A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

Nurses Activism

Published

  1. Nurses: Do You Support a Call to Action in the Wake of Newtown + other shootings

    • 54
      I support need for improved mental health services for individuals and families
    • 7
      I do not support need for improved mental health services for individuals and families.
    • 3
      Unsure if improved mental health services for individuals and families.needed
    • 43
      I support increased student access elementary thru college to nurses and mental health professionals.
    • 7
      I do not support increased student access elementary thru college to nurses and mental health professionals.
    • 7
      Unsure of need for increased student access elementary thru college to nurses and mental health professionals
    • 28
      I support a ban on assault weapons and enacting other meaningful gun control reforms to protect society.
    • 34
      I do not support an assault weapons ban and enacting other meaningful gun control reforms to protect society.
    • 4
      Unsure of position on assault weapons ban and enacting other meaningful gun control reforms.
    • 28
      I support an armed police presence at schools.
    • 19
      I do not support an armed police presence at schools.
    • 14
      Unsure of position on an armed police presence at schools.
    • 33
      I support our Nursing Associations commitment to ending this cycle of preventable violence, death, and trauma
    • 16
      I do not support our Nursing Associations commitment to ending this cycle of preventable violence, death, and trauma.
    • 6
      Unsure of supporting our Nursing Associations commitment to ending this cycle of preventable violence, death, and trauma.

54 members have participated

Reposting from PSNA Communications email. Karen

A Call to Action from the Nation's Nurses in the Wake of Newtown

More Than 30 Nursing Organizations Call for Action in Wake of Newtown Tragedy

(12/20/12)

Like the rest of the nation, America's nurses are heartbroken as we grieve the unthinkable loss and profound tragedy that unfolded last week in Newtown, Connecticut. This horrific event is a tipping point and serves as a call to action. The nation's nurses demand that political and community leaders across this country address longstanding societal needs to help curb this endless cycle of senseless violence.

Our country has witnessed unspeakable acts of mass shootings. The common thread in each of these tragedies has been the lethal combination of easy access to guns and inadequate access to mental health services.

As the largest single group of clinical health care professionals, registered nurses witness firsthand the devastation from the injuries sustained from gun violence. We also witness the trauma of individuals, families, and communities impacted by violence.

The care and nurturing of children in their earliest years provides a strong foundation for healthy growth and development as they mature into adulthood. Children, parents, and society face growing challenges with respect to widespread bullying and mental illness, and nurses understand the value of early intervention. Over the past decade, ill-advised and shortsighted cutbacks within schools and community health care systems have seriously impeded critical and needed access to school nurses and mental health professionals trained to recognize and intervene early with those who are at risk for violent behavior.

The public mental health system has sustained a period of devastating cuts over time. These cuts have been exacerbated during the Great Recession despite an increase in the demand for services for all populations, including our nation's veterans. States have cut vital services, such as community and hospital-based psychiatric care, housing, and access to medications. Looming budget cuts could lead to further cuts in services.

It is time to take action. The nation's nurses call on President Obama, Congress, and policymakers at the state and local level to take swift action to address factors that together will help prevent more senseless acts of violence. We call on policymakers to:

  • Restore access to mental health services for individuals and families
  • Increase students' access to nurses and mental health professionals from the elementary school level through college
  • Ban assault weapons and enact other meaningful gun control reforms to protect society

The nation's nurses raise our collective voice to advocate on behalf of all of those who need our care. As a nation, we must commit to ending this cycle of preventable violence, death, and trauma. We must turn our grief into action.

