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Coming Up on Nurse Talk: Dropping Acid. Vital Signs. Robin Hood.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:32:31 +0000

Coming Up on Nurse Talk

Alison Whitaker in Vital Signs

Casey and Shayne check in with RN and playwright RN Alison Whitaker. Some of you may remember Alison was on the show last year introducing her one-woman play called, Vital Signs. It’s a great show and she opens in June at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco. And if you are paying attention you can win two VIP tickets to Vital Signs simply by emailing us at pattie@nursetalksite.com or calling 800-977-1863.

And we talk with one of our favorite guests RN and Co-President of National Nurses United, Jean Ross. Jean will tell us about the upcoming Nurses Assembly in Chicago next week where over 1200 nurses will gather to talk about everything from healthcare to Medicare and beyond. The nurses will also hit the streets of Chicago in a peaceful demonstration to promote a Wall Street Transaction Tax. Check out this Bill Moyers (PBS) interview with National Nurses United Executive Director Rose Ann Demoro as she talks about the “Robin Hood” tax. Peeps—no matter what your political persuasion—it makes sense!

And then..for you 60’s hippies…let’s talk about Dropping Acid! That’s right…but of course, not the kind you think. Dr. Jamie Koufman will be with us to talk about acid reflux and what you can do to control or cure it by simply changing your diet. Dr. Koufman has written a book called Dropping Acid, The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure. According to the book, acid reflux affects 30-50% of the population. You won’t want to miss this.

And of course, the Golden Bed Pan Award, In My Day with Lynn Ruth Miller, Phobia of the Week and more…not sure how much more…but more!

Check out our new strategic partner, iTriage

We recently found the coolest app we’ve ever seen or heard about! We all know what triage means, Nurse Talk brings you iTriage. iTriage was founded in 2008 by two emergency medicine physicians to empower people to make better healthcare decisions, and improve healthcare delivery. You can now use the online tool all over the world on the web at nursetalksite.com/itriage or on your smart phone to enter symptoms or diseases and get recommendations for treatment and locate the nearest treatment center. You can even find out what the wait times are in emergency situations. It is so user-friendly—even I can use it!

“iTriage is simply the best, most comprehensive medical mobile app around. It is so user-friendly and thorough we are recommending it to all of our Nurse Talk listeners and callers. iTriage truly opens a window to wellness for millions and the best part…it goes where you go! Paris, London, New York, Pocatello and beyond.”

–Casey Hobbs and Shayne Mason
RN Co-Hosts for Nurse Talk Radio

CHECK OUT THE NURSE TALK BLOG! We have some amazing bloggers and topics and it changes everyday.

Now go out there and make someone laugh!

Remember, you can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Like Pulling Teeth. Hospital Closures. Organ Donors. Love Letters.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:55:59 +0000

Shayne and Casey have some fun with the story about the dentist who pulled all of her ex-boyfriend’s teeth! At least as much fun as you can have over such a tragic loss. Dumping a girlfriend is never easy but having all 32 teeth pulled out by her is the worst that could happen to anybody. Listen and find out just how this happened. There is a moral to the story too. A fairly obvious one at that.

Nurses from the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United deliver a letter of protest to George Bischalaney, President & CEO of Eden Medical Center

We also visit with San Leandro Hospital RN Carol Barazi about Sutter Corp’s announcement to close yet another hospital in the Bay Area—this time in San Leandro—which serves the East Bay. Of the 27,000 patients seen in the San Leandro emergency room last year, more than 60 percent came from East Oakland, patients who will now need to drive many miles over crowded freeways for care. In news reports, a registered nurse from Highland Hospital in Oakland, who lives in San Leandro said, “I’m hearing from Sutter that they think it’s okay to close San Leandro, because they can send the patients to Highland. I’m here to tell you that we have a 50-bed ER and we are full.” Again—closure of a hospital that serves the “underserved.”

Add your donor status to your Facebook page

Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerburg win the Golden Bed Pan Award for starting the majorly successful organ donor project. More than 100,000 new organ donors signed up during the course of a week. Congratulations and great work!

Ever wonder whats behind the old face? Angil Tarach-Ritchey RN, and national expert in senior care provides us with an insightful look at the lives of the aging. With over 30 years experience in senior care and advocacy Angil passionately talks about her elder advocacy project and book, Behind The Old Face. Angil is a frequent blogger on the Nurse Talk website and comes to Nurse Talk by way of our friends at Nurse Together.

Next week, dropping acid! Yip…that’s what we said. 35 million Americans now have Asthma—but how many are really suffering from acid reflux? Pioneering laryngologist says that “silent reflux” is often the actual cause of many upper respiratory disorders—leading to frequent misdiagnosis…check it out!

What Makes Things Funny? Social Security Trust Fund. Vinegar.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:36:01 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for our new co-host, Shayne Mason.

Let’s give a warm welcome to our new co-host RN Shayne Mason. We are so glad to have him with us and just to show our appreciation we had all kinds of studio chaos waiting for him. Three in-studio guests, advice from our retired co-host Maggie McDermott, technical difficulties and more. Shayne took it like a pro! Not to mention he brings to the show a wealth of medical expertise and, of course, a grand sense of humor.

Shayne holds an RN, BRN, NP, is an instructor at USF (University of San Francisco) and a psych nurse at a clinic in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. That psych background will come in handy!

Terri Tate

On the show this week is RN, humorist, author Terri Tate. What makes all the wrong things funny? Terri Tate will tell you. Terri claims that humor saved her life. Most people wouldn’t find two bouts of disfiguring oral cancer, 30 plus hours of surgery, 7 weeks of radiation, endless complications and a 2% chance of survival all that funny. Terri wasn’t laughing the whole time but claims that her sense of humor never completely deserted her. Nineteen years after treatment—alive and laughing, Terri talks about her remarkable path and her new book, As Is.

Cameron Harris

Wiz kid Cameron Harris is stops by for a visit. Some of you may remember Cameron, at the ripe old age of sixteen, started a podcast company (Harwood Podcast Network) that now boasts over 900 different shows. The line up includes IN RANGE Cameron’s show with his advice about how to live a healthy active life with Type 1 Diabetes. Cameron himself was diagnosed at the age of eight.

Also with us is D.C. Correspondent and National Nurses United Legislative Advocate Donna Smith. Donna gives a great answer to the question–why don’t we see the following headlines in the media?

NNU's Donna Smith

“For Profit Healthcare Poses Threat to Medicare, Federal Deficit, and Overall Economy in Coming Decades”
“Social Security Trust Fund Even Larger Than It Was Last Year”
“Growing Wealth Inequity Will Lead to Social Security Imbalance Later This Century”

And of course…Lynn Ruth Miller talks about her mother’s use of vinegar in her award winning segment, In My Day. Casey and Shayne take some email questions, and at the end of the show Casey takes Shayne’s blood pressure to see if he is stable! Viola….he’s still alive!

Now you can advertise your business with Nurse Talk for as little as $500 for six months! Unbeatable we say.
If you want to spend more..that’s o.k too. Contact pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Have you heard about the iTriage Thank a Nurse Contest? Would you like to thank a nurse for the impact he or she has made on your life? Visit the iTriage Facebook page to make a nomination.

Check out our new strategic partner, iTriage

Upload a picture of a nurse you’d like to thank with a story describing why he or she deserves to be recognized. The winning nurse and nominator will both win a $75 Massage Envy gift card and a $100 Scrubs & Beyond gift card for the winning nurse. Go to www.facebook.com/iTriage.

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

We dedicate this show to Casey’s father Robert S. Hobbs who passed away April 25, 2012.

Stay Tuned for our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Nurse Talk — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:28:29 +0000

Dear Friends and Family,

Due to the grave illness of host Casey’s father we were unable to tape our show this week. Please hang with us while we give you one more rerun. We thank and appreciate each and every one of our listeners, friends sponsors and others for making Nurse Talk possible.

Nurse Talk joined the team Walk or Grow Wings last Saturday in Santa Rosa, California to walk for a cure for MS. Inspired by the people in our lives with Multiple Sclerosis, the team raised over $9000 under the enthusiastic and able leadership of Karen Krueger. Thank you to everyone who donated, walked or volunteered. If you are so moved, you can still donate.

Sweetheart of the Nurse Talk staff, Austyn Leigh with team captain Karen Krueger

We have lots of great topics and discussions going on on our blog and Facebook pages. Stroke patient, Joyce Hoffman has been telling it like it is from the patient’s perspective. Do you know how your patients see you or what a lasting difference your care can make? And, we’ve got current events from National Nurses United. Nurses, Robin Hood and the band of merry women and men, and scores of friends are strapping on their boots and preparing to head to Chicago for a protest Friday, May 18 during the Staff Nurse Assembly.

WE WILL be back next week with current issues, our fantastic new co-host Shayne Mason, and some wild and crazy entertainment. In the meantime enjoy our resident comedian Lynn Ruth Miller as she wows the judges (all but one) on Britain’s Got Talent.

Karen Higgins, RN

ON this week’s Best of Nurse Talk Casey and Dan chat with Boston RN Karen Higgins. Karen is past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United. Karen shares her views on the continuing need for single payer health care in our country, the urgency regarding nurse-patient ratios and other important issues that affect all of us.

Kira Reginato

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Rewind…But It’s a Good One. Scripting and Rounding, Medical Tourism…and Baking Soda, a Curative from Back “In My Day”

Nurse Talk — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:15:24 +0000

WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW CO-HOST RN SHAYNE MASON.

This week we have a REWIND for you…but it’s a good one! If you missed Phyllis Katz talk about her hip surgery in India, or DeAnn McEwen’s impassioned description of scripting and rounding…check this out. Or listen again. You know it was good!

This week on our lovely “sheeew”—we talk about a customer service practice that is now being used in the healthcare field. It’s called scripting and rounding. In the corporate world scripting and rounding has been part of the customer service model for giants like Disney, major fast food chains and many five star hotels. Now—healthcare? What’s scripting and rounding all about? RN DeAnn McEwen gives us a “spirited” overview!

Author and Medical Tourist Phyllis Katz

Stay tuned for this story—you won’t want to miss Phyllis Katz. Like any skilled improviser, when longtime performer and director with the famed Groundlings comedy troupe was faced with her insurance company being unwilling to pay six figures to fix her two hips, she improvised. Good-bye, Los Angeles. Hello New Delhi. Phyllis is here to talk with us about her wonderful new book, Hipwrecked, My Health Insurance Sucked so I Went to India for Surgery.

