In a recent visit to campus, state Sen. Rosalind Kurita, a registered nurse and candidate for the U.S. Senate, advised nursing students to use their political power to help determine important health care issues.

“The R.N. title behind your name gives you power and validation,” she told a group of about 40 nursing students. “You should take every opportunity to get involved legislatively because, as a nurse, you will always serve as an example and a role model for others.”

State Sen. Rosalind Kurita, far right, talks with Provost Marvin Barker and Associate Vice President Rebecca Tolbert.

It’s especially important for nurses to become politically active, Kurita said, since she believes health care issues are of primary importance right now.

“I believe the number one issue facing our country right now is health care,” she said, “and I think we should elect leaders who are willing to experiment with different ideas in order to arrive at the very best solution.”

Kurita herself is recognized in the General Assembly as an expert on health policy issues and serves on the Senate's General Welfare, Health and Human Services Committee.
Among the nursing and health care issues she advocates is extending the operating hours of health departments to make them available around the clock instead of limiting them to standard business hours.

“The people who most need health department services generally work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and many of them don’t have the advantage of being able to leave their jobs to get the health care they need,” she said.

Kurita concluded her presentation by reminding nursing students that they can be instrumental in changing health care regulations.

“I envy your opportunities as nurses right now because your future is wide open," she said. "The world is your oyster. But along with that opportunity also comes responsibility and privilege. It’s your responsibility to use your privileges wisely; otherwise, those privileges will be lost.”