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Support Nursing Programs!
Support Oncology Nurses!
Oncology nurses play a vital role in the delivery of quality care for patients with breast cancer. These important caregivers not only administer life-saving chemotherapy and supportive care drugs, but also educate patients and help them cope with the physical and emotional toll that a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy can take. Cancer patients depend on oncology nurses, and they deliver!
Right now, we are facing a dire shortage of qualified oncology nurses. If we don't take immediate steps to educate and train nurses to meet the increasing need, in a few years we could face nothing short of a crisis. Urge Congress to support nursing programs!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support Nursing Programs
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing as your constituent and someone who cares deeply about breast cancer.
Right now, our nation is facing a dire shortage of qualified nurses and an inadequate supply of nursing school faculty to train the next generation of nurses. Oncology nurses play a vital role in the delivery of quality care for patients with breast cancer. These important caregivers not only administer life-saving chemotherapy and supportive care drugs, but also educate patients and help them cope with the physical and emotional toll that a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy can take. Cancer patients depend on oncology nurses, and they deliver!
The number of people with cancer is projected to increase significantly over the next fifteen years. At the same time the number of practicing nurses is expected to drop precipitously as more and more nurses retire in the coming years and not enough new nurses are trained. Without an adequate investment now in education and training, the situation will only worsen and we will face a severe crisis. Please, don't let that happen!
The nursing shortage we are facing will be solved only by educating and training talented and compassionate people. Please support a $5 million increase for the Nurse Reinvestment Act and other nursing workforce programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Thank you!
Sincerely,
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This year alone, more than 217,000 American women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and over 40,000 will die from this devastating disease. In addition to invasive breast cancer, 59,390 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to occur among women during 2006. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women ages 40-50. Tell us why you care about breast cancer.
