Nursing Without Borders

This week we take on a controversial issue, and in doing so we learn ALOT (as if that never happens!). Healthcare Journalist Heather Boerner joins us to talk about an article she recently wrote for National Nurses United Magazine. The article, “Nursing Without Borders,” provides an in-depth look at the unique factors at play in providing the best care for undocumented patients. Ms. Boerner interviews undocumented families who do their best to stay off the radar for fear of being deported and therefore do not often seek medical treatment.

AND here is a statistic that will surprise most of us: Contrary to what the politicians and others tell us, according to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented workers (in 2010) paid about $11.2 billion in state, local, and sales taxes, yet they do not qualify for healthcare services. How do nurses and other healthcare workers deal with this issue? Read more...