Lawmakers Should Stop Trash-Talking Health Care Professionals

Washington state Sen. Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla) became a national headline for alleging that “[nurses] probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day” during debate on legislation mandating break periods. Many nurses have mailed decks of cards to Walsh and posted pictures of blood-spattered emergency department walls in order to call attention to “last night’s card game,” driving home the point that they aren’t “playing” anything at work. Article Source: https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/05/lawmakers-should-stop-trash-talking-health-care-professionals.html Sen. Walsh has since apologized. But the mistaken beliefs which underlie her statements should not be overlooked. Many politicians are out of touch with everyday Americans. This is not about one legislator, one legislative body, or even one political party. This is about the safety and protection of health care professionals and their patients. And it is time for the public to pay attention to the disrespect of nurses and other