Nursing: an under tapped asset for recovery in financially troubled times

Given the economic turmoil facing the nation, the nursing profession has unique opportunities to lead the health-care sector and local communities toward economic recovery. Training more nurses and other health professionals can prepare the growing pool of unemployed and dislocated workers for high demand positions in the industry. Nursing can also be instrumental in creating healthier neighborhoods through disease prevention and early intervention initiatives; healthy communities can lead to significant savings in health-care costs and greater economic well being for all. Through such workforce development and community health initiatives, nursing can help to accelerate and propel economic revitalization.