice will help shape our priorities and direction.
- Join the Legislative Taskforce: Do you have a passion for policy and advocacy? Join our taskforce and become a powerful voice for nurses on Capitol Hill. Educate lawmakers about the CNR’s mission and the importance of modernizing the current nurse reimbursement structure.
Reap the Rewards: Professional and Personal Growth
Involvement with the CNR isn’t just about altruism; it’s an investment in yourself and your profession. You’ll:
- Shape the Future of Nursing: Your contributions will directly influence how nurses are valued and compensated in the future.
- Gain Valuable Experience: Develop skills in communication, advocacy, leadership, and policy development.
- Expand Your Network: Connect with a passionate community of nurses and healthcare leaders who share your vision.
- Make a Real Difference: Join a movement that’s changing the narrative about nursing and elevating our profession to new heights.
The future of nursing is in our hands. By joining the thousands of nurses working on this initiative, you can help create a future where nurses are recognized and rewarded for our indispensable role in healthcare. Together, we can transform the way the world values nursing.