And if you haven’t heard the our new segment “In My Day” with comedian Lynn Ruth Miller–you need to. This week Lynn Ruth talks about a favorite all-purpose remedy her mother used: baking soda. Told only as Lynn Ruth could—it definitely harkens memories from the old days!

Coming up…Hayward, California Kaiser closing pediatric unit? Parents say, not on their watch! And they are watching…

The inpatient unit — which is set for closure in 2014 — helps more than 1,000 families a year.

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am local time in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out theiHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Auditions. Knees. D.C. Kildare.

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:28:33 +0000

Coming up Casey and crew rotate different co-host finalists through the show. Talk about being thrown into the fire! They were all champions and we thank each and everyone who auditioned or sent in their letter of interest. Next week we will introduce you all to our newly selected co-host.

Anna Deavere Smith

We do manage to talk to our friend Donna Smith about the recent Supreme Court healthcare hearings, the upcoming May 18th Staff Nurse Assembly in Chicago (get ready to rumble) lets see—dancing in the streets, flash mobs and of course some serious business as well.

A big highlight of the conference is Anna Deavere Smith. Ms. Smith, called by Newsweek “the most exciting individual in American theater” will be performing a new stage monologue (as only she can) called, Tell Me Where It Hurts, Stories from the Front Lines of Nursing.

AND…the KNEES have it! Does anybody out there (not you twenty or thirty-somethings) escape the popular conversation of bad knees? It may be our age (o.k. mine) but everyone around us either has a knee injury, has had a knee surgery or replacement or is thinking about it just for the hell of it! Well, we thought we would call in an expert.

Photo credit: Lesli Lundgren

Dr. Lesley Anderson joins us to talk about the number one cause of knee problems, the treatments and how they have advanced and a “fresh blood platelet” treatment that is used very successfully on shoulders and knees. “I’ll have a chef’s salad and some of those “fresh blood platelets.” Check it out.

Have you heard about the iTriage Thank a Nurse Contest? Would you like to thank a nurse for the impact he or she has made on your life? Visit the iTriage Facebook page to make a nomination.

Check out our new strategic partner, iTriage

Stay with us throughout the spring because some of our favorite guests will be back. RN Marsha Podd, aka the Baby Whisperer will join us, RN and humorist Terri Tate joins us in the studio for a look at what makes things funny. We’ll hear from The Yoga Nurse, a late in life poet, and much more.

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 a.m. in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Goodbye. Unfortunate. iTriage. Baby Love. R&R.

Pattie Lockard — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:03:58 +0000

Dan "the man" Grady, nurse extraordinaire and co-host emeritus

Coming up…our farewell to Dan…takes us on a walk down memory lane. Old favorites including the bits we did called “Is Anybody Out There Laughing” and “What Song Best Describes Your Nurse.” We share the story about Dan’s battle with racoons in his garage and some other silliness. Dan is leaving us to “spend more time with his family.” That has a familiar ring to it…but in his case it’s true. He is the busy father of three girls, two of whom are under 10 years old. Bravo to you Dan for being such a great dad.

More on the decline (evaporation) of mental health services. We are joined by RN and Vice President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Karen Coughlin. Karen works at Taunton State Hospital which is on the chopping block. Closure would mean no place for the 147 patients they now serve, and no short-term mental health facility within a 150 miles for the community. This, unfortunately, is happening all across the country.

AND… The coolest APP we’ve ever seen or heard about! We all know what triage means, welcome to iTriage. Without giving too much away…simply put, you can download iTriage and use it all over the world. Everyone is familiar with WebMD, (a great site), iTriage helps identify symptoms, tells you where the nearest ER or specialist is, what the wait times are in emergency situations– and is so user friendly—I can even use it! Check it out at www.itriagehealth.com.

RN Marsha Podd

Oh… and one of our favorite guests, RN Marsha Podd, aka the Baby Whisperer, weighs in on the latest controversial mommy gaffe—chewing food for your baby. Yes? No? Marsha say’s “God love moms…it’s a tough job!”

Stay with us as we announce and break or break in our new Nurse Talk co-host!

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am local time in both Boston and San Francisco. Find us in San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com and in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream atwww.revolutionboston.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

P.S. Remember to take advantage of R&R for RN’s on the Mendocino Coast. Check it out and don’t wait…special discounts for nurses (RNs, LPNs and EMTs) only good through April!

Coming up on Nurse Talk This Week…Shoulders. Expectations. Mental Health. More…

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:02:34 +0000

How is it possible that 50% of the Nurse Talk staff is “suffering” from shoulder injuries? Well…let’s break that down. It might not be as shocking as it sounds, as there are only four of us to start with (at least in the studio) so realistically there are two professionals down for the count. Dan with bursitis and June—well she says she fell while chasing her cat. Whatever the circumstances, they hurt. Of course, we had to look into this a little further than just the pain, so we found whack job Clarissa Doolittle (on-line) “Body Part” Intuitive. Clarissa brings to the show her advice about what shoulder pain really means. Could it be burden??? She thinks they both need therapy—and not on their shoulders.

AND Casey and Dan talk with RN Greg Montes. Greg has been an RN at the Contra Costa County (Northern California) jail for the past five years. He cites an alarming trend. With more and more cuts in mental health services throughout the country—millions of Americans are going untreated. It is commonplace for the severely ill who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to enter the criminal justice system rather than mental health treatment facilities. In fact the number of Americans who receive mental health care in prisons and county jails has surpassed the number of those who receive services in hospitals or clinics. Despite these numbers, government leaders and the mental health systems are doing little to reverse this shameful trend.

Hal Isen, MFA, CHT

And later we have a big treat in store for our listeners. How would you like to experience life as an ongoing, creative, unfolding “work of art? It is with great pleasure we introduce Hal Isen. For over 40 years, Hal has been providing programs, courses and life coaching for individuals, groups and organizations in the areas of personal transformation. Hal’s Core Wisdom® programs (offered through Hal Isen & Associates) provide fundamental spiritual principles and practices that allow for the release of past limiting conditioning, fears, behaviors, and beliefs, and the discovery and recovery of one’s ability to respond naturally and creatively to each moment from one’s true nature. AND…if this all seems like a paragraph of “pretty words”…well, listen to the show as Hal simplifies it all. Listen and we promise you will get some great insight. Ever thought of what “expectations” might be taking away from being present to the moment? Check it out. Hal Isen and Core Wisdom at www.corewisdom.com.

Check out our new strategic partner, iTriage, empowering people to make better healthcare decisions.

Are you a spicy nurse? Do you have something to say about the profession? We never met a strong opinion we didn’t like, or argue with. Nurse Talk is looking for nurse blog contributors. Contact tonia@nursetalksite.com.

We’ll Say it Again: Its About the RN-to-Patient Ratio and Stopping Child Abuse Never Goes Out of Style

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Please enjoy this Best of…as Casey and Dan, the nurses usually on duty, celebrate spring break in Mexico with all the college students!

Not really, but we thought it was a good visual. Join us next week for all new shows!

On the Show This Week

Nurses keep up the fight for RN to patient ratios…and we should all be very glad they do! We check in with our friends in Massachusetts who are working on safe staffing legislation. Casey and Dan visit with RN and president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Donna Kelly Williams.

Donna discusses how critically important nurse staffing legislation has become especially with the increase of for-profit hospitals. It’s “deplorable and patients are at greater risk every single day,” says Williams.

“When for profits are looking to increase profits they look for cuts in front line nurses at bedside…It doesn’t make sense for anyone with any sense of morality at all.”

Based on scientific studies, the MNA advocates for a ratio 4-5 patients per nurse on medical surgical units. Donna also talks about the MNA’s endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, who supports safe staffing ratios on a national level.

Stopping Child Abuse: Expert says compassion is key.Have you ever witnessed a parent or guardian verbally or physically abuse
a child in a public setting? Did you walk away because you didn’t know what to do…or did you intervene? Find out what our expert has to say about what you should do. Cyndy Doherty, executive director of Marin Advocates for Children joins Casey and Dan to talk about what her organization is doing to help stop this epidemic. You won’t want to miss her advice and insights.

Author Joyce Hoffman

New on the Blog this Week

At age 61 Joyce Hoffman was a sr. technical trainer at one of Philadelphia’s largest law firms. One morning she woke up the victim of a stroke. Follow Joyce’s, Tales of a Stroke Patient, a new weekly column on the blog about coming to terms with being disabled and overcoming the obstacles. This week Joyce discusses the intersection of depression and stroke in Gruesome Depression, Did I or Didn’t I? Do I or Don’t I?. If you can’t wait for more, you can visit her site too.

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Note our NEW TIME AND DAY in San Francisco. You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am local time in both Boston and San Francisco. Find us in San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com and in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

R&R for RNs: win FREE 2-night stay on the beautiful Mendocino Coast sponsored by the Redwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

A Beautiful Song. Facts about Alzheimer’s. The Island of Bursitis. Really?

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:49:20 +0000

Lynn Ruth Co-hosts this week

Welcome to Nurse Talk, where laughter is the best medicine. Dan is on the Island of Bursitis this week so our resident funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller sits in for him. Given our discussion about some pretty serious topics, Lynn Ruth finds a way to bring her compassion and humor to the table.

AND she’s back. Our friend and D.C. correspondent Donna Smith is with us. No one can articulate the D.C. health care news like Donna. She makes sense where there is no sense to be had. Ever wonder when you might hear about single payer health care again—good , bad or indifferent? How about Social Security and Medicare? Education? Listen this week for an update.

Later we talk with Canadian musician singer/songwriter Brian Asselin. When a family member of Brian’s was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s—Brian wanted to make a contribution to help others going through the same thing. He did what he knows best—wrote a song to pay tribute. Listen to I Will Remind You.

And we have with us Bill Fisher. Mr. Fisher is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada, since 1987. Like many involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, Mr. Fisher has a personal involvement with dementia, having lost both his grandmother and mother-in-law to Alzheimer’s.

Here are some quick facts about Alzheimer’s:

5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012.

And on a little lighter note—we have the Golden Bed Pan Award, IN MY DAY with Lynn Ruth Miller, Phobia of the Week and some email questions!

WHO IS KELLY CASSIDY? She gets this weeks Golden Bed Pan Award. So what charitable act or cause has she engaged in? Hmmm. Who is Kelly Cassidy?
Find out.

Winner of this week's Golden Bedpan Award, Illinois legislator Kelly Cassidy, with her 3 sons.

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am local time in both Boston and San Francisco. Find us in San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com and in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

R&R for RNs: win FREE 2-night stay on the beautiful Mendocino Coast sponsored by the Redwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

Singing. Heroes. Money. Occupy.

