Nurses are the single largest group of health care providers in Maine and the nation. There is a severe shortage of registered nurses looming as baby boomer nurses retire. This retiring further magnifies the shortage of teaching faculty, who educate the next generation of nurses. As a nurse educator, I have had several opportunities to enlist Sen. Susan Collins’ assistance for funding to address this impending nursing shortage.

I have had the rewarding experience of visiting Sen. Collins in her Senate office in Washington. She and her staff go out of their way to welcome Maine constituents, listen to their needs and follow through by advocating for bipartisan support from her colleagues.

Sen. Collins has been one of the leading proponents in the Senate for nurse education and work force development funding. In recognition of her extraordinary support for nurses, she has received multiple awards including: American Association Colleges of Nursing Outstanding Leadership in Nursing Award; American Nursing Shortage Relief Public Service Award; and Friend of Maine Nursing Award from The University of Maine-Husson College Omicron Xi Chapter Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

To ensure safe, quality health care and to maintain an educated nursing work force in Maine and the nation, we need to keep Susan Collins in the senate. For these reasons I remain a supportive Democrat for “my senator,” Susan Collins.

Teresa Willett Steele

Brewer