News on Nursing in the Media
April 2, 2007 - Today the Canadian press carried stories about nurse Julie Beattie, who had reportedly given CPR to a heart attack victim at a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game two days before. The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star both suggest that the pediatric emergency nurse saved the fan's life. The nurse-centric coverage underscores the irony that nurses sometimes get credit when they save someone in unusual settings--at a game, in an airplane, in a parking lot--but seem to have more trouble getting the media to recognize that they actually save lives as part of their normal work. We also wonder if part of what makes such stories "news" is the fact that they involve nurses, who many in the media may not expect to have much technical health care skill. In any case, we do thank the Globe and Mail and the Star for highlighting Beattie's actions. more...
November 9, 2006 -- Today The Montreal Gazette published a piece by Aaron Derfel about a group of Montreal physicians publicly protesting a lack of ICU nurses at the city's hospitals. The article indicates that this means fewer ICU beds remain open, patients undergoing elective procedures must wait longer, inexperienced ICU nurses are "overwhelmed," and sometimes patients transferred from the ICU too early deteriorate and must return. The piece might have provided context on the larger nursing shortage, and done more to show that when nurses are short-staffed, the result is worse patient outcomes, including death. Still, this is a good example of physicians speaking out for better nurse staffing. We thank Mr. Derfel and the Gazette for the piece. more...
People's Daily Online: "Every 2,000 Beijingers to have a community nurse by 2008"
December 25, 2006 -- Today People's Daily Online posted a Xinhua news agency item reporting that the city of Beijing plans to train enough community nurses that every 2,000 residents will have one in 2008. Because nurses are well-qualified to improve health through preventative care and health management, this program could be a cost-effective way to improve community health. more...
November 14, 2006 -- Today the New Zealand Herald ran a good story by Cherie Taylor about efforts to address diabetes among the Maori and other indigenous peoples. The piece seems to have been sparked by a comment by an expert at a recent Melbourne conference that "indigenous people could be wiped out by the disease by the end of the century." But the main expert cited in the piece, 
New Zealand "diabetes nurse and educator" Shona Tolley, disputed that assessment as to the Maori, citing efforts to promote healthier lifestyles. We thank Ms. Taylor and the Daily Post for relying so heavily on a nurse expert, underlining the key role nurses play in addressing such important public health issues. more...
Please place RN patch orders for May graduations now
Over the last few weeks we have taken a number of orders for bulk "RN" and other nursing patches for upcoming nursing graduations. Many schools are giving out patches to their graduates instead of flowers. If you would like patches, please order them in the coming week so we can guarantee delivery in time for May graduations. Thank you. The regular member price for an "RN" patch is $1.50, but in bulk of 50 patches or more, patches are just $1.00 each. Click here for more information or call us at 1-410-323-1100.
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The Center promotes better understanding of nursing, so nurses can do their work. But just like nurses, we need financial support to do our work. The long-term sustainability of the Center depends on it. If you appreciate our work, would you be able to chip in to help us continue? Our current situation requires that key staff donate many hundreds of hours to the Center every year, at great cost to themselves and their families. Please do your part to help us out. Thank you!
The Center's global media monitoring, analysis and advocacy is a huge challenge. It takes extensive research, writing, communication, and Internet efforts. We must pay for office equipment, supplies, transportation, Internet products, insurance, postage and telephone costs. Our office is donated by our staff. And our staff can undertake only a small part of the work that needs to be done to improve nursing's image.
So we urge you to make a donation to help us continue and expand our work. Just click here to learn about the great gifts you can receive for joining or renewing your Center membership, including our cool t-shirts and the Archie McPhee nurse action figure! It's quick and easy! And because the Center is a 501(c)(3) charity, your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Thank you for all of your support over the past year. You are the reason we've had a real impact on public understanding of nursing worldwide. Together, we can strengthen nursing, and give patients the kind of health care they deserve in 2007 and beyond!
Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH
Executive Director
The Truth About Nursing
203 Churchwardens Rd.
Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21212-2937
office 1-410-323-1100
fax 1-410-510-1790
ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org
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