Contacted Oprah Show About Nursing Issues

miko014 · Mar 21, 2007

A rallly would get attention, but would you really want to focus it on Oprah? What about like, Good Morning America where they got out and show the people standing outside...that would be more effective, I think. It seems like, while Oprah is as good a starting point as any, it's more a serious news thing than an "after your soap opera" reality check.

msnrn3 · Mar 21, 2007

You bring up an excellent point. Serious matters deserve serious coverage. So, how about a nation-wide call for nurses to devote 1-2 hours of their time to rally at their local TV stations during National Nurses week to bring important nursing issues that affect the public open for public discussion. Nursingworld usually has suggestions for nurses during NNW in May. I am sure there are a variety of suggestions that we can get from participants of this site also. This could be the year for nursing to create "a tipping point" for improving the professiona and health care needs of people we serve.

TazziRN, RN · Mar 21, 2007

*sigh*

Ben sounds like me.........ohsolongago.......I once thought that I had the best employer also.....until they hung me out to dry and I realized what a toxic environment it actually is. Now I work for a place that treats me better, but they are not perfect. I do love my job and enjoy what I do most of the time, but I am not as jaded and starry-eyed as I was in the beginning. My job is what I make of it and the attitude with which I do so. When I hear someone like Ben I think "Just wait a few years, my child......."

Colorado1 · Mar 21, 2007

Not all hospitals pay poorly. Not all have bad working conditions. Keep going. The profession needs you, as long as your heart is in it. Then shop around for the workplace that's a great fit for you.

I emailed Oprah three years ago but never heard anything either. Maybe if enough people do they will air something.

miko014 · Mar 21, 2007

Colorado, I'm confused. Do you agree that things ened to change, or not? You say keep looking around - but there are only so many "good" hospitals...so what, when they are full and don't need any more RNs, the rest of us should just quit the profession? If you are so happy, why did you email Oprah?

NorfolkRN · Mar 21, 2007

jennifer-

i think that's a great idea. i too along with a friend wrote a letter to her after she did her "favorite things" show with an audience of all teachers. we said that while teachers also have a very difficult and demanding job, nurses face at least as much if not more stress at their jobs. If anyone deserves to get all those goodies its nurses!

As to your apprehension about becoming an RN, yes it is tough and can be extremely stressful since its people's lives that are in our hands. Sometimes you have to make decisions the outcome of which, if the wrong one is made, could be death. However if you know that were meant to be a nurse and i think nursing is definitely a divine calling, you will be a good one and you will find it to be very satisfying. You will take care of people that you just really connect with and you will literally save their lives or at least make them better. They will look you in the eye and say "thank you for taking care of me" and then you will that all the crap that you have dealt with from doctors, your coworkers, other patients was worth for this one moment. And you will have many of those moments in your career. Best of luck to you.

Colorado1 · Mar 21, 2007

Clearly, there are a lot of unhappy nurses out there. I am one of the fortunate ones and appreciate it fully. As a whole I think nurses deserve more recognition. We have a tremendous amount of responsibility and take our jobs seriously. We worked hard for our license. I think Oprah has a great forum for getting information out and it would increase the value of our profession. Television rarely presents nurses as a strong force in healthcare and fewer kids graduating high school have an interest in medicine. When I get old I sure want someone competent and compassionate to take care of me.

Colorado1 · Mar 21, 2007

Well said. NorfolkRN

jerseyRN · Mar 22, 2007

I wrote her an impassioned letter suggesting she do a show about hospice care. I think that letter landed in her circular file also.

bradleau · Mar 23, 2007

I love my job. It is the stab you in the back patients, and familys that still cause me to "give up". You work your behind off trying to get someone some pain relief,find them a recliner, whatever...then the next day your are talked to by your supervisor because the pt said you were hateful, etc. and being anything but helpful and nice. Makes me want to throw in the towel. Thank goodness that most all appreciate what is done for them. But it appears that no one passes that info onwards. I know in my heart how good of a job that I have done. So keep the bad stuff to yourself. Remember if you can't say anything nice, do not say anything at all.

ben123 · Mar 23, 2007

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...

I will PM you

first_lobster, RN · Mar 24, 2007

I, too have sent my 2 cents in to Oprah, and have several times just tried to get her to do nurses for her wishes show (you know, when she gives away a bajilion things). She really wouldnt have to give us much..., oh say those great kenmore washers and dryers with the SANITIZE cycle, maybe some comfy clothes, a foot massage, heck, id be happy with one of those hand held back massager jobbies you get at wlagreens for $2. I even know the nurses i'd nominate to be on the show. Maybe, just maybe, if we all send her a letter...