Nurse Talk — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:24:31 +0000

You Nurse Talk hosts, Dan Grady and Casey Hobbs

Coming Up On Nurse Talk…oh my…Casey is trying her very best to be still but this “women” bashing thing has got to go. In order to keep Casey civil—Dan recommends they sing a song—that reflects these nasty little current events. Sing they do and the emails start rolling in. Ahhh, some agreement…yes? No! Here are just a few:

“Don’t ever sing again!”
“I had to turn the radio off!”
“I can’t tell Dan from Casey!”
“Stick to your day jobs!”

O.K folks we get the message.

Casey and Dan talk with the distinguished Doug Connor. Doug grew up in a conservative Republican family. He is a nurse, a veteran of the Iraq War, a union member, and a passionate supporter of the Occupy movement. Doug returned from the war in 2006, disillusioned by the unnecessary deaths and organizations profiting on the destruction that surrounded him as a nurse treating victims of war. Upon his return, he was looking for change. He supported Barack Obama because, he says, “…just saying the word ‘change’ was enough for me. That’s what I (was) looking for; change, hope.” But by 2011, failures to improve the economy and involvement with his nurses union took him down a different path. Connor came face to face with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

You won’t want to miss Doug’s story

AND LATER…Craig Preston from the California Clean Money Campaign. A few weeks ago we talked with California One Care’s Executive Director Andrew McGuire. Cal One Care is committed to single payer health care for all Californians. Craig Preston from California Clean Money Campaign also supports a single payer healthcare system but says we have to get the money out of politics first.

The California Clean Money Campaign is sponsoring AB 1648, the California DISCLOSE Act

THIS week...the segment you have all been waiting for...Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller's In My Day. It's a jewel!

AND LYNN RUTH MILLER IS BACK with “In My Day” stories, remedies and reflections from the past. For more information on this and many more hot topics go to the Nurse Talk Blog.

Don’t forget to play nice with others!

Hipwrecked. Scripting and Rounding. Baking Soda.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:38:34 +0000

Welcome to Nurse Talk where laughter is the best medicine! This week on our lovely “sheeew”—we talk about a customer service practice that is now being used in the healthcare field. It’s called scripting and rounding. In the corporate world scripting and rounding has been part of the customer service model for giants like Disney, major fast food chains and many five star hotels. Now—healthcare? Could this lead to the question, “Mrs. Smith would you like fries with your medication?” Or how about—“Here’s the key to the mini-bar and if you prefer you can go to the nurses station for your ice and extra towels.” What’s scripting and rounding all about? RN DeAnn McEwen gives us a “spirited” overview!

Stay tuned for this story—you won’t want to miss Phyllis Katz. Like any skilled improviser, when longtime performer and director with the famed Groundlings comedy troupe was faced with her insurance company being unwilling to pay six figures to fix her two hips, she improvised. Good-bye, Los Angeles. Hello New Delhi. Phyllis is here to talk with us about her wonderful new book Hipwrecked, My Health Insurance Sucked so I Went to India for Surgery.

A proud member of the middle class, in this wild story of courage and humor in the face of culture shock, she chronicles her sudden, improbable trip to India for medical treatment. Hipwrecked is an adventure (told partly through e-mails while highly medicated) born of the unfortunate yet laughable inadequacies of modern medical insurance—and a celebration of the joyful strength of the human spirit.

And if you haven’t heard the our new segment “In My Day” with comedian Lynn Ruth Miller--you need to. This week Lynn Ruth talks about a favorite all-purpose remedy her mother used: baking soda. Told only as Lynn Ruth could—it definitely harkens memories from the old days!

Nurse Talk is searching for the perfect co-host. That’s right—Dan is retiring, but will be with us for special segments. In the meantime Casey needs a great sidekick. Looking for a nurse with great communication skills, a sense of humor a must, and a willingness to commit to our ever-growing show. For more information send an email to cohost@nursetalksite.com. Please include a statement about why you are interested and attach a resume.

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturdays at 11 am local time in both Boston and San Francisco. Find us in San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com and in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

All-Woman Senate Panel Moves to Ban Viagra. National Nurses. Single Payer in California. Lotsa Laughs

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:12:46 +0000

Welcome to Nurse Talk where laughter is the best medicine—I’m Casey Hobbs.”
“And I’m Dan Grady…and we are just two of the thousands of nurses on duty today.”

And so it begins…

“Dan as you know, we try to shy away from controversy but sometimes a gal just has to speak up. I must comment on the recent congressional hearings on contraception. First of all—I thought that train left the station in the 70’s! And can we talk? The expert panel assembled consisted of all males! “Where’s The Beef?” as our old friend Clara Peller used to say in the famous Wendy’s commercial. Without going into further detail, we wondered what it would be like—if the shoe were on the other foot—so to speak. You know, the deck being stacked to fall the other way?”

House hearing on the Obama administration’s contraception rule — with an all-male panel testifying before a largely male committee. Say what?

AS LUCK would have it—a little research provided us with the perfect opportunity to share just that kind of breaking news. Listen this Saturday as California State Senator Janelle Jones introduces groundbreaking legislation (Senate Bill SB 1240) that moves to criminalize the very dangerous Viagra. That’s right—Viagra. The all-woman senate panel that drafted this bill says there is mountains of evidence that Viagra should be banned! Don’t miss Senator Jones on Nurse Talk!

National Nurses United Co-President, RN Deborah Burger

AND..we have an update on the very active nurses from National Nurses United. Deborah Burger always brings life and humanity to the critical healthcare issues in our country.

We’ll check in with our friend Andrew McGuire. Andrew is the Executive Director of California One Care. Cal One Care envisions a health care system where every child and every adult receives the health care they need, when they need it, and at a cost that is affordable. We align fully with that vision and we’ll check in with Andrew about the campaign and let our listeners know how they can get involved.

AND OF course where would we be with out a little laughter? We’ll have another edition of “In My Day” with comedian Lynn Ruth Miller, Golden Bed Pan Award, Phobia of the Week and some email questions and calls.

Be On Nurse Talk…We are looking for the following: Grandparents raising grandchildren, children taking care of their elderly parents, people who have actually gotten loan modifications from lenders, good nurse stories, good hospital stories. Call and leave your story or information at 1.800-977-1863 @questions for the nurses.

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Our Hero Barbara. Other Side of the Pond. The Teen Doctor. Nurse Yoga.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:52:21 +0000

Author, Inspiration, Barbara Taylor Vaughan

For those of you who care to venture to our website blog—I encourage you to read the entries written by Barbara Taylor Vaughan. Barbara is 89 and in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s. She started a Facebook page to help chronicle her illness and put a face on Alzheimer’s. Barbara hopes educating others will inspire them to volunteer to help ease the suffering of those with the disease, families, caregivers. Her relationship with her daughter and caregiver, Missy, and her compassion and humor are inspirational. You can subscribe to her on Facebook where she has opened her page to offering advice to your questions about life and living with Alzheimer’s “from a little old lady.”

Check our Barbara’s latest entry Giggling and Watching the River | Alzheimer’s in The First Person . In Barbara’s words:

“Well, I want to tell you, it has been a strange strange day. There is nothing so strange as making all your funeral arrangements and talking about your own death. I hear all these commercials on TV about how you should make your arrangements to spare your family in the future. Wow, it is very very strange to really do it. I dont know what was worse, making my arrangements, or listening to Missy [my daughter] make hers. We have talked with attorneys and funeral home people”. [read more]

Join Casey and Dan—just two of the thousands of nurses on duty—every Saturday at 11am on 960 KNEW AM San Francisco Bay Area and Revolution Boston 1510 AM.

This week we rewind a good one for you.

GREETINGS dear Nurse Talk friends and listeners. While we were away patching cracks in the arctic glaciers—our producer dusted off a great show to share with you…or shall we say…re-share?

Great information: RN Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United, is a frequent guest on Nurse Talk. On this show she updates us on recent U.S. rallies organized by nurses to support their counterparts in Great Britain. On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, over two million British workers joined the biggest strike in the United Kingdom in a generation. National Nurses United organized six rallies in cities around the U.S. in a show of support.

Then, Dr. Barbara Greenberg, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of teens and families. She writes a regular column “The Teen Doctor” in Psychology Today. We’ll talk to her about her new book, Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent’s Guide to Becoming Bilingual. Oh, that is good!

RN Annette Tersigni, The Yoga Nurse

And, a segment every nurse needs, brought to you in partnership with Nurse Together.com, Annette Tersigni RN, The Yoga Nurse, and founder of Yoga Nursing. Annette is a contributor to our Nurse Talk blog and has some great ideas for how the restorative principles of yoga can fight stress and “empower you to continue to serve as the nurse hero that you are.”

You can listen every week on Saturdays at 11 am in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. This is a NEW TIME in the SF Bay Area. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

And remember, laughter is the best medicine!

Lower Blood Pressure. Laughing Your Way Through a Conference. Critical Care.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:18:49 +0000

THIS week...the segment you have all been waiting for...Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller's In My Day. It's a jewel!

Have you ever listened to a baby laugh? You know, the kind of laugh that is so contagious YOU start to laugh? Well, who knew laughing was so good for you! We thought we’d reminder ourselves and our listeners that laughter really is the best medicine. As more and more research is done, there are now many published studies that prove the positive mental and medical effects of laughter.

Studies show that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being. Now that’s an impressive list of accomplishments!

Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor's 25th Conference is Coming Up. Hurry! Early bird registration ends Feb 18th.

And if there’s anybody who knows the positive effects of humor (and music) it’s RN Deb Gauldin. Deb is the incoming president of The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor and has long practiced what she preaches. She is a professional humorist and entertainer specializing in health care morale and women’s well being. Deb joins Casey and Dan to talk about humor and the upcoming 25th annual conference where all they do is laugh and talk, and laugh and talk, and then laugh some more.

Why quit your job as an English professor to become an RN? Theresa Brown did. Before becoming a nurse, Theresa obtained a Ph.D in English from the University of Chicago and taught literature for three years. After being an RN for four years, she’s written a book called, Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life and Everything in Between. She’s also a contributor to The New York Times‘ Tara Pope’s health blog, Well. We’ll talk with Theresa about her career and her very interesting and poignant book.

“A must read for anyone who wants to understand health care. This extraordinary book will open your eyes to the reality of nursing. If you or your loved one ends up in the hospital, you’ll wish you had someone like Nurse Brown at your side.”

–Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent

And we share a recent interview (from our friends at Labour Radio) with RN Karen Higgins. Karen addresses questions about the proposed Financial Transaction Tax. .50 per $100 ? Wow, so little could raise billions of dollars for vital health care education and other services. Why is this so hard?
Check it out: http://www.nursetalksite.com/KarenHiggins-LabourRadio

And we’re gonna get all nursey on you because even the Nurse Talk Golden Bed Pan Award this week goes to a nurse. Courageous RN Allison Bates takes home the prize. You might remember her in last month’s news for donating a kidney to a patient.

Happy News: RN Allison Bates donates kidney to a patient

A big “hello” and “thank you” to all our listeners out there and a salute to all the nurses that make the world a better place!

You can listen every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or oniTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Patsy Cline. Sputnik. Beatnik. Boston. Compassion.

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:22:38 +0000

Ah…nothing sets the tone like a little music before all the talk. In radio they call that a “cold open”! Who knew? Here’s Casey and Dan…

“Of course that was the unmistakable voice of Patsy Cline the great country legend. That song came out in 1957 and like a good Cabernet—it just gets better with age. 1957…Dan…you weren’t even born then. I thought it might be fun to take a quick look at what was happening in 1957—here is what our crack research department found: The Space Age began by the launch of Sputnik I, interferon was discovered AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HAPPENED…”beatnik” entered the vernacular as a description of the emerging “Beat Generation” counterculture movements.”

And so starts another episode of Nurse Talk.

Nurses keep up the fight for RN to patient ratios…we should all be very glad they do! We thought we’d check in with our friends in Massachusetts who are working on legislation—so Casey and Dan visit with RN and president of Massachusetts Nurses Association, Donna Kelly Williams. Donna brings us up to speed on current issues—with a central focus on staffing ratios.

2nd Annual Marin Advocates for Children Heroes for Children Gala March 3, 2012. Cocktails, auctions and dinner benefit a great cause.

Expert says compassion is key. Have you ever witnessed a parent or guardian verbally or physically abuse a child in a public setting? Did you walk away because you didn’t know what to do…or did you intervene? Find out what our expert has to say about what you should do. Cyndy Doherty, executive director of Marin Advocates for Children joins Casey and Dan to talk about what her organization is doing to help and prevent this epidemic. You won’t want to miss her advice and insights.

AND—We’ll have some fun as we continue our look back at callers from the early days of Nurse Talk. Lucille Jones and her cross-country trip with her ill mother. Oh, she was priceless! You can find this and more at Nurse Talk’s Comedy Pharm.

AND take a sneak peek of our resident funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller‘s new segment,In My Day. It’s amazing she lived to tell about it!

You can listen every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream atwww.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

And, remember, laughter is the best medicine!

Presidential Hopefuls. Nursing Master’s. Frying in Fresno. What’s So Funny?

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:15:23 +0000

Dan and Casey say they have really made an effort to stay away from the presidential primary but sometimes it’s hard. Roll clips of two presidential hopefuls with one having more hope than the other! We’re just sayin’—one of these men might need to look into “anger management.” Just sayin’. Check it out…on the show this week.

AND we talk with Rob Horgan. Rob is a recruiter for the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions. “As nurses” Casey comments, “we just happen to think USF’s nursing program is among the best in the country.” Rob joins Casey and Dan in studio (true) to share about the Master of Nursing Program USF offers at their Santa Rosa, California campus. We just found out a few months ago they had a Santa Rosa, California campus. P.S. Rob, if you are out there, thanks for being such a good sport and boy, are you quick on your feet!

Check this out! We share a great video that is up on a site called ProtestINTheUSA.org. The video titled “A Nightmare On Wall Street” depicts an imagined encounter between a Wall Street banker and the victims of financial misdeed. Oh, the horror!

And as the assault on public healthcare workers continues—things are heating up in Fresno, California with major cuts proposed by that county’s Board of Supervisors. RN Mary Morrison joins us to talk about the proposed cuts and the potentially devastating impact on yet another community.

Available now on Amazon

And later we’ll visit with one of our favorite people RN, MSN, Karyn Buxman. Karyn has been on the show before. You might remember her as a great nurse and public speaker—as well as a humorist who really does employ humor in the healing process. Her mission: To improve global health through laughter and help heal the humor-impaired! She’s here this week to talk about her new book “What’s So Funny About Diabetes.”

MYTH: Popping your knuckles will give you arthritis? True or False? The answer is planted somewhere in the text of this blog post. Find out!

And remember you can listen and laugh every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can alsodownload and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

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Mary Ellen. South Chicago. Pizza Parlor. Multiple Sclerosis.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:20:52 +0000

Well, this week we continue with our little walk down memory lane. We’ll hear from a caller named Mary Ellen who by the end of the call was not very happy with us. She recently sent us an email telling us her legs still hurt and we are crackpots!
For more where this came from check out our Comedy Pharm at nursetalksite.com.

And we share with you “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?” our campaign to change the world with laughter one person at a time. We’ll share the exciting response of a cashier in a pizza parlor when he is asked, “Is anyone in your place laughing right now?”

RNs from Chicago's landslide vote to join National Nurses United

And joining Casey (Dan was excused to go to Chuck E. Cheese with seven 8-year olds) is RN Dorothy Ahmad. Dorothy is a CCU nurse at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. Recently registered nurses at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center on Chicago’s South Side voted by 85 percent to join National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union and professional association of RNs. The Jackson Park RNs voted 94 to 16 to join NNU. The secret ballot election was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. NNU will represent some 150 RNs at the hospital. “This is a victory for the nurses and the South Side of Chicago,” said one nurse.

Support Team Nurse Talk | Austyn's Allstars in the walk for a cure for MS.

Casey then visits with Jennifer Gainza, the communications director for the Northern California chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We asked Jennifer to come on the show and talk with us about MS, the signs the symptoms and current treatments. Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS- Multiple Sclerosis, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.5 million people.

We were recently prompted to inquire about Multiple Sclerosis when our Nurse Talk web producer Tonia McCallum’s 20-year-old niece Austyn was diagnosed. Nurse Talk is sponsoring her team for the 2012 Walk MS in Santa Rosa, Calif. funding research for a cure. You can donate to Team Nurse Talk | Austyn’s Allstars or join a walk or volunteer in your town this spring by contacting the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

And of course we’ve got the Golden Bed Pan Award—no hints on the winner but we do get a call from a female media mogul thanking us for the award. Hmmmm. There’s also the Phobia of the Week and some email questions.

You can listen every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

It’s all here on Nurse Talk where laughter is the best medicine.

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Honesty and Ethics. Heel. Toe. Blue Eyes.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:50:26 +0000

“Welcome to Nurse Talk where laughter is the best medicine. I’m Casey Hobbs.”

“And I’m Dan Grady and we are two of the thousands of nurses on duty today.”

And so the show begins.

Laughter is the best medicine. Check out Nurse Talk's Comedy Pharm Funny(?) calls, stories, outtakes and bloopers

Let’s take a little walk down memory lane and listen to some old stories we told when Nurse Talk was first on the air. We think they are at least amusing—funny? Well, that is in the eyes of the beholder! Not sure any of you remember RN and co-host Maggie McDermott. Maggie comes back to visit from time to time and she always has a story about a funeral she just attended or a “fender bender” that wasn’t her fault, or a souvenir from her latest trip to the Great Wall Of China, (where she, of course, most likely offended someone). Oh, we love our Maggie. You’ll hear she and Casey in the early days on this week’s show and you can check out more clips on our website at the Comedy Pharm.

Moving on—Lost for many observers in last month’s end-of-the-year hullabaloo was the annual Gallup Honesty and Ethics Survey which by a wide margin again ranked nursing as the most honest and ethical profession.The survey found that 84% of Americans believe that nurses have “very high” or “high” honesty and ethical standards. It marks the 11th straight year—and the 12th time in 13 years—that nursing led all professions in the survey. Gallup says the only time nurses haven’t topped the list since they were included in 1999 was in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks, when firefighters were No. 1.

RN and co-president of National Nurses United Karen Higgins is with us to talk more about the survey and what it means for the nurses, health care and social activism.

“We hold that trust as a sacred bond with our patients and our communities. Patients and their families expect nurses to fight for them at the bedside, even when it conflicts with the profit motive of far too many hospital managers, insurance companies, and others in the healthcare industry who put the bottom line above patient interest,” said Higgins in an article about the survey on the NNU web site.

Author, Joann Spears

AND we share a wonderful story from RN, writer JoAnn Spears. JoAnn has generously contributed some stunning blog posts about her life and career as a nurse. On a recent post she describes what she learned from a mute patient in a chronic psychiatric ward. She writes, “One night, I was working on charts at the nurses’ station when I felt eyes bearing down on me. Looking up, I found the patient with the blue eyes looking down at me. I asked him what he wanted, a rhetorical question with no answer expected.” We’ll talk more with JoAnn about her post, Behind Blue Eyes | A Life Lesson from a Patient.

And Casey and Dan get a few email questions that are…well…both about feet. Ever have an in grown toenail or a heel that hurts so bad you want to cry? All I can say is God love the people who have enough nerve to send in their questions! Remember—the nurses cannot prescribe, diagnose or treat and you should always consult your physician! Now that is something we NEVER leave out of the program.

You can listen every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember, laughter is the best medicine.

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A Personal Account of Alzheimer’s. Donna Smith with a Look Back on 2011. Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller Unplugged and Out of Control. Hiatal Hernias.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:16:55 +0000

Happy New Year from all of us at Nurse Talk…where laughter is the best medicine.

So much happened this past year: nurses joined the protests in Madison, Wisconsin; went on to the nation’s capitol to march outside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; hit Wall Street to demand a transaction tax—before Occupy even pitched a tent; announced the Main Street Contract; fought for RN-patient ratios; joined world leaders at the G-20 summit in Cannes; and 20,000 RNs staged a one-day walk-out against Sutter Health Corp. in Northern California…whew! And all the while spending 40+ hours a week caring for their patients. Not a surprise that for 1th straight year—and the 12th time in 13 years the Gallup Honesty and Ethics Survey again ranked nursing as the most honest and ethical profession by a wide margin.

Cheers to the nurses!

Barbara Taylor Vaughan with her daughter and caregiver, Melissa.

On the show this week…Casey reads from a blog post—a first hand account of what it is like to know you have Alzheimer’s written by 89 year old Barbara Taylor Vaughan, Putting A Face on Alzheimer’s. Barbara started a Facebook page to facilitate an open dialog about the disease. She hopes educating others will inspire them to volunteer to help ease the suffering of those with the disease, families and caregivers. Host Casey has also had first hand experience with Alzheimer’s and knows the heartbreak all too well. Her mother (who was an RN) died of Alzheimer’s in 2009.

