I emailed Dr. Phil regarding having a show that specifically addresses the so-called nursing shortage and the issues that create it........among other things.
The reply I received was that I would be contacted if my request to have this show is approved as a topic for his show. The response goes on to say how many requests they receive a day, blah, blah, blah, so basically......don't hold my breath.
Next on my list are the congressmen and those in the White House. I also plan to write "this nurse's story" and seek to get it in print in a magazine that is well read by the public, etc.
One step, two steps, three steps, more....one day at a time.
I didn't read the entire thread, so please forgive me if someone else already brought up these points. I think John Walsh's show might be more willing to discuss the nursing shortage. I may e-mail him myself, just to say I'd be interested in seeing that type of show put together. He does a lot of public safety/advocacy type issues on his show. The other thing is, Renee is just one person. Just because she has had a rough time, doesn't mean she has all of the answers. Yes, things need to be presented in a concise, coherent manner. But...you can't expect her or anyone else to have formulated all sorts of possible solutions. I don't think anyone of us has or could have all of the answers. I admire your spunk Renee' and I wish you well. I'd like to see a panel type discussion on this issue. I did e-mail the big "O" and the VIEW several years ago, but no response. Part of it is,IMHO, we nurses don't fit her demographic which is a lot of 30-something SAHM's. I like Oprah, but I am a little tired of all of her beauty/plastic surgery shows. I am trying to raise 3 daughters and work full-time. I'd like to be prettier, but as Maslow's would say, I am going for some more basic needs right now. The View also is going for the SAHM's in their 30's w/ lots of disposable income and has many similar features. I am not sure if it's just around here, but a lot of sr. citizens I know watch John Walsh and believe me, not only are they very affected by the nursing shortage, many are willing and have the time to write their legislators.
Renee, WAY to GO!!!! I'm so proud of you for everything you are trying to do. I truly look up to you and admire you for the things you care about and the things you try to do. I hope one day I can be so passionate about something.
Imenid37 John Walsh show seems like a good idea but the sad news I found out is that they are cancelling the John Walsh show after Feb. They said it is not getting very good ratings.
>How about someone here coming up with a brief, concise, to the >point letter that all could print out, sign their own name and >send in?
I really think that is a poor idea. It would be much more effective (IMHO) if the letters were written by each indivdual.
Getting 10K letters that are exactly the same would be a big "turn off", while letters in a person'sown words would be more personal, and have a larger impact.
If it's important to you, take the time and write the letter, include some of your personal experiences.
>How about someone here coming up with a brief, concise, to the >point letter that all could print out, sign their own name and >send in?
I really think that is a poor idea. It would be much more effective (IMHO) if the letters were written by each indivdual.
Getting 10K letters that are exactly the same would be a big "turn off", while letters in a person'sown words would be more personal, and have a larger impact.
If it's important to you, take the time and write the letter, include some of your personal experiences.
As I said before, I'm at the point where I don't want to think about it anymore, much less write about it.
I think 10,000 of the same letter would be better than none or a handful of different ones.
It's no different than a petition.
I think 10,000 of the same letter may say to someone, hey, maybe they have something here if 10,000 people are saying the same thing.
>How about someone here coming up with a brief, concise, to the >point letter that all could print out, sign their own name and >send in?
I really think that is a poor idea. It would be much more effective (IMHO) if the letters were written by each indivdual.
Getting 10K letters that are exactly the same would be a big "turn off", while letters in a person'sown words would be more personal, and have a larger impact.
If it's important to you, take the time and write the letter, include some of your personal experiences.
I agree with this. Someone called me the other day to sign onto a petition regarding an issue that I actually agree with but I said no. I'd write my own letter thank you very much.
Read this entire thread and I have to say to CCU NRS - please don't put your head in the sand, you bring up important issues.
imenid37 - funny, I stopped watching those shows precisely because they did not appeal to this SAHM wannabe . . too many stories about stuff that didn't relate to me at all.
There is no one voice in nursing and that is the problem with trying to come up with a brief, concise and to the point letter. Just hang around allnurses for a few days to see that we don't agree on the issues or the answer to the issues.
Cheerfuldoer . . trying to be "unified" and then each have our own voice is an impossible task. But I commend you on starting a dialogue.
Maybe that is the best thing . .to start a dialogue that the public gets to listen into. Get a bunch of nurses from different perspectives (sorta like allnurses.com) and have them hash it out on TV. Let the public see how complicated it is
I agree with this. Someone called me the other day to sign onto a petition regarding an issue that I actually agree with but I said no. I'd write my own letter thank you very much.
Read this entire thread and I have to say to CCU NRS - please don't put your head in the sand, you bring up important issues.
imenid37 - funny, I stopped watching those shows precisely because they did not appeal to this SAHM wannabe . . too many stories about stuff that didn't relate to me at all.
There is no one voice in nursing and that is the problem with trying to come up with a brief, concise and to the point letter. Just hang around allnurses for a few days to see that we don't agree on the issues or the answer to the issues.
Cheerfuldoer . . trying to be "unified" and then each have our own voice is an impossible task. But I commend you on starting a dialogue.
Maybe that is the best thing . .to start a dialogue that the public gets to listen into. Get a bunch of nurses from different perspectives (sorta like allnurses.com) and have them hash it out on TV. Let the public see how complicated it is
Or maybe not . . .
steph
That's a big part of the problem right there, you can't get two nurses to agree on doing anything.
