Nurses at the State of the Union Address

[MollyMel]

I am not actually a citizen yet so I can't vote, but I do enjoy watching the state of the Union address (partially just to hear the president misspeak or catch some aging senator sleeping). I was surprised to see them cut away on two separate occasions to guests in Mrs. Bush's box who were RNs.

I am sure there is some political fenangling involved, but it is nice to see nurses in the limelight (beyond the clip from the next "House" where the family member yells "we need a nurse in here!" and I thought there were no nurses in House's hospital :icon_roll).

The nurse's bios are below.

Tara Kunkel, RN BSN CEN, Community Hospital East (New Palestine, Indiana)

Tara Kunkel is an emergency room nurse in Indianapolis, Indiana. In July 2007, Nurse Kunkel admitted a woman in her 70s into the hospital who was complaining of a heart attack. The woman told Nurse Kunkel she went to the nearest hospital because she had just read an interview with Mrs. Bush in which Mrs. Bush described the signs and symptoms of heart attacks in women, and she was beginning to feel those signs. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, the patient's heart went into a fatal rhythm that without treatment would have killed her. Since this woman knew the symptoms of heart disease, she got herself into the hospital in time to save her life. Nurse Kunkel wrote a letter to Mrs. Bush thanking her for her role in saving this patient's life, and for her continued efforts to educate the public about cardiovascular health for women through her Red Dress Campaign. One in four American women dies of heart disease, killing more women in the United States than all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, most women are unaware of their personal risk factors and the signs and symptoms of heart disease.

Tatu Msangi, Registered Nurse, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC); Mother; and daughter Faith Mang'ehe (age 2), (Moshi, Tanzania)

Tatu Msangi is a 35-year-old single mother from Tanzania. When Tatu became pregnant, she went to the antenatal clinic at KCMC and discovered she was HIV-positive. Tatu enrolled in a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program and delivered a healthy daughter, named Faith. As part of her treatment, Faith received a dose of nevirapine after she was born. She is now over two years old, and she is HIV-free. As part of her work at KCMC, Tatu counsels HIV-positive women and encourages them to participate in the PMTCT program. KCMC is supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief's (PEPFAR) through the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Tatu and her daughter Faith are examples of the hope and compassion that is transforming lives with support from PEPFAR. PEPFAR, which was announced by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union Address, is the largest commitment ever by any nation for an international health initiative dedicated to a single disease.

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

Thanks for that info, I was actually wondering myself what those nurses did to get an invited to the state of the union :) I thought it was cool to see nurses there :)

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Perhaps I am a bit cynical, but with the healthcare system in the shape it is in and the fact that it is a big issue this election, I'm not surprised President Bush had nurses there. Maybe he wants to show, "See the nurses support and like Republicans."

Personally I don't buy it. Maybe I'm ignorant, but I haven't seen him do anything specifically good for nursing or even seem particularly concerned with nursing issues.

I'm sure many will disagree, but I see it as a ploy. But that's just MHO.

[bluesnurse]

Perhaps I am a bit cynical, but with the healthcare system in the shape it is in and the fact that it is a big issue this election, I'm not surprised President Bush had nurses there. Maybe he wants to show, "See the nurses support and like Republicans."

Personally I don't buy it. Maybe I'm ignorant, but I haven't seen him do anything specifically good for nursing or even seem particularly concerned with nursing issues.

I'm sure many will disagree, but I see it as a ploy. But that's just MHO.

No disagreement here! In fact, I can't imagine showing my face in any manner that suggested I support GWB as a nurse, a woman, and an American. He is an international disgrace, and he certainly does not give an airborne ceramic vat of horse excrement about health care. Shame on those nurses.

FWIW, I'm not that excited about what the Dems have to offer, either. The whole thing just depresses me.

"If purring could be encapsulated, it'd be the most powerful anti-depressant on the pharmaceutical market." ~Alexis F. Hope

[MollyMel]

I guess I didn't want to go there in my initial post, but I definitely agree with you bluesnurse and dream'n. Absolutely everything about the address is carefully planned and in some way choreographed (now the reps stand and clap and the dems sit and scowl, now the generals get to clap, this time it's everyone, cut to some soldiers etc.)

I felt like bush said a lot of words about health care, but still managed to say nothing at all. That is so another post altogether though, I'm not ready for that debate tonight!

I am also not a big fan of PEPFAR (esp. the focus on abstinence-only which has been proven to be a hindrance to the fight against global HIV and AIDS) but, I am still pro Tanzanian nurses :)

I did love Bush's suggestion for an international agreement on reducing emissions and curbing greenhouse gases that would be signed and enforced in all nations... ummm, Kyoto?

Anyway, I love the pomp and circumstance of big government things, although it would be much better if they all wore wigs....

[CHATSDALE]

i watched the sotu speech

there were the old sleeping mounds of flesh

the standing to clap of the gop

the glued to the seat of the demos

is this the way we are going to work together

i am so discouraged about the way it has been going with this election

as it stands now i don't see anyone on either side that i respect enough to cast a vote for, i have never 'sat' out an election since i was eligible to vote [it was 21 at that time, not to date myself]

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I didn't watch - we had a family dinner last night. I'll have to go find it on the net.

I for one would have been proud to sit beside Mrs. Bush and think having the nurses there was a moment for me personally to be proud of our profession. Regardless of your politics, a 70 year old woman got care for a life-threatening condition and lived to tell about it. And another woman got treatment for HIV and her child is not infected. All things to cheer about.

And I'm a nurse and proudly support George Bush. I'm not happy with some of the things he has done (McCain-Feingold, No Child Left Behind, etc.). But I do support his stance on the war in Iraq and our need to fight terrorism.

And I'm not ashamed to say it. And don't think anyone should wag their finger in a nurse's face and say "shame on you".

No matter who is in power, these stories need to be told. I'd have cheered if Bill was sitting there and Hillary was speaking.

steph

[kristenncrn]

I think any time a nurse is held up in a position of esteem and highlighted for having kicked butt, it's a good thing for our profession. I might draw the line at sitting next to Newt... just teasing. I still have absolutely no clue who I am going to vote for - and no convictions about any candidate that I don't reserve the right to change. Not one makes me feel anything above lukewarm. Depressing. But I respect any one else's right to feel otherwise - even when I am thinking in my head "seriously??"

Honestly, though, all politics aside - I do think nurses need to pull together no matter who they vote for or support. Anything that helps elevate my RN brother or sister ultimately helps me - and vice versa.