Monthly Archives: August 2014

08.29.14
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Medicaid

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), representing more than 215,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, appreciates the Corbett administration’s effort with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a Pennsylvania-specific plan to reform Medicaid, and increase access to quality, affordable health care.

The CMS accepted a portion of Governor Corbett’s Medicaid reform as a part of the Healthy PA initiative. This plan is scheduled to begin enrollment December 1, 2014. This waiver paves the way for more than 600,000 Pennsylvania citizens to be eligible for much needed health care. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Healthy PA web page.

“Programs such as Healthy PA provide incentives for Pennsylvanians to develop healthy behaviors including early intervention, prevention, and wellness initiatives,” PSNA CEO Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “PSNA will continue to support such programs that improve the quality, efficiency and outcomes of the healthcare delivery system. Healthy PA provides access to a full range of qualified health care providers, including registered nurses.”

 

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) is the non-profit voice for nurses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Representing more than 215,000 nurses, the Association works to be essential in advancing, promoting and supporting the profession of nursing to improve health for all in the Commonwealth. PSNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (www.psna.org). 

08.29.14
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Climate Crisis a Public-Health Emergency Too: Why Nurses Will Join Climate March Sept. 21

Early last November Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda slammed into the Philippines, leaving more than 6,000 people dead, tens of thousands injured, and many more bereft of their homes and livelihoods. The storm was called the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to make landfall.

Few of the international media who flew in to report on the devastation noted an underlying cause: subsurface ocean waters recorded at 9 degrees Fahrenheit above average, fueling the intensity of the storm.

But National Nurses United, which rapidly dispatched a number of nurse volunteers, who provided basic, hands-on medical support for thousands of the injured, never lost sight of a broader concern.

Taking a break one day from the medical mission, RN volunteers joined a press conference with local healthcare and environmental activists, noting that huge storms are not new but are far worse because of the consequences of the human-made climate crisis.

“Climate change and global warming has brought this misfortune to the Philippines. This affects us globally, from Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in the United States to typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines,” said RN volunteer Jane Sandoval at the press conference.

Given those experiences and what nurses see at home, NNU members join the climate march in New York Sept. 21 because they see the effects of the climate crisis and experience it in their communities and, most importantly, with their patients.

For registered nurses the climate crisis is a clear and present public-health emergency as well as a creeping bomb for our planet — and they draw a direct link between extreme forms of energy extraction and the horrific impacts they see on human health.

NNU members, for example, have been on the front lines, speaking out and protesting against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, working to stop the expansion of polluting refineries in Los Angeles and Richmond, California, and standing with community members to rid Southside Chicago of petcoke piles.

Opposing Keystone, NNU members have joined multiple public protests and sponsored a march across the Golden Gate Bridge and a national press conference with Sen. Barbara Boxer in Washington to highlight the harmful effects of the extraction, transport and refining of crude tar-sands oil.

At the press conference in March, Brenda Prewitt, an RN in Houston, cited existing serious problems with pollution in that city and noted that the last thing area residents need is the arrival of dangerous tar-sands oil, which has been linked to reduced lung function, aggravation of cardiac systems and other ills, she said.

Standing near the latest in a series of oil spills in Los Angeles weeks later, RN Sandy Mulcahey said, “Our patients don’t have to just be in a hospital. They’re here in the community. It’s our duty to take preventive measures to make sure our environment is safe.”

Participating in a refinery protest in Richmond, California, RN DeAnn McEwen said, “As nurses we are particularly concerned about the disproportionate effects of toxic pollutants on the health of our community’s most vulnerable members.” She continued:

Children and infants are at greater risk due to their still-developing lungs and respiratory systems. The elderly and people with preexisting respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer all face greater risks than the general public. Low-income and working families, because they are more likely to live near heavily traveled roadways and industrial districts, also suffer more. When coupled with the fact that these families also are less likely to have adequate healthcare coverage, this creates a real crisis in our community.

Joining Chicago protests in May against toxic dust wafting off petcoke piles near homes and children’s playgrounds, RN Rolanda Watson noted:

The first thing they taught us as nurse practitioners is that we are advocates. We’ve been seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses — so many colds, sinus problems, bronchitis, COPD, pneumonias. People will say it’s the weather or something is just going around. But babies aren’t supposed to have asthma. There’s a reason for all this.

