Diana J. Mason
After talking to DCA Direct Care Worker Specialist Bridget Siljander and DCA Executive Director Leonila Vega at the DCA’s September 11 reception, the editor of the American Journal of Nursing called on her fellow nurses to advocate for direct care workers (DCWs) as part of their push for excellence in the nursing profession.
“The Web site of the American Nurses Association has a position statement from 1995 addressing the importance of nurses focusing on improving long-term care, and statements from 1992 and 2007 acknowledging the importance of UAPs [unlicensed assistive personnel] in long-term care,” wrote Editor-in-Chief Diana J. Mason in “Blinded by Degrees,” the lead editorial for the January 2009 issue of the AJN. “But I’ve found no evidence that any national nursing organization is advocating on behalf of DCWs.”
Mason starts her editorial with what she learned about direct care workers from Siljander and Vega. “They’re the backbone of our long-term care system,” she quotes Vega as saying. “They are overburdened, underpaid, overworked.” Mason called it “embarrassing” that no national nursing organizations had yet supported the DCA.
Nurses — and anyone else — interested in showing their support for direct care workers can contact Vega at lvega@directcarealliance.org or visit the DCA website’s What You Can Do section for ideas.
Elise Nakhnikian
Communications Director
Direct Care Alliance
