Let's call Oprah

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2006

Wouldnt it be marvelous if they could strap one of those little hidden cameras on a few nurses, edit the video so as to not show faces of patients etc and just let the general public follow several nurses around over several days, oh heck, one would be enough. Hey for good measure we can make them 12 hour days.

First, my guess is that most of the video would be unusable because of the excessive speed and quick movments most of us manuever in any given day. The whole thing would be a big blur.

But hey that may be a start to show just exactly what the life of a nurse in a facility is like. No names, no faces, a generalized discription of the facility, and the cold hard truth.

Butterfly3001 · Apr 17, 2006

Whoever said Oprah was a journalist? She's a talk show host. I think that she can handle serious topics and her history proves it.

She was a journalist before she got her talk show, here's proof.

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1

Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2006

Wouldnt it be marvelous if they could strap one of those little hidden cameras on a few nurses, edit the video so as to not show faces of patients etc and just let the general public follow several nurses around over several days, oh heck, one would be enough. Hey for good measure we can make them 12 hour days.
First, my guess is that most of the video would be unusable because of the excessive speed and quick movments most of us manuever in any given day. The whole thing would be a big blur.
But hey that may be a start to show just exactly what the life of a nurse in a facility is like. No names, no faces, a generalized discription of the facility, and the cold hard truth.

I love this idea!

grinnurse, RN · Apr 17, 2006

I love this idea!

Ditto!! I personally respect Oprah and most of her causes. She has helped change alot of people's thinking on different issues and even though alot of people don't consider her a "serious journalist" she has a HUGE amount of power in all kinds of areas!! I think John Stossel would also make a great choice to start with on the issue of the nursing shortage and if everyone on here could come up with who we would want to contact we could start an email campaign to begin the process. I think that we need more than one avenue to go through though.

I will do whatever it takes when everyone decides on where to go with it.

sunnyjohn · Apr 17, 2006

... She is so hypocritical- sitting there with her millions while showcasing the plight of the homeless and people making minimum wage. with her money what does she do wake up every morning wondering what disadvantage soul she can help today...sounds kind of like a god.People shouldn't be allowed to make the money she does.

I don't begrudge Oprah her money. For over 20 years she worked hard to put on a successful show. Many people must like it because her audience is huge and they keep watching.

I'm with Sharon on this one. Nurses need to stand together and stand up for themselves. No on is going to come save us.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2006

She was a journalist before she got her talk show, here's proof.
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/win0bio-1

I knew she got her start on network news. But she's not a journalist now so trying to disrespect/discredit her for being something she's not doesn't make sense to me.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2006

I don't begrudge Oprah her money. For over 20 years she worked hard to put on a successful show. Many people must like it because her audience is huge and they keep watching.
I'm with Sharon on this one. Nurses need to stand together and stand up for themselves. No on is going to come save us.

She does indeed have many fans.

I think some people have too much money. But in a free market economy what can you do? Make a cap where over a certain amount of money they have to give it all the the poor?

While she lives like the billionaire she is, I'm sure she's not a totally selfish person. She runs a school in Africa and gives away countless amounts of dollars quietly without public knowledge I'm sure.

Just because she's rich and isn't mother Theresa I'll not judge her.

While I think it's important to get the word out about the state of health care in America, it's up to nurses themselves to advocate on their own, but we can't seem to get along can we. :)

vloho · Apr 18, 2006

She [Oprah]would make a statement about nursing like she did about the beefthen where would we be?

sbdelucia · Apr 18, 2006

For those of you who read my response to "Let's call Oprah," I did not originate the original message. I was responding to the writer of the message. I would not want Oprah! I agree with a previous writer about having someone such as Anderson Cooper. My suggestion as a starting point would be Suzanne Gordon. The only thing that I could possibly feel in Oprah's favor, is that she does have such a large audience composed of many women. I admire how far she has come in her life, but I also feel she is, at times, way to sanctimonious for me. I simply feel we as nurses do so much complaining amongst ourselves that we have become paralyzed into inaction. So many nurses have families, work part-time, or feel someone else will solve the problems we have as a profession, that we are similar to an abused person....keep an individual down long enough and they do nothing to stop the injustice of the treatment. I certainly do not have all the answers but I am willing to listen and maybe make a difference. :balloons:

burn out · Apr 18, 2006

why don't we vent in a way americans would truly understand...let's go on Jerry Springer. I bet he would even do a good editorial at the end of the show, personally I would want to be one to keep my shirt on but maybe one of the new grads would help us out there but I bet I could throw a mean chair.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

Maybe someone with the time and desire can try to convince Oprah's staff to do an expose on nurses and how we are treated? My opinon is she is a corporate suck-up and wont touch this.

I have emailed Oprah several times over the years, through her web site, telling her about what we are going through and the effects that will eventually hit all Americans. No response.

grandee3 · Apr 18, 2006

Please count me in when yall decide who will broadcast this project. I did not have time to read all the posts but I think we need someone who either had an experience with the problems due to short staff, poor care, unsafe care or a family that may have lost a love one due to the severe nursing shortage.:uhoh21:

I did read the post from the nurse on the step down unit and totally related to everything she spoke of. This has got to stop, NOW! We all need to take a stand. I say make a documentary about her story. SOCK IT TO UM!:angryfire