Turning to embattled residents still suffering from the effects of Haiyan and an oil spill that it aggravated last winter, RN Ashley Forsberg concluded, “We want you to know that we and our union are so proud to stand with you today in solidarity to advocate for the political and social changes necessary to fight against that threat together.”

 

 

08.29.14
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10 Best TV Nurses

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Nurse Carla Espinoza

Sweet and sassy Nurse Carla Espinoza is one of our 10 Best TV Nurses.

All the Emmy Awards buzz earlier this week got me thinking about nurses on TV. Whether drama or comedy, it’s definitely hard to capture just exactly what makes nurses so special. But when shows get it right, it can be very cool to watch.

Last year Travel Nursing Blogs covered the MTV reality show “Scrubbing In,” which followed Travel Nurses at work and at play. We even got the chance to speak with Nurse Tyrice, and whether you loved or hated the show, it was definitely something to see …

That said, we decided to exclude reality stars from our 10 Best TV Nurses list. Check it out, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

In no particular order, here are Travel Nursing Blogs’ 10 Best TV Nurses:

Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), “Scrubs”

Her eye-roll is so on point! It’s obviously perfected from years of suffering through her husband, Turk, and his best friend J.D.’s wacky antics. Reyes’ sister, a real-life licensed RN, is said to have inspired her performance, particularly Nurse Espinoza’s sass and devotion to her patients.

Nurse Epiphany Johnson (Sonya Eddy), “General Hospital”

Originally almost too stereotypically tough-as-nails, Head Nurse Johnson has softened over the years. She’s still not one to mince words, but she’s now portrayed with more humanity, and whoa boy can she sing — as evidenced by her Nurses Ball performances.

Nurse Peter PetrelliPeter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia), “Heroes”

A hospice nurse turned hero, Nurse Peter Petrelli, is sensitive, compassionate, and able to take on the powers of others. Like so many nurses, he has superpowers and is truly a hero.

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan (Loretta Swit), “M*A*S*H”

Literally born in an Army hospital, Nurse Houlihan is as brash and by-the-book as she is skilled at nursing — not to mention her knack for speaking out against sexism amid a sea of squirrely male colleagues. Over the show’s 11-year run, Swit was able to create a more multi-dimensional character. Actress Sally Kellerman played Houlihan in the film version.

Lieutenant Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delaney), “China Beach”Nurse Colleen McMurphy

Growing up with five brothers primed Lt. Colleen McMurphy for the boys club that was serving in the Vietnam War, however her background as a Kennedy-era Camelot Catholic from Kansas also made the atrocities of war a rude awakening. Delaney won two Emmys for her portrayal of McMurphy, a composite based on several real-life Vietnam War nurses who displayed everything that noncombatant personnel face, and the unending grace and courage they must display.

Carol Hathaway (Juliana Margulies), “ER”

Nurse Manager Hathaway once told an arrogant surgeon, “… if you would step off your pedestal maybe you would realize it’s the nurses that make this place run and not you.” Bam! We’d also be remiss not to mention two other incredible “ER” nurses: Sam Taggart (Linda Cardellini) and Abby Lockhart (Maura Tierney).

Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco), “Nurse Jackie”Nurse Jackie

Nurse Jackie is a fan-favorite with, um, other habits besides great patient care … But, while Jackie’s personal life may be a mess of pills and infidelity, she’s devoted to providing great patient care in the ER. While the character has been criticized for her violation of nursing’s code of ethics, she also showcases how deftly nurses navigate chaos and juggle everything on their plates.

Helen Rosenthal (Christina Pickles), “St. Elsewhere”

Embodying the popular trope of the blunt, no-nonsense Head Nurse, Helen Rosenthal kept things afloat through various crises — from staffing shortages to a chronically whack computer system. She famously called doctors by their first names, was married four times, and, after a breast cancer diagnosis and dramatic accompanying storyline, Rosenthal had a mastectomy, which was TV first in its time.

Julia Baker (Diahann Carroll), “Julia”Nurse Julia

Premiering in the late 1960s, Julia centered on a young, widowed, single mother and nurse. After losing her husband to the Vietnam War, Julia works to maintain her career and raise her son, Corey. While not without some critical derision, the show is credited as the first weekly series in which an African American lead female character was portrayed in a non-stereotypical role.

Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones), “Parks and Recreation”

It’s hard to think of her without hearing Rob Lowe perkily and incessantly repeat her full name. Nurse Ann Perkins acts as an excellent comedic straight (wo)man to best friend Leslie Knope. From Galentine’s Day to “ovaries before brovaries” and beyond, the duo’s sweet, hilarious, best friendship is everything.

Honorable Mentions: Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith in “Hawthorne”), (Mercy), Kitty Forman (“That ‘70s Show)”, Dell Parker (“Private Practice”), Rory Williams (“Doctor Who”)

So, what do you think about our choices for the 10 Best TV Nurses? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.

08.28.14
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e-Tool Launched

In conjunction with President Obama’s address to the American Legion’s 96th convention, the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), on Aug. 26 announced the launch of an interactive, web-based post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) toolkit to help civilian registered nurses (RNs) better assess and treat PTSD in the nation’s veterans and military service members.

The Foundation’s PTSD toolkit was highlighted in a White House fact sheet, issued as part of the event, as an innovative way to address veterans’ mental health.

“We are committed to ensuring nurses have the tools they need to be as effective as possible,” said ANF Chair Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN. “Nurses can play a far greater role in helping address major, national health issues, such as PTSD, among our nation’s veterans and service members.”

The PTSD Toolkit for Nurses is available at www.nurseptsdtoolkit.org.

PTSD is a cluster of symptoms that occur when a person experiences or witnesses a threat of injury or death. It is estimated that half a million veterans and military service members suffer the disabling agitation, nightmares and emotional withdrawal that characterize this disorder.

To improve nurse competency in screening and intervening with PTSD in military members, in June of 2013, ANF made an $85,000 grant to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) to develop the toolkit. Penn Nursing’s Nancy Hanrahan, PhD, RN, FAAN, led the project at the university. The grant was made possible by funding from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.

“Nurses often represent the first point of contact for veterans and military personnel seeking care. We want them to have tools to help veterans find the help they need to transition back to civilian life,” Hanrahan said. “The PTSD toolkit’s care interventions maximize the potential for self-care management and help move veterans to providers and programs that can help them. PTSD can be treated and cured. Failed transitions from military life to civilian life are unacceptable outcomes.”

The toolkit, an interactive, PTSD-focused website and an e-learning module, is based on advanced gaming techniques that will provide immediate access to materials for RNs to assess, treat and refer military members and veterans for help with their symptoms. These e-learning tools will certify that an RN is grounded in assessment, treatment, referral and non-stigmatizing educational approaches to self-care and mutual help.

Joining Forces is a national initiative to engage all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned, led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. In 2012, ANA, in coordination with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, convened a coordinated effort of more than 160 state and national nursing organizations and more than 500 nursing schools to ensure our nation’s 3.1 million nurses can better meet the unique health needs of service members, veterans and their families. ANF has prioritized support of the ANA Joining Forces initiative as a key component to its mission of “transforming the nation’s health through the power of nursing.”

Next, ANF will distribute the toolkit nationally via nursing publications, websites and through emails and newsletters of nursing associations and schools.

For more information about ANF, visit www.givetonursing.org.

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About the American Nurses Foundation. The American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. The Foundation supports programs that transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing.

 

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. The University of Pennsylvania was the first Ivy League school to offer baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing and currently is the only Ivy League school to offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Penn Nursing, a world-recognized leader in advancing nursing education, prepares students for trends in nursing and interdisciplinary care by offering a number of excellent resources and experiences not found at most other schools including: a state-of-the-art simulation center featuring high-fidelity mannequins, student research opportunities across all levels of scholarship, one of the first PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – practices owned and operated by a School of Nursing, classrooms with the latest hospital-based electronic medical records (EMR) technology, and rigorous clinical experiences with prestigious hospital partners, including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, two of the nation’s top-ranked facilities. Penn Nursing’s faculty include some of the top researchers in the world who collectively rank near the top of all schools of nursing receiving federal funding. Research produced here at the School of Nursing is nationally and internationally recognized, helps to inform public health policy, and is consistently published in a wide range of high-impact, interdisciplinary journals.