Who gets care? Access to health care as an arena for nursing action

Access to health care in the United States is undeniably inequitable. What should nurses do in the face of increasing gaps in availability of services? The author addresses this question by framing access to health care in its broadest sociopolitical context, positing that access to care is an essential dimension of nursing theory, research, and practice. By offering a conceptual definition of equitable access, providing rationale for the significance of this concept, and critically exploring conditions that limit access to affordable, high quality, nondiscriminatory health care in the U.S., the author lays theoretical groundwork for more effective investigatory and practical action to assure equitable access.