AND…She has been hailed as the “Meryl Streep of nurse activism”, our great friend and D.C. correspondent Donna Smith adds color commentary and perspective to our 2011 year in review.

Lynn Ruth Miller

If there were a radio jail…we’d be in it! After comedian Lynn Ruth Miller gets together with Casey and Dan—there “is” no “is” left in “is”! Lynn Ruth makes some predictions for 2012 and that is where the mischief begins! For the record I did my best to intervene—as did our sound designer. The bleep button only goes so far.

Coming up in 2012—Nurse Talk Live…on stage! Yes, that is what we said. Cameras in the studio? Yes, that is what we said!

We want to hear from you—feedback, ideas about guests or topics. Pattie@nursetalksite.com. Check out our blog at or visit our Facebook page.

You can listen every week in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out the iHeartRadio app for free and live custom radio. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember, laughter is the best medicine.

REACH NURSES NATIONWIDE
Affordable advertisng packages available.
Great prices and coverage…Email Us.

Happy New Year!

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:29:51 +0000

Happy New Year. We wish you lots of laughter and renewal in 2012. We will do our best to contribute toward the tickling of your funny bone. Take on caring for yourselves as well as your patients. We liked a post by our Facebook friend, Nurses Interrupted with some ideas on how to make microchanges to help transform the workplace through transforming our relationships with one another:

Ask yourself this question before you go in for a shift: “When was the last time I put my hand on someone’s shoulder and told them thank you?” Its okay to nurse each other—it just takes a simple touch, making eye contact, a smile of reassurance—all those things take just a moment in time, but they have the power of changing your workplace…and your profession. You never know who might *really need* that reassuring human contact from a colleague…

On the show this week we replay of our interview with Dr. Connie Mariano who was nominated to the rank of Rear Admiral by President Bill Clinton and eventually served as the White House Physician for President Clinton and President George W. Bush. She has written a wonderful book called The White House Doctor, a riveting look into the personal lives of our presidents. Dr Mariano has also achieved an impressive list of “firsts” that include being:

the first military woman to become the White House Physician to the President,
the first woman Director of the White House Medical Unit, and
the first Filipino American in US history to become a Navy Rear Admiral!

The White House Doctor by Dr. Connie Mariano

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com. Our San Francisco Bay area station is the same, but with new call letters: we broadcast on Sundays at 2PM PST on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960KNEW.com. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

This Week: Bonus Podcast on Sutter California and Long Beach Memorial Walk-out and Best of Nurse Talk

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:53:20 +0000

This week we have a special bonus podcast with Sharon Tobin, RN and 23 year ICU veteran at SUTTER MILLS PENINSULA HOSPITAL talks with Nurse Talk about the upcoming one day walk-out at Sutter hospitals in California. What has happened to big hospitals? Sharon says Mills Peninsula in Burlingame was once a wonderful community hospital, is now a shadow of its former self. LISTEN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ONE DAY WALK-OUT AGAINST SUTTER SET FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.

Happy holidays to you all. We are rewinding one of our best this week while wield the hot glue gun with care to finish up our last-minute gifts. Plus, we think its important to keep asking, “Who’s Your Doctor’s Daddy?”

Our friend and Capitol Hill correspondent Donna Smith (legislative organizer for National Nurses United) says that while healthcare giants buying up hospitals is not new…now they’re also buying up the doctors. This in and of itself doesn’t seem too surprising…but Donna tells us the reasons all of it is disturbing, confusing and something everyone should know about. Do you know who owns the medical facility you have or will be treated in? Do you understand the paperwork you sign when you are admitted to a hospital or clinic? Check it out.

RN, MBA Patricia Raya and Corine Mogenis

AND we have powerhouse medical paralegal and co-author Corine Mogenis with us to talk about a new book she and partner RN, MBA Patricia Raya have written called Medical Tips from the Inside: Things You Need to Know. This book is a must have and includes topics such as, how and why you should get medical tests from your doctors, the patients bill of rights, having an advocate with you, what to do if you are diagnosed with a serious illness and much more. Corine steps up with vital information during her conversation with Casey and Dan.

Plus all the other craziness…news, Square Needle Award, Phobia of the Week, and email questions. What’s the difference between a head cold and a chest cold? It may seem obvious but…Listen in.

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

From Our House to Yours | Happy Holidays from Nurse Talk | Coming up on the Show | Dec 17-18, 2011

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:27:29 +0000

We wish you a warm and peaceful holiday with loved ones and friends (and maybe a cruise if you were good).

Separated at birth? Nancy Reagan and our resident funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller pictured with the legendary Mr. T as Santa.

We can’t thank you enough for your support of Nurse Talk. We’ve had all kinds of fun and visited with some amazing people. We covered the Madison, Wisconsin rallies, talked with nurses while they marched on Wall Street, Main Street and every street in between.

We laughed our way through some of the more serious times with COMEDIAN Lynn Ruth Miller; RN, MSN and humorist Karyn Buxman; RN, MSN Hob Osterlund, creator of the Chuckle Channel; and the singing RN Anesthetists, The Laryngospasms.

And then there were our attempts to laugh with people not at them (sort of) in our random acts of laughter segment we call, “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?”

We are all so very grateful for our listeners, supporters and friends. Especially National Nurses United and the Massachusetts Nurses Association for their partnership and for being fearless advocates for all of us.

To our friends at Nurse Together, all of our great bloggers and Facebook fans and finally to all who make Nurse Talk happen, Casey Hobbs, June Miller, Dan Grady, our interns, and last but not least, Tonia McCallum who makes me look like I know what I’m doing!

ON THE SHOW this week, Dan got run over by a reindeer, so we are airing last week’s wildly popular show again. Who says there are no second chances? Listen to RN Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United, The Yoga Nurse, The Teen Doctor and our research on under-the-radar nurse behavior. Read more about this show here and look for all new shows in the new year…and a great line-up of topics and guests.

We leave you with a teaser from a holiday story on our blog by Nurse Talk contributor RN Bobbi McCarthy.

‘Twas the night before Christmas
and the nurse is at work.
Many a creature is stirring, including a jerk.
All the IV’s are hung by their poles with care
In hopes that 7am would soon be there…

Get the whole thing here. Its a kick!

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. Check out Green960 on the I Heart Radio app where you can listen to the radio on your smart phone at www.iheart.com. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Happy holidays and until next time remember, “laughter is the best medicine!”

Coming Up on Nurse Talk: Rally Britain! Learning to Speak Teen. Nurse Behavior Revealed. Yoga Nurse Heals.

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:30:47 +0000

The Show is jam-packed this week. There is something for everyone, so make time to join us!

We’ll talk with RN Jean Ross, co-president of National Nurses United. Jean is a frequent guest on Nurse Talk and she updates us on recent U.S. rallies organized by nurses to support nurse counterparts in Great Britain.

Strike Supporters in Orlando, Fla.

Last Wednesday, Nov. 30, over two million British workers joined the biggest strike in the United Kingdom in a generation. National Nurses United organized six rallies in cities around the U.S. in a show of support.

Author Dr. Barbara Greenberg is on the show this week.

IT’S THE HOLIDAYS! Calling all parents of teens! You won’t want to miss our visit with Dr. Barbara Greenberg, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of teens and families. She writes a regular column, The Teen Doctor, in Psychology Today. Her recent article focuses on why teens can be so competitive during the holidays. She has some good ideas about what to do when you are about to cancel Christmas. We’ll talk to her about her new book, Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent’s Guide to Becoming Bilingual. Oh, that is good!

Casey and Dan do their part to promote transparency in health care with a little look at NURSING BY THE NUMBERS, a sneak peak at their report reveals 86% of nurses have had to leave a patient’s room quickly because they were about to laugh uncontrollably. But, there’s more. Listen to the show to learn what medical supply is an oft-used eating utensil. Well, according to our sources, 47% of you already know.

RN Annette Tersigni, The Yoga Nurse

And, a segment every nurse needs, brought to you in partnership with Nurse Together.com, Annette Tersigni RN, The Yoga Nurse, and founder of Yoga Nursing. Annette is a contributor to our Nurse Talk blog and says what we always say—that nurses need to take care of themselves. Nurses are often the last to realize the toll stress is taking on them and to take the time to do something about it. She has some great ideas on how the restorative principles of yoga can empower you to continue serving as the nurse hero that you are. You can find Annette on our blog at nursetalksite.com or by visiting our friends at nursetogether.com.

This week we roll out a new feature on Nurse Talk, THE GOLDEN BEDPAN AWARD! That’s right– EACH WEEK OUR GOLDEN BED BAN AWARD GOES TO A DESERVING PERSON OR ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SOME HOW PUT THEMSELVES IN THE NEWS OR OTHERWISE COME TO LIGHT FOR A CHARITABLE ACT OR CAUSE. This week’s GOLDEN BED PAN AWARD goes to U2 star Bono, for his leadership and commitment to fighting the global AIDS epidemic. Bravo for THE POWER OF TAKING A STAND!! Send your nominations to pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Fill your cup with a gift certificate to Starbuck's from Nurse Talk. Enter the Phobia of the Week Contest.

Don’t miss the Phobia of the Week, the first caller with the right answer WINS A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE AT STARBUCK’S…who doesn’t need that? Last week’s winner was Judy Danly from Buffalo New York! Judy listens to Nurse Talk on Revolution Boston.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE California Nurses Association, National Nurses United and Massachusetts Nurses Association FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF NURSE TALK.

Coming Up on Nurse Talk This Week: Dan Raps. Casey Snacks. RN Deborah Burger Rocks. Research Ready. Bobbi’s Blog Cabin.

Nurse Talk — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:46:53 +0000

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. My what terrible “Black Friday” stories. No—please ma’am—pepper spray??? I try only to use weapons like that for cooking. Parking lot shootings? Is this a new thing or has shopping always been so dangerous? We now have to pack heat just to go to the mall….how sad. Well enough social commentary.

We now present you with what we think is a better way to start your holiday season, (or any day of the year…) a sample of pure unadulterated out-of-your-body—JOY. Watch it again, even if you’ve already seen it. Guaranteed to make you smile.

COMING UP this week on Nurse Talk…

Check it out…as a nurse do you ever shy away from researching new medical information? It’s a time issue and a lot of nurses “run for the hills” from diving in to the medical journals—including our Nurse Talk hosts. Well, maybe those days are over. Dan and Casey visit with entrepreneurial RN, Stefanie Modri. Stefanie has just introduced a new nursing and health research tool called PrecisionRN. A virtual medical library at your fingertips. PrecisionRN connects nurses to evidenced-based research by sending text messages about the latest nursing research with a the link to the article. Check it out at PrecisionRN.com.