Alabama State Nurses Association

American Academy of Nursing

American Nurses Association

American Psychiatric Nurses Association

ANA-Illinois

ANA-New York

ANA-Michigan/RN-AIM

Arizona Nurses Association

Arkansas Nurses Association

Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

Colorado Nurses Association

Connecticut Nurses' Association

Delaware Nurses Association

Infusion Nurses Society

Louisiana State Nurses Association

Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses

Minnesota Organization of Registered Nurses

Missouri Nurses Association

Montana Nurses Association

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses

National Association of School Nurses

National League for Nursing

New Hampshire Nurses' Association

New Jersey State Nurses Association

New Mexico Nurses Association

Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs

Ohio Nurses Association

Oklahoma Nurses Association

Pennsylvania State Nurses Association

Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

Rhode Island State Nurses Association

Virginia Nurses Association

Washington State Nurses Association

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

All I can say is that the American Nursing Association supports it and a long list of authorities and studies

Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
Everyone, all these chop ups of my post is called Shotgun argumentation - the arguer offers such a large number of arguments for their position that the opponent can't possibly respond to all of them.[35] (See "Argument by verbosity" and "Gish Gallop", above.)

I shouldn't have encouraged the chop ups, because it makes it hard to make anything like a real conversation or answer when people can "chop up" your quotes. This is not like real life, when a person cannot interrupt every single sentence when speaking (e.g., in a speech). This is a way of Red Herring:

This website is not set up to be read like a real conversation as that is impossible. It is set up to share stories, provide information, and even to have lively but civilized debates. We 'chop up' posts as to answer specific questions or respond to different ideas, otherwise there would be too much rambling. That is why it is very important to say what you want in a succinct, clear, and non-intimidating manner. Unfortunately I have to admit that there were times in the last few years that I have been snarky at times, but my fellow bloggers called me on it and I realized my how I must have sounded and so I approach this site with a new perspective as I never want to appear derogatory or snarky as I see that as unprofessional.

There have been times when all of us have posted something and we meant to provide a certain point of view and the reader(s) read it differently than we intended. In that case we ask for, or provide, clarifications of statements. I was not trying to be insulting when I said your posts were difficult for me to read, but for me they are. They are very long and I feel as if you are shouting at us and that is a good way for someone to completely turn you off or get defensive. We are all going to have different opinions; BlueDevilDNP and I do regarding guns, but I completely respect his/her point of view as he/she demonstrated his/her respect for the rest of us with such an eloquent post. Although BlueDevil does not believe in owning a gun, at no time was that post derogatory to the rest of us who have a different point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with your posts, but we are much less likely to even consider what you have to say when every other statement you make about our POV is about red herrings, fallacies, etc. We have our perceptions and so do you, if you believe in your convictions that strongly, it may be helpful to try and understand other's POV's as nothing will change unless we all want change. Again, I am speaking for others on this thread, but I have interacted with many of the before and I believe that many would agree with me.

Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.

I am sorry but I am having a hard time controlling font size.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

All I can say is that the American Nursing Association supports it and a long list of authorities and studies which I tried to post but failed (list was deleted, I don't know why it was just a list)

*** Given the ANA's long history of supporting anti-nurse initives, even if I know nothing about a particular subject I would tend to be opposed to anything the ANA is in favor of.

Whatever the ANA supports I take for granted is not good for me as a nurse.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

This website is not set up to be read like a real conversation as that is impossible. It is set up to share stories, provide information, and even to have lively but civilized debates. We 'chop up' posts as to answer specific questions or respond to different ideas, otherwise there would be too much rambling. That is why it is very important to say what you want in a succinct, clear, and non-intimidating manner. Unfortunately I have to admit that there were times in the last few years that I have been snarky at times, but my fellow bloggers called me on it and I realized my how I must have sounded and so I approach this site with a new perspective as I never want to appear derogatory or snarky as I see that as unprofessional.

There have been times when all of us have posted something and we meant to provide a certain point of view and the reader(s) read it differently than we intended. In that case we ask for, or provide, clarifications of statements. I was not trying to be insulting when I said your posts were difficult for me to read, but for me they are. They are very long and I feel as if you are shouting at us and that is a good way for someone to completely turn you off or get defensive. We are all going to have different opinions; BlueDevilDNP and I do regarding guns, but I completely respect his/her point of view as he/she demonstrated his/her respect for the rest of us with such an eloquent post. Although BlueDevil does not believe in owning a gun, at no time was that post derogatory to the rest of us who have a different point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with your posts, but we are much less likely to even consider what you have to say when every other statement you make about our POV is about red herrings, fallacies, etc. We have our perceptions and so do you, if you believe in your convictions that strongly, it may be helpful to try and understand other's POV's as nothing will change unless we all want change. Again, I am speaking for others on this thread, but I have interacted with many of the before and I believe that many would agree with me.

