Contacted Oprah Show About Nursing Issues

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone!

Yes, after visiting this website many, many times-I decided to e-mail the Oprah show to suggest a show about the issues in the nursing profession. No, I'm not a nurse yet-I start nursing school in the fall. I want to become a nurse so badly, but am scared to death after reading post after post after post about how horrible the working conditions are for nurses. It seems that nurses want to be heard, but nobody is listening. Some of the wages that nurses are getting paid and nurse-to-patient ratios are absolutely horrible for people who have patient's lives in their hands every day. Why not make some serious racket? Maybe all of you should contact the Oprah show too, which could possibly help raise a red flag. This is just an idea. What do you all think? Sorry if I sound naiive-I'm just trying to help.

Jennifer

Specializes in SICU.
I don't know where these people are working. I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvve my job. We got great ratio 5-1, i said b4 my work pays 10k a year to continue my education as a BSN. I am probably the first one on here to say that I am happy as far as pay. For all those people on here bi*****g then you are at the wrong hospital.

Ben

Well aren't you the lucky one! Not everyone has such great working conditions, and it's not always so simple to just up and change jobs. The quality of a nurse's work environment tends to be by region, I've found.

So share with us... what's the name of the Wonderland Hospital at which you so joyously work? Maybe we'll all go apply... ;)

Oprah cares about what will make her look good and what will market her product (attract viewers). I think while she has some causes she cares about, nurses are not one of them.I don't think Oprah has all of the answers. I do think it's within our own ranks.

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Not even going to get into a debate about nursing as a profession/job conditions etc. What drives me insane is how teachers have become the sweethearts of the nation over the past 10 years. Everywhere you turn you hear another "famous" person saying "....and I've long agreed that teachers don't make nearly enough money for everything they do."

Of course teachers are underpaid! They do a great job with little resources and make a difference, but don't get paid fairly for it. Sound familiar? I think if the general public had any idea the real struggles nurses go through, they would feel differently (than "nurses are here to serve me and cater to my every whim while I'm in the hospital.")

I contacted the Oprah show via email a couple of years back. I wrote a persuasive letter as to why Oprah should do a show on nursing. I only received a customary thank you in return. I'm surprised that a show hasn't been done on this subject. You know I think there are too many people with a vested interest that wouldn't want a show like this to take place. Therefore whether it's Oprah or any other show it's not likely to happen. I HOPE one day it does because people will not believe how their lives are in jeopardy when they get admitted to the hospital. There are so many issues that affect patient care but I think staffing is really the most important. I can't believe what these hospitals get away with in terms of staffing. I see new nurses getting pulled to floors that they are clearly not qualified to go to but they are told "Hey this is nursing get used to it". That's terrible. Basicallly it is a ticking time bomb and the public needs to be aware. I can go on and on. My question is this . Why don't we hear anything about the abuses in nursing? There must be someone or something squashing our voices. It's just unbelievable.:smilecoffeecup:

Maybe we should all write Anderson Cooper instead.

Maybe it just meant one thing... Oprah isnt interested.. at all.

I don't personally care for Oprah and I think her audience consists of a disportionate amount of people who don't have much going for them, like unemployed people. No offense intended to people here who like her, but as far as I'm concerned daytime television in geared towards people without a life.

Oprah IS better than Jerry Springer, I will conceed that much.

Maybe it just meant one thing... Oprah isnt interested.. at all.

She's not uninterested, she simply doesn't know what to be interested in. Because we, as nurses, have been throwing our hands in the air and giving up. Many nurses have the courage to say, "I don't like the image that people have of my professional career and I will do whatever it takes to change that image."

I don't personally care for Oprah and I think her audience consists of a disportionate amount of people who don't have much going for them, like unemployed people. No offense intended to people here who like her, but as far as I'm concerned daytime television in geared towards people without a life.

I've yet to meet anyone who watches Oprah who DOESN'T fit this description. Oprah is an entertainer. If anything, I envision her doing a show on killer nurses or other such garbage. She will not do our profession any favors by attempting to factually represent our problems. In fact, Oprah distorts more than she educates. And don't we want a different type of public to hear our voice? People with political pull who can actually do something instead of turning one of her sappy shows into a reason to blame a nurse when they percieve their health care as poor? I cringe at the thought.

Anderson Cooper, now, that's another story.

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
I've yet to meet anyone who watches Oprah who DOESN'T fit this description. Oprah is an entertainer. If anything, I envision her doing a show on killer nurses or other such garbage. She will not do our profession any favors by attempting to factually represent our problems. In fact, Oprah distorts more than she educates. And don't we want a different type of public to hear our voice? People with political pull who can actually do something instead of turning one of her sappy shows into a reason to blame a nurse when they percieve their health care as poor? I cringe at the thought.

Anderson Cooper, now, that's another story.

Agreed. Besides, Oprah only spotlights causes that make Oprah look good, not the cause. I really don't want her to be the center of attention when it comes to addressing nursing issues.

I believe I recall her doing a segment on one of those psycho-killer nurses years ago.

I think shows like that have like hundreds of issues and just put a check mark for each email they get... Kinda like keeping a scoreboard.. lol Well if we can mobilize 200,000 of us, it just might work

first off, happy st. patrick's day!!

ok.. i am going to touch on just a few things some of the other posters mentioned. in particular, the image of nurses, what they put up with and the image the public has of us. i am not a nurse yet, but i am a nursing student. the biggest issue i have with nursing thus far (and i blame the nursing instructors for this) is that fact nurses in my opinion are viewed as glorified helpers without concern for themselves on any level. the teachers portray nurses as push-over helpers... do this, help do that kind of people. i am upset by this. we are criticial elements in the scheme of healthcare. we save lives. we make decisions. they portray us as "yes" people to the cleints and doctors wishes. no. i have a bit of a problem with that concept. they all talk about "caring" for the patient and the patient has all these rights... you can't do this.. you can't do that... watch out for this.... what about the nurses rights???? what about that?? i know patients are the center of what we do, i understand that, but what about us??? do we have any rights?? i have a concern about that.

until nurses stand up for themselves, we will always face these issues. imagine a nurse saying to the doctor.... "thanks dr. brown. i will dispense the medicine as soon as i eat my lunch (not an emergency situation). i am familiar with the medicine, but if i have any questions, i will call you. you will be available to chat if i page you, correct??" or you just helped bathe your patient and have helped them back into the bed. they start to fuss and say they are huungry and they want to eat now. lunch is served for them in half hour. you tell them "lunch is coming ms. jones. you will be ok. i will help you with it when it gets here." they start to cry and whine. you say "ms. jones i have to use the restroom, but as soon as your lunch arrives, we'll eat." and you leave. you are not being mean, you are just explaining yourself and respecting yourself at the same time... going to the bathroom.

if the situation is an emergency.. that is one thing. but in the overall scheme of things the nurse needs to be the one to put her foot down if we want to start to command some respect. until the nurse stands up for herself, others will just keep taking advantage.

i hope to be a good nurse and want to help people and make a difference. however, i will not allow doctors or patients to walk on me. i have a take-charge type a personality and i do not let others walk on me. nope. not gonna happen. i will do my job as a nurse to the best of my abilities, and i have always accepted responsibilty, but i will not stand for disrespect. when we stand up, they will take notice and perhaps so will the public.

nurses are important people in healthcare. we do it all. this concept starts in nursing school. the teachers need to convey this to the students and urge us to not only give excellent care, but command respect in what we do. we deserve it. thanks.

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