Our friend RN Deborah Burger updates us on all things “Occupy,” progress on the financial transaction tax, the invisible SUPER COMMITTEE AND MORE…Deborah was one of many nurses from around the world that gathered at the recent G-20 summit in Cannes.

Author, Bobbi McCarthy

And how many nurses have been patients a time or two? What do you recall from your experience in the hospital? Well RN and author Bobbi McCarthy is a contributing writer on the Nurse Talk blog and has written a great article called Through the Eyes of a Patient | What Will Your Patients Remember? It’s a great story and reminds us what it is like to be a patient. Dan and Casey talk to Bobbi from the comfort of her “blog cabin” in the beautiful state of Maine. Bobbi also created the blog, Love Your Nursing Life, to facilitate nurses talking to nurses about their past, present and future desires for nursing and health care—as well as their frustrations—in hopes of warding off burn-out.

Hey don’t forget you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. Check out Green960 on the I Heart Radio App where you can listen to the radio on your smart phone. www.iheart.com. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

WE WANT YOUR FUNNY HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL STORIES. NURSE OR NON-NURSE, SEND THEM OUR WAY. pattielockard@yahoo.com or tonia@nursetalksite.com.

We Are Thankful for…and Coming Up on Nurse Talk Nov. 26-27, 2011

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:21:24 +0000

Off label use unparalleled for masking smells of any description.

Thankful for…the smell of rain in the desert. Vicks VapoRub. Waking up to find a snowy morning. Supportive shoes. Belly laughs. A trail to follow. Authenticity. Relationships that get better with time. Chocolate in any form! A starry, starry night. Crickets. Random kindness from a stranger. Love. Coffee. Movie trailers. The distant sound of a train passing by. Scrubs with a lot of pockets. Friends, listeners and sponsors who make this show happen.

Lynn Ruth Miller comes by to play.

All of us here at Nurse Talk wish you and your loved ones many reasons to be thankful this holiday season. Casey and Dan are off to grandmother’s house this week, so we are playing a Best of Nurse Talk to inspire and delight this weekend.

Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller stops by. It’s ALWAYS fun, a bit on the crazy side and hard to distinguish who’s saying what and/or why they’re saying it at all. Remind you of your Thanksgiving table? Lynn Ruth Miller also talks about home remedies. Her views are NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THIS RADIO SHOW….please don’t try these at home (or anywhere).

We also explore a case of retaliation against nurses by D.C.’s largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center. In October of 2010 the nurses at the hospital voted to join National Nurses United. Story ends happily ever after? Casey and Dan talk with WHC RNs Raj Rajini and Peggy Dinkel for a brief on the issues. It is reported the hospital (parent company Medstar) spent $1.5 million a day on a campaign against the union and the nurses during the strike and the four day lock out that followed. You can learn more in this link to the open letter from National Nurses United (PDF).

AND a little lighter conversation with Greg Allen. Time to travel you say? Sandy beaches, beautiful mountain resorts, tropical islands? You get paid to go? Thats right—how about the life of travel nursing…a new twist and just maybe your next gig. Greg is the CEO of Cirrus Staffing, one of the largest most successful travel nursing companies in the U.S. Aloha STAT!

Coming up next week….RN and Co-president of national Nurses United, Deborah Burger, an entrepreneurial project leads to PrecisionRN, and author RN Bobbi McCarthy chats with Casey and Dan from her “blog cabin” in Maine…

Remember, laughter is the best medicine!

GOLDEN BEDPAN AWARD. RN KAREN HIGGINS. FACTS ABOUT MEDICAL ERRORS. TEETH PAST THEIR PRIME.

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:32:16 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving. May you spend it beachside.

Oh dear it is almost Thanksgiving! We at Nurse Talk wish all of you a wonderful holiday with family and friends—and DO remember—laughter is the best medicine! Yes, of course we all love our families—but—we know too much about each other and that can lead to—well—o.k. fill in the blank. We say that with love and affection.

This week on the show we shake things up a bit. O.K. we got tired of the weird news and all of the sound effects…so now we are looking for a really good way to create a useful and fun first segment on our show. ANY ideas? Oh, we could tell you about all kinds of medical breakthroughs or bad things insurance companies do, and, while useful, not particularly stimulating or fun. This week we shared some good articles from our blog. If you have any ideas for our show—send them our way at casey@nursetalksite.com or 1-800-977-1863.

Karen Higgins, RN

Massachusetts RN Karen Higgins joins us. Karen is a good friend of ours and she always takes time out of her busy schedule to talk with us. As a matter of fact we want to make it perfectly clear that Karen was on her BREAK when speaking with Dan and Casey. Karen weighed in on the Financial Transaction Tax, a.k.a. the Robin Hood Tax that nurses and others all around the world asked the G-20 leaders to adopt. The tax would be .005 on stocks and other financial transactions. The money raised COULD dramatically change and add to funding for healthcare, education, infrastructure and more. Karen is the past president of the Massachusettes Nurses Association and is currently one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United.

And we’ll talk with the author of Critically ILL: A 5-Point Plan to Cure Healthcare Delivery. Dr. Frederick Southwick, author, teacher, respected researcher and decades-long medical practitioner, is an advocate for change to our country’s current healthcare practices, which cause thousands of hospital deaths and complications each year. Dr. Southwick strongly believes in empowering nurses to help alleviate this tragic trend. This, Dr. Southwick’s fifth and forthcoming book, presents a clear and comprehensive blueprint for reversing the negative healthcare outcomes that result from preventable medical errors. Very interesting.

AND NOW—drum roll please—it’s time for a new feature on Nurse Talk! Out with the old and in with the new—-it’s time for THE GOLDEN BEDPAN AWARD! That’s right—EACH WEEK OUR GOLDEN BEDBAN AWARD GOES TO A DESERVING PERSON OR ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SOMEHOW PUT THEMSELVES IN THE NEWS OR OTHERWISE COME TO LIGHT FOR A CHARITABLE ACT OR CAUSE. THIS WEEK’S GOLDEN BEDPAN AWARD GOES TO…LISTEN THIS WEEKEND AND FIND OUT.

If you know someone who should receive an award for their generosity or contribution please let us know. 1.800.977-1863 or email pattielockard@yahoo.com with the subject line: GOLDEN BEDPAN AWARD.

And, remember, laughter is the best medicine.

Nurses Impact G20 Summit…and Coming Up on Nurse Talk This Week: NNU Takes Texas and Check in to Hotel Hennepin | Best of Nurse Talk Show 239

Nurse Talk — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:59:17 +0000

Nurses led the fight at last week’s G20 Summit protests in Cannes, France at several events and at simultaneous rallies in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles, garnering national and international press coverage. Did you see this? Three-minute video: Nurses from around the globe at the G20 Summit show how to heal the world’s economy with a financial transaction tax.

“Protests matter. Pressure matters,” concluded John Nichols of The Nation, writing about the shifting sands in the White House, and noting NNU’s role and the erupting support for an FTT that now includes billionaire Bill Gates and the Pope. “The nurses aren’t just making noise. It looks like they’re changing the debate, altering the policies of the most powerful players in Washington–and perhaps the world.”

On with the show. When the cats are away…the best of Nurse Talk must play!

Coming up this week Casey and Dan visit with Texas RN Monica Sanchez about the union vote that recently occurred in Texas and made history as the first of its kind. Texas RNs in five cities voted to join National Nurses United. They will now join thousands of other bedside nurses across the country who are fighting for patient rights and better conditions for RNs.

Janet Izzo

Also with us is Janet Izzo. Janet is a Minneapolis RN who has written a book called Hotel Hennepin (named after the Hennepin County, Minnesota Hospital where Janet works). In the newly released book Janet chronicles her career working in a large county hospital as a staff and charge nurse on the obstetrics unit. The stories are poignant, sad, hysterically funny and all amazingly true!

And, we have a winner in our “Dan’s Thing” contest where we challenged listeners to follow the clues and guess, “What’s Dan’s Thing?” It’s fun and funny.

Get your tickets to Menopause the Musical in Concert. Menopause is on tour and coming to a city near you. Nurses and their friends receive 10% off with code “SG” (or “SUPER” for Santa Cruz shows).

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!

Must Have Mobile App. Nov. 3 Day of Action. Presidential Candidate Pop Quiz. 15 Minutes. Fall Flu Fashion Show.

Pattie Lockard — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:18:26 +0000

I think we made a mistake. You know how sometimes when you gain a few extra pounds you feel like you have to let the seams out of your clothes? Well, this week on Nurse Talk we had so many topics we wanted to share we got a little carried away and packed the show to the point of bursting our time clock!

Mobile App

We visited with two of our friends from CNA/NNU (California Nurses Association, National Nurses United) RN/Communications Specialist Liz Jacobs, and Colette Washington, On-Line Communication Specialist. Colette shared about a new mobile app that NNU has created that makes it possible to be involved in shaping national and international policy and politics without leaving the comfort of your own home.

The app provides information about the day’s most vital issues such as the Main Street Contract and Occupy Wall Street. Plus tells you how to help support nurses fighting to keep their patients safe. Make your voice heard to help pass a Wall Street transaction tax to support healthcare and more. You can get points for being an activist! Not like weight watchers but what you do makes a difference. Check it out by texting the word “payback” to 53000 from your mobile phone. You will receive instructions and a link to download.

Presidential Pop Quiz

Suffice it to say we have some—well, interesting candidates running for president! Tune-in to see which one gets our vote!

15 Minutes

AND Casey and Dan talk with author and EMT Kim Kircher. Kim has written a book called The Next 15 Minutes: Strength From the Top of the Mountain. When she wasn’t rescuing wounded skiers as a member of the ski patrol or bombing snow-congested mountainsides to control avalanches, she and her husband, John, were proving to the world that a full life was possible in spite of each living with an autoimmune disorder.

Their days were full of early morning runs on perfect powder and slicing through the stellar crystals to the envy of holiday skiers. When John’s congenital liver condition – primary schlerosing cholangitis – approached the terminal phase, Kim was determined to use all of her mountain-borne skills to save him and return them to the adventurous life they both loved. Kim shares her story with us. You can learn more about Kim at kimkircher.com.

Fall Flu Fashion Show

AND LAST…strut your stuff because its time for Nurse Talk’s second annual Fall Flu Fashion Show. That’s right wait until you see the new strains for this year…and, some of the old ones are back for an encore—such as H1N1! Oh, she will sweep you off your feet this year and she’ll be a show stopper all over the world! Listen for more of the madness.

Check out University of San Francisco’s Master’s of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader – starting May 2012. ADN/RN and BSN/RN Entry Option. Informational meeting coming up on November 9th.