Thank you!

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
*** Given the ANA's long history of supporting anti-nurse initives, even if I know nothing about a particular subject I would tend to be opposed to anything the ANA is in favor of.

Whatever the ANA supports I take for granted is not good for me as a nurse.

I read ANA positions and the Journal. Often I disagree and other times I agree.

My state nurses association left the ANA. Much of the reason was thjat we wanted to work for safe staffing ratios. Last year the ANA voted to support minimum nurse ratios in hospitals.

I am definitely in favor of improving healthcare for everyone. Mental health care access is especially needed.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

This website is not set up to be read like a real conversation as that is impossible. It is set up to share stories, provide information, and even to have lively but civilized debates. We 'chop up' posts as to answer specific questions or respond to different ideas, otherwise there would be too much rambling. That is why it is very important to say what you want in a succinct, clear, and non-intimidating manner. Unfortunately I have to admit that there were times in the last few years that I have been snarky at times, but my fellow bloggers called me on it and I realized my how I must have sounded and so I approach this site with a new perspective as I never want to appear derogatory or snarky as I see that as unprofessional.

There have been times when all of us have posted something and we meant to provide a certain point of view and the reader(s) read it differently than we intended. In that case we ask for, or provide, clarifications of statements. I was not trying to be insulting when I said your posts were difficult for me to read, but for me they are. They are very long and I feel as if you are shouting at us and that is a good way for someone to completely turn you off or get defensive. We are all going to have different opinions; BlueDevilDNP and I do regarding guns, but I completely respect his/her point of view as he/she demonstrated his/her respect for the rest of us with such an eloquent post. Although BlueDevil does not believe in owning a gun, at no time was that post derogatory to the rest of us who have a different point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with your posts, but we are much less likely to even consider what you have to say when every other statement you make about our POV is about red herrings, fallacies, etc. We have our perceptions and so do you, if you believe in your convictions that strongly, it may be helpful to try and understand other's POV's as nothing will change unless we all want change. Again, I am speaking for others on this thread, but I have interacted with many of the before and I believe that many would agree with me.

Beautifully stated. Thank you.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

All I can say is that the American Nursing Association supports it and a long list of authorities and studies which I tried to post but failed (list was deleted, I don't know why it was just a list)

I used to post long quotes. Most were unread. Now I most often post a title, general explanation, and a link so those who want to can read it.

Sometimes I refer a person whose post clearly lets me know they haven't read the article or study that the answer is there.

We come to allnurses.com for different reasons. These change over time.

the person wanting to know about specific nursing schools is later concerned about taking boards.

Some of us are academically inclines. Others are not.

Over time I've enjoyed debating controversial topics. I've changed my view because a fellow member educated me and answered my questions.

We have a lot in common as nurses, caregivers, students, and people interested in the profession.

I think I have opinions in common with you, but find them difficult to read. They remind me of my postings years ago.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I know some people on this site have priority and the others are not equal. Not all of our opinions are valued.

I think the reason you are not getting the resonses you seek is entirely related to the condecending manner in which you write, the name calling you engage in and most of all people find it very upsetting when you simply make up something about them that isn't true. You have done it a number of times despite having been asked by several people to stop fabricating things about them you continued to do so. It is quite reasonable that people will get upset when you choose to fabricate things about the again and again.

I think the reason you are not getting the resonses you seek is entirely related to the condecending manner in which you write, the name calling you engage in and most of all people find it very upsetting when you simply make up something about them that isn't true. You have done it a number of times despite having been asked by several people to stop fabricating things about them you continued to do so. It is quite reasonable that people will get upset when you choose to fabricate things about the again and again.

Thank you! :)

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

The OP's intent for this post is about is about a call to action after that horrible massacre in Newtown Connecticut.....not other posters writing styles.

PLease......lets stick to topic.

Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
Thank you!

Beautifully stated. Thank you.

:) your welcome!

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