A seat at the table: redesigning cancer care.

The Institute of Medicine's ([IOM's], 2011) report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, included the key message, "Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States" (p. 221). That is a call for nurses to lead at every level-to have a seat at the table when critical decisions are being made. Those decisions extend from clinical care to national policy, and all require the voice of nurses. The annual Gallup (2013) Honesty/Ethics in Professions survey again listed nursing as the most ethical profession. With that trust and the IOM report, among other things, nursing is well positioned to be at many tables. Having a seat is not enough, though. Nurses must contribute to the action at the table.

Duke Scholars

Author Brenda Marion Nevidjon School of Nursing