Remember, laughter is the best medicine.

Sue Sylvester. Occupy. Occupy. USF Masters the Master’s. Donna Donna. Laughter and Menopause.

Nurse Talk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:23:19 +0000

NNU Midwest Director and RN Jan Rodolfo appeared on Keith Olbermann’s show on Monday, October 24 to talk about the Occupy Chicago arrests on Sunday. If you missed it, here’s the clip.

Coming up on the show this week…

Casey and Dan check in with our friend and NNU Legislative Organizer Donna Smith. They talk with Donna about the Occupy movement, the nurses’ participation, the upcoming Day Of Action on November 3rd, the G-20 Summit and the nurses demands for a Wall Street Transaction Tax and continuing movement on the state by state single payer healthcare efforts.

National Nurses United nurse volunteer provides first aid to a protester at #Occupy LA, one of several cities where NNU has set-up stations around the country.

RN Maria Fehlig, a Las Vegas nurse calls in and gives us an on-location report from NYC Occupy. By the way…she says she sees no “hippies” there and in fact a lot of people don’t even know what a “hippie” is. Very interesting times we are living in. Spoken like a true “old person!”

We talk with Judy Farrell the Assistant Director of Enrollment for University of San Francisco‘s Master’s in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader program. With Judy is RN Kristina Smith who is a manager of the ICU Unit at Santa Rosa, Calif. Kaiser Hospital and a student in the USF Master’s program.

Hey, this is great information for anyone who has been thinking about going back to get their advanced degree. Nobody does it better than USF…and we found out they have regional campuses in Santa Rosa, San Ramon, Sacramento and San Jose. Check the program out at http://www.usfca.edu/nursing/msn/.

Nurse Talk pulled some strings and is offering a 10% discount for nurses to see…Menopause The Musical, In Concert on the California leg of the tour.

Hey, can we talk? If you haven’t yet seen the mega hit Menopause The Musical—then pack your coolers and grab 10 friends or a 100 and—go see one of the just announced Menopause The Musical concerts. Really!

The hit show has been seen by Millions (with a capital M) and there is a reason. It’s just pure fun and God knows we can always use that. Use the code SG (use code “super” for the Santa Cruz shows) to get your tickets at www.menopauseinconcert.com/tickets-shows/

You can advertise with us. Email Pattie Lockard, pattie@nursetalksite.com to reserve your space on air or online.

Check out our website, play with us on Facebook and call every once in while! Our message line is 800-977-1863.

You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember, laughter is the best medicine.

Priceless Proverbs and Inspiration for Your Inner Nurse | Best of Nurse Talk | Show 307

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:40:39 +0000

This week on the show…we rewind. Hey you know you don’t listen every week (but you wish you could) so here’s your chance to catch something you might have missed. Enjoy our show.

Casey and Dan talk with a delightful woman named Judith Stark Frost. Judith was a second grade school teacher for 30 years. She loved teaching her kids how to read but even more than that she loved the humorous things they said. She wrote a very funny book called Priceless Proverbs From the Tongue of the Young. How about these: “A penny saved is…not much” and “He who marries for money…better be nice to his wife.” We all know how funny kids can be without even knowing it!

And later in the show RN Rita Batchley talks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a southern California public sector hospital. Rita has written an inspirational book for all nurses called Labor Pains, about authentic power and finding your true purpose. A very interesting perspective on connecting with your “inner nurse,” health care reform and social change.

And of course all the tricks…some funny…some….well, questionable.

A warm welcome to our new sponsor, University of San Francisco’s Santa Rosa Campus. Check out their Master’s of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader – starting May 2012. ADN/RN and BSN/RN Entry Option.

And of course as always a big shout out to our great partners at National Nurses United, theCalifornia Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Nurses Association and YOU all of our listeners, without you nothing happens.

Watch our blog for a special Nurse Talk discount to the runaway hit Menopause the Musical in Concert coming to a venue near you.

You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember, laughter is the best medicine.

A Train Without Pity. Friction In Studio. Sex Addiction. And Down Hill From There! | Show 425

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:59:23 +0000

Greetings to our friends and loyal listeners in the Boston area and San Francisco Bay! A shout out to our online listeners nationwide too.

This week on Nurse Talk Casey and Dan talk to RN Jill Furillo. Jill spent several days last week with Occupy Wall Street and will give us a firsthand account of her experience and what the Occupy movement is all about. For information about Occupy go to www.adbusters.org/campaigns/occupywallstreet or learn about how nurses are taking action at www.nursetalksite.com/Nov3. In the carefully chosen words of Vice President Joe Biden, “In the minds of the vast majority of the American – the middle class is being screwed.”

Author George N. Collins joins us on the show

And author and sex addiction therapist George N. Collins is with us. What we think we know about sex addiction is …well…not particularly helpful or accurate. Mr. Collins has written a book, Breaking the Cycle, Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession, and Shame.

As a recovering sex addict himself, he knows all to well the shame and baggage that comes along with it. Mr. Collins founded Compulsion Solutions, an outpatient counseling service specifically for sufferers of compulsion addictions. His book details techniques he developed to successfully teach sex addicts to confront the negative energy that fuels the addiction and turn that energy into positive life changes, including true intimacy.

ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

And, remember, laughter is the best medicine.

Kathryn Kuhlman. Walmart Greeter. Tragedy at Sutter Hospital. Whiz Kid Cameron Harris. HP Printers | Show 424

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:20:03 +0000

If any of you remember the late great televangelist Katheryn Kuhlman then your just about as old as we are! We couldn’t help ourselves so we open the show with some words of wisdom from Ms. Kuhlman.

And we check in on what is happening at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, California. As many of you know, over 23000 nurses went on a one-day strike against Sutter Health here in Northern California. At issue are cuts that impact patient safety. As planned the nurses were only out one day and were ready to go back to work when Sutter Health announced they would be locked out for an additional 4 days. During that lock out a patient died from what is described as a “medical error,” while under the care of a 23-year old replacement nurse. We’ll have an update on this unfortunate tragedy.

Meg Whitman is back! That’s right it’s our old friend Meg Whitman, former CEO of e-Bay, unsuccessful candidate for California Governor and now CEO for Hewlett Packard. You won’t believe what she’s up to now! She has an offer for the nurses and you’ll have to listen to the show to find out what it is.

Meg Whitman is not only HP CEO, but a distant relative of the great Slim Whitman. She's blessed with the Whitman forehead, but can she sing?

And whiz kid Cameron Harris joins us. Cameron is our resident expert on Type 1 diabetes and has his own podcast show called In Range. On the show Cameron gives great tips and information on how to live a healthy life with Type 1. Cameron himself was diagnosed with the decease when he was 8. Listen and you’ll understand why we call him a whiz kid. For more information about In Range visit www.harwoodpodcasts.com.

Welcome Anna Maria College, our newest advertiser, providing degree programs for working nurses. Check it out.

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Nurses Strike. The Comfort Garden. A Drunk Swedish Moose. A Fake Bomb Threat | Show 423

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:56:55 +0000

Casey and Dan are just two of the thousands of Nurses on Duty each week.

There was big news last week with the nurses strike in Northern California. Over 23,000 nurses took part in the one day strike against Sutter and Kaiser hospitals. Tragically as we spoke with RN and co-president of National Nurses United Deborah Burger, a patient at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center died due to a medical error while under the care of a replacement nurse.

Nurses attend a candlelight vigil at Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

Though this was a one-day strike, Sutter refused to let the nurses come back to work for another four days, putting patients in further jeopardy. More on the strike and this story at National Nurses United.

Author and RN Laurie Barkin

And in studio Casey and Dan welcome RN Laurie Barkin. Laurie is a psychiatric nurse consultant at San Francisco General and has written a fascinatingly vivid account about her twenty years as an elite psychiatric trauma nurse treating San Francisco’s most complicated cases. Her book is called The Comfort Garden. Named after the hidden garden tucked under a brick methadone outpatient clinic the book talks about how Barkin struggled in her role as a psychiatric nurse as she listened to hundreds of tales from the trauma unit. In the book she shares her journey working in a system that often times does not have a place to treat psychiatric patients on a long-term basis.

Against the backdrop of patients who have survived motor vehicle accidents, falls, fires, fists, bullets, and knives, The Comfort Garden explores what happens to professional caregivers when exposure to tragedy becomes routine. Barkin has emerged as a passionate voice advocating care for the caregiver and labor rights .

Check out our blog. Did you catch our post, Behind Blue Eyes? Nurse Talk contributor and retired nurse Joann Spears writes about a life lesson she received from a patient about never underestimating the power of choice. Are you interested in becoming a Nurse Talk contributor? Email us and tell us your story.

More on that drunk Swedish moose and fake bomb threat…on the show. Listen and find out.

ADVERTISE TO ACTIVE AND ENGAGED NURSES. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

The Importance of Nurse Activism | Support for California Nurses Strike

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:56:44 +0000

Caring for those in need includes standing up for patients against corporate greed and disinterest in the human costs of cuts in staffing and services. There are 23,000 nurses on the street for theCalifornia Kaiser and Sutter Health strike doing just that. We’re with them.

We’re rewinding our show with Boston RN Karen Higgins, past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United who talks about nurse activism. Corporate health care is looking at the bottom line but they aren’t seeing it. Nurses face the results of cost cutting up close every day. Karen says, “When hospitals feel the need to save money, the first place they cut unfortunately are the ones who take care of patients and the vast majority of who that is, is nurses…Patient care suffers and patients suffer.”

Karen Higgins, RN

Karen also shares her views on the continuing need for single payer health care in our country, the urgency regarding nurse-patient ratios and other important issues that affect all of us. It seems the hospitals are looking at more ways to cut staffing (this is in the face of a health care crisis) in preparation for Obama Care kicking in. Is it really Obama Care of is it just one more way to continue to make huge profits on the backs of hard working RNs and health care workers?

Kira Reginato

And, please tell me I am not the only one who knows and loves Denny Crane! I just needed to hear his voice again so ordered an audio clip of the Denster and everyone in the studio looked at me like I was out of my mind…Help! Is anybody out there willing to defend me?

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Until next time remember, “laughter is the best medicine!”

Bats In Austin. Bats In D.C. Bats In The Studio. | Show 422

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:10:09 +0000

Coming Up On Nurse Talk…we welcome two great friends on the show, NNU legislative organizer and health care activist Donna Smith, then comedian Lynn Ruth Miller.

Your favorite Texas legislator? No, Mexican Freetailed Bat.

