In the smallest and most remote communities across Alaska, public health nurses (PHNs) serve in incredibly significant roles: they are advocates for the health of our children; they are catalysts for health improvement in our communities; they are a valued resource and trusted confidant regarding family health and wellness issues; and they are the safety net for some of Alaska’s most vulnerable residents. That is why the Alaska Nurses Association is urging the Alaska Legislature to reject the proposed budget cuts to the state’s Public Health Nursing program made by the Senate. To underfund public health nursing is to put all our communities at risk.
Public health nurses are a high-quality, cost-effective workforce. They know the communities and the individuals they serve, which allow PHNs to provide localized care and establish relationships with their patients. PHNs work to improve the overall health for a population, providing well child checks, immunizations, high-quality screenings, and prenatal and postpartum care. They often serve on health-related boards and committees, helping to build healthy communities. Their expertise on parenting and safety as well as general nutrition and obesity prevention contribute to the health education of Alaska’s residents. Public health nursing services help build options for community members to choose healthy behaviors, a responsibility that should, in part, continue to fall on the State.
Alaskans have a long history of combating issues that impact our communities, families and individuals — high rates of suicide, alcohol abuse and sexual assault. Often, a public health nurse is the only resource available to individuals who are homeless, suffering from addiction or struggling with mental illness. PHNs invest skill and time in reaching the vulnerable populations in communities — a workload that cannot easily be absorbed by community health centers. Through their responsiveness to local health needs and their efforts in health education and prevention, PHNs help lay the foundation for sound community health.
A nearly $2 million cut to the Department of Health and Social Services Section of Public Health Nursing is a step backward. It would further unravel the important mission that Alaska’s health advocates work toward. There is no doubt that Alaskans would feel the impact of these cuts. Our state’s public health nursing budget has already seen dramatic reductions of more than 20 percent in the last two fiscal years, resulting in the loss of five health centers in smaller communities as well as over 35 positions, the majority of which were public health nurses. These extensive cuts over the two previous fiscal years have resulted in a significant reduction in services, including restrictions to the age ranges that can be seen for clinical services. Further cuts would eliminate even more positions in communities such as Kenai and Kodiak — which would lose their health centers entirely — leaving these areas without public health resources. Losing more staff and health centers would result in public health nurses being forced to further prioritize and restrict some health services to specific age groups or populations. In short, fewer Alaskans would receive vaccines, fewer children would receive well child exams and there would be fewer investigations into cases of infectious diseases. Further cuts to the Section of Public Health Nursing jeopardizes the health of all Alaskans.
Other parts of the country have had significant consequences from cutting local public infrastructure, including dramatic increases in cases of HIV and syphilis. Infectious diseases that once threatened us all may return if our public health safety net is damaged.
Let’s urge our lawmakers to prioritize the health of Alaskans. Let’s keep crucial health services in place and support the wellbeing of our children, our families and our communities. While there are difficult decisions and reductions that will occur in this cost-saving climate, a cut to public health nursing — the backbone of public health in our state — is one that Alaska cannot afford to make.
• Andrea Nutty is the Programs Director for the Alaska Nurses Association, which advocates for nearly 9,000 nurses statewide.
