DMN: How do you feel nurses can help with patient education and getting patients more involved in their health care?
KD: Patient education is really an integral part of what nurses do with patients and their families. It's also an integral part of care coordination. From our standpoint, patient education is about providing people with the tools they need to be advocates for themselves and better manage their own health. The information is critical. And we help guide them in their journey through the continuum of care, whether it's a way to discharge after hospitalization or chronic disease management. Because of the way we view the patient and the care system and our knowledge of both, the education becomes a critical part of the care coordination process.

DMN: Do you feel there's still some confusion over what impact the ACA will have?
KD: From my vantage point, I think nurses understand the potential impact and the potential it has to improve care if we really go in the direction that it's designed to take us. I think in terms of public information, nurses help educate around the system. Here at ANA we're engaging in initiatives to help educate the public and how they qualify for financial assistance. So that's part of our work as well, that we help inform patients and help them get the access they need to care.

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