NNU's Donna Smith

Donna chats with us from Austin, Texas–you know, the home of one of the largest bat caves around…and it’s right downtown!! And yes…you can see the Texas State Capitol from the cave! Donna always brings us up to speed on the issues that are important…at least to us they are. We’ll get an update on the nurses’ Main Street Campaign (more about that at nationalnursesunited.com), the state of Social Security and Medicare, a Wall Street sales tax and much more.

Lynn Ruth Miller

And then hold on to your hats because we really do go bats in the studio—’cause we have comedian Lynn Ruth Miller with us and she is wound up like a top! Find out what the Dust Bowl and Lynn Ruth have in common. Lynn Ruth is always….well, pretty out there but always an inspiration. At the ripe age of 78 years young…most of us can’t keep up with her. Kate Copstick, of The Scotsman newspaper says, “This woman is sharp, and in among the fun and schtick there are some killer lines. Ms. Miller is a poster girl for growing old disgracefully and she looks to be enjoying every second.” Her secret to a long life? Listen and find out.

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Stay healthy and remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Have you cruised around the web site lately? Read some of our new contributors. You could become one…email pattie@nursetalksite.com.

A Salute to Nurses | Thank You, Thank You Very Much

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:23:40 +0000

A special thank you to all of our listeners, the nurses who save lives and make a huge impact on humanity every day. Thanks too to our sponsors the California Nurses Association, National Nurses United, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, our media partner Laura Flanders and GRITtv and our strategic partner Nurse Together. Without you all we might be driving down Route 66 in our RV waxing about Nurse Talk as something that might have been.

Next week, we will be announcing a whole new season of Nurse Talk. We’ll be lauding the good and spanking the bad. We know you are busy. Did you know you can subscribe to Nurse Talk News and links to listen will be delivered to your inbox weekly? You never have to miss a show!

We salute you nurses. Please enjoy this song by San Francisco area singer and songwriter, Colette Washington, Angel By My Side and an encore presentation of Nurse Talk featuring a great nurse memoir and interview with an 82-year-old nurse who is still helping people.

Which Side Are You On? A Nurse’s Memoir and Rita Goes Red Cross | Show 415.

Casey and Dan just can’t get enough of themselves! The jury is still out as to whether others feel the same… Great show though. What do the Pips have to do with it? Listen and find out.

Our hosts chat with National Nurses United’s Michael Lighty about making Wall Street pay its fair share.

Later in the show RN and author Kate Genovese joins us. Kate has written a book called Thirty Years In September, A Nurse’s Memoir. It is a tale of strength, hope, and courage in a world of sickness and death.

We also have RN Rita Grady who just happens to have the same last name as Dan. That’s right Dan’s mom visits with us about her Red Cross “tour of duty” in the tornado ravaged states of Alabama and Missouri this summer. Rita doesn’t mind if we share with you she is 82 and has an aversion to recliners.

And of course the Phobia, Square Needle, news and hiccups in between.

Buh Bye Summer, Mass Says, “Hello Elizabeth Warren,” Plus Nurse Advocates | Coming Up on Show 421

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:09:44 +0000

It’s amazing but Labor Day is right around the corner and that means summer vacation is but a distant memory. And speaking of summer vacations, Dan returns from Maui more exhausted than when he left. We thought he was going to relax and do some surfing—drink some beer and maybe go to a few luaus. Not exactly.

Massachusetts Nurses Association president, RN Donna Kelly Williams

This week we visit with Massachusetts Nurses Association‘s president, RN Donna Kelly Williams. Donna brings us up to date on all things Mass including the upcoming Day Of Action, the continued fight for fair and equitable RN-to-patient ratios, The Main Street Campaign, (to find out about the Main Street Campaign go to National Nurses United’s website) and the Mass Nurses Association’s recent endorsement of Elizabeth Warren for Senator. Oh if we could only find enough Elizabeth Warrens to fill the halls of Congress!

We talk with Greg Batte who has started a nurse advocacy organization called—surprise— Nurse Advocate Organization. Listen to the show to find out more and check out our Resources page at nursetalksite.com.

Lots of good things in the coming weeks and a few surprises! Webcams are coming to the studio and we will be broadcasting some shows live. This means Nurse Talk crew makeovers for all of us! Hair and make up? Lord, there isn’t enough in the county to cover us all!!! Sorry Dan. And we will be doing some broadcasts on location so stay tuned. We are coming out of the studio and into your neighborhoods!

NURSE TALK IS GROWING…GROW WITH US. ADVERTISE to our active and engaged audience. Email to reserve your spot on the air or online: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Remember You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen to any show anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

Coming Up on Nurse Talk | August 27-28, 2011 | Show 420

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:17:11 +0000

Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director National Nurses United
“I always knew women would lead a revolution in this country.”

In studio with RN Marsha Podd, aka the Baby Whisperer

Former Senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell wins the Nurse Talk Square Needle Award

Dan’s in Hawaii and Pattie sees an opportunity!

Author Marsha Podd, RN on the show this week

We always joke that when our friend and baby expert RN Marsha Podd is in the studio…we all go to sleep. We mean that in a good way, as Marsha has one of the most soothing voices you’ll ever hear. Marsha, aka the Baby Whisperer has written a book called Secrets of a Baby Nurse. The book is getting rave reviews and if you know of anyone that is expecting a child, already has a baby or toddler or is remotely related to a baby…they should read the book. It is filled with practical advice. During the show Marsha answers questions from listeners, along with trying to maintain her composure with all the ruckus! For more information about Marsha go to gotosleepbaby.com.

And we share an interview that our media partner Laura Flanders of GRITtv did with Executive Director of National Nurses United, Rose Ann DeMoro. It’s a great opportunity to hear from Rose Ann, why the nurses are on the front lines of so many issues that affect ordinary Americans like Medicare, Social Security, access to affordable healthcare and patient safety. Labor Day is coming up and the nurses of National Nurses United have declared it a Day Of Action. Everyone has the power to make change…but do they have the will?

A big shout out to our sponsors National Nurses United and the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Without their support we would not have a show.

ADVERTISE WITH US…FOR AS LITTLE AS $300 YOU CAN get 13 weeks of advertising and a lot of attention. Email to reserve your spot: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

Casey Gets Surfing Lessons? RN Deborah Burger, NY Times Best Selling Author Steve Berry…and Lots of Mischief in Between

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:38:15 +0000

RN Deborah Burger, NNU Co-President

This week on Nurse Talk Casey and Dan visit with RN and National Nurses United Co-President, Deborah Burger. It isn’t unusual that we found Deborah on her way home from an important nurses’ rally in Michigan–because that’s what Deborah does when she isn’t working her full time job at a hospital in Northern California. Deborah chats with us about the upcoming Day Of Action on September 1st. The purpose of the Day Of Action is to bring awareness to the growing divide in our country between the rich and the poor. It sounds simplistic but it’s not–and as our politicians work toward more cuts in basic services and education, access to affordable healthcare gets further and further out of reach, our jobs are being shipped offshore and Medicare and Social Security are being threatened–something must be done. Who better to lead the charge than nurses? Find out how you can get involved at nationalnursesunited.org.

And later Casey laments that the summer is passing before her very own eyes and she hasn’t done half (if any) of what she wanted to do. One of her secret wishes is to have Dan give her a surfing lesson! Yes, that’s right, a surfing lesson. The trouble starts here!!

New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry joins us to talk about his philanthropic passion of history and his fascinating new book The Jefferson Key. Not only is this author of #1 best-selling “thrillers” a fantastic writer–but he is inspiring, and brilliant! A lifelong, devoted student of history, Berry is dedicated to researching his novels in-depth. He and his wife, Elizabeth, founded History Matters in 2010, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the preservation of the fragile reminders of our nation’s heritage. This is a great story–all of it!

In the coming weeks…one of our favorite guests…RN Marsha Podd, aka The Baby Whisperer…and author of Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich.

ADVERTISE WITH US…FOR AS LITTLE AS $300 YOU CAN get 13 weeks of advertising and a lot of attention. Email to reserve your spot: pattie@nursetalksite.com.

Don’t forget, “laughter is the best medicine!”

Michigan Nurses Speak Up and Nurse Fashion Don’ts

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:49:15 +0000

Our Nurse Talk laughter survey checks out hair salons to see who is laughing and who ISNT! Oh this is fun! After this little experiment…we think people might be a little too serious on the job!

Michigan RN Katie Oppenheim talks about significant concerns for patients of the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Four-thousand registered nurses at the UMHS, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association/National Nurses United, held a press conference Tuesday at the University of Michigan about the future of quality patient care at one of the nation’s leading medical facilities. Nurses announced they are prepared to picket the hospital on August 13 should management refuse to withdraw demands that the nurses say will erode nursing standards at the facility.

Katie also talks about the recent “No Soup for You” Soup Kitchen on the Capitol lawn sponsored by Michigan Nurses Association protesting budget cuts in social programs.

You remember the Soup Nazi don’t you?

Casey and Dan share some nurse fashion don’ts! High-waters. Yes or No? Wearing a size 12 when you need an 18? Perfectly acceptable or absolutely not? Stains on scrubs. No big deal or yes, BIG deal?

Support Nurse Talk and Get Noticed

Are you looking for a great and affordable way to promote your business or event? Well, look no further. Nurse Talk reaches 1000′s of listeners a month in two major urban markets, San Francisco and Boston. For $500-700 you get 13 weeks of :30 second spots plus an on-air 5- minute interview about your business or event. We can also mix and match with our website advertising too! Come on! Join the fun and get your message out there. Inventory is limited so hop on it! Email:pattielockard@yahoo.com

Nurses: We Fight Because We Have To and A Friend of Oprah’s is a Friend of Ours | Rewind Show 311

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:50:26 +0000

Coming Up…while the summer grilling continues for Casey and Dan we have a great rewind! Enjoy and share this with your friends, enemies, nannies and anyone else you can think of! And next week all new Nurse Talk shows.

Hunting from a recliner? No, it’s not Sarah Palin but it’s a great story. Tune in as Casey and Dan talk about this and much more.

Joining us is Minnesota RN Jean Ross. Jean is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and has been an RN for over 30 years. Checking in about national issues from single payer healthcare to the proposed Medicaid and Social Security cuts, Jean says, “we fight because we have to.” With over 160k members National Nurses United is a powerful political force on the national political scene.

And later…we host an incredible woman, Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, author of the best selling book, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters. Dr. Thornton has just finished her second book, Something to Prove, A Daughter’s Legacy to Fulfill a Father’s Legacy. When she was a little girl her father had a dream that all five of his daughters would be doctors. He knew that would not happen if they stayed in the housing projects so he moved the family