[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 85 (Monday, June 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MILITARY CHIEF NURSES

  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, today I wish to address a timely and 
important amendment to increase the grade for the Chief Nurses of the 
Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to that of two stars. The existing 
law limits the position of Chief Nurse of the three branches of the 
military to that of Brigadier General in the Army and Air Force, and 
Rear Admiral, lower half, in the Navy.
  Chief Nurses have a tremendous responsibility, their scope of duties 
include peacetime and wartime health care delivery, plus establishing 
standards and policy for all nursing personnel within their respective 
branches. They are responsible for thousands of Army, Navy, and Air 
Force officer and enlisted nursing personnel in the active, reserve, 
and guard components of the military. The military medical mission 
could not be carried out without nursing personnel. They are crucial to 
the mission in war and peace time, at home and abroad.
  Organizations are best served when the leadership is composed of a 
mix of specialties, of equal rank, who bring their unique perspectives 
to the table when policies are established and decisions are made. This 
increased rank would guarantee that the nursing perspective is 
represented on critical issues that affect the military medical 
mission, patient care, and nursing practice. I believe it is time to 
ensure that the military health care system fully recognize and utilize 
the leadership ability of these outstanding patient care professionals.

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