If all nurses were to put up a united front they could obtain whatever they wanted.
Cheerfuldoer . . trying to be "unified" and then each have our own voice is an impossible task. But I commend you on starting a dialogue.
Maybe that is the best thing . .to start a dialogue that the public gets to listen into. Get a bunch of nurses from different perspectives (sorta like allnurses.com) and have them hash it out on TV. Let the public see how complicated it is
Or maybe not . . .
steph
Well, there is a certain amount of unification, at least most nurses would agree that there are problems within nursing administration, hospital administration and understand that the nursing shortage has been brought about by conditions unsuitable for the nurses and the patients.
Everyone does have their own take on what is actual cause, but there are many factors that have contributed.
stevielynn, it is not such a bad idea to have a "town meeting" type of forum about these issues. Just getting the general public to hear about these things is a step in the right direction. There is no quick fix, of course, but I hope the steps that cheerfuldoer and others take (including myself) will be steps to some sort of eventual resolution.
Well, there is a certain amount of unification, at least most nurses would agree that there are problems within nursing administration, hospital administration and understand that the nursing shortage has been brought about by conditions unsuitable for the nurses and the patients.
Everyone does have their own take on what is actual cause, but there are many factors that have contributed.
stevielynn, it is not such a bad idea to have a "town meeting" type of forum about these issues. Just getting the general public to hear about these things is a step in the right direction. There is no quick fix, of course, but I hope the steps that cheerfuldoer and others take (including myself) will be steps to some sort of eventual resolution.
I do think it has been very good for me to find this site and be able to listen to other nurses hash out different issues. I've learned alot coming here.
My take on some of the issues come from my own perspective. My nursing administration is actually very open to nurses trying to solve staffing problems and other nursing issues. Our docs usually are great to work with and we consider ourselves pretty lucky. I actually see more strife between individual nurses or shift vs. shift rather than the bosses vs. the minions or the docs vs. the nurses.
I'm late to this dialogue because I've only been a nurse for a short time compared to alot of the women and men here. And because I work in a small rural hospital with a pretty good relationship with the powers that be.
I guess I wonder about the public relations regarding watching nurses hash out issues like, oh say . . . . union vs. nonunion?
I'm wondering if this isn't more a "local" issue sort of problem? Maybe each facility has its own unique challenges and that needs to be addressed from that unique perspective.
That's why I worry about the call for one united voice. Is there such a thing?
I've said before that nursing is not a monolith. And I'm NOT saying we shouldn't talk about it.
One thing that I would suggest in nursing school is to have a short class on the politics of nursing. That would certainly have helped me when I stumbled into this . . . .
I just finished catching up on everyone's comments since my last posting (had to run some errands....). Anyway, I'm thrilled that so many are at least willing and able to offer their voice to the problems we face in nursing today! :)
Stevielynn.......I read where you didn't think it possible to be "unified"........ I accept that train of thought from the perspective of where you work, and who you work with. That is a good thing for you to view nursing from your world the way you do. No problem.
However....many nurses each have their own story which needs to be expressed. In the sharing of these truthful stories, we pull together and embrace one another's perspective from where they too work (just like yourself where you work). In doing this, we each have used our own voice to bring to the "table of discussion" (if you will) those matters that are essential to the positive growth of nursing today. This is where we agree to be unified......not in thinking the same, but in unifying on one focus....making changes in nursing that will offer safer care for our patients by decreasing the patient/nurse ratios that exist for most floor nurses who carry greater than four patients....many carry up to 10 or eleven a shift! This is one situation that needs resolution.
Of course we will have many thoughts on how to bring that about. That is the beauty of engaging in this conversation, and pulling together our thoughts while staying focused on the causes at hand. Certainly, we as nurses are capable of maintaining that focus. Anyone losing sight of that can gently and kindly be encouraged to "Come on back....focus...focus..." :)
It is a wonderful idea to post the addresses of every media place and television program that we can write to. We each know how to get addresses for our state congressman, and other politicians so I don't think those need to be posted....but it certainly wouldn't hurt.
Someone emailed me and asked if I had invited Brian to participate since his permission would be needed to recommend this forum as a place for the VIPs to come in order to read all about what we think in nursing. Perhaps emailing our comments from this site specifically limited to a new thread where we would post our issues, and how we feel things should be resolved. Anyone else agree with this suggestion given to me? Personally, I'm all for it.
CCU NRS.......all is well. Don't bury your head, and most definitely do NOT hide your ideas and thoughts. You are a nurse...a vital part of the nursing profession....EVERYONE'S ideas are essential to the change that we pray will take place in nursing for the patients we desire to care for in a safe and professional manner. :)
I still have not really read any real Ideas to fix these situtions and unitl there are solutions and resolutions to problems they are still just problems.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, this is exactly why I am not an activist, I can't seem to make anyone else understand that until you have a solution you really aren't ready to organize.
I still have not really read any real Ideas to fix these situtions and unitl there are solutions and resolutions to problems they are still just problems.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, this is exactly why I am not an activist, I can't seem to make anyone else understand that until you have a solution you really aren't ready to organize.
J. B.
199 Posts
Sent you a privit message of my idea.
Good luck . I am wondering if it has already benn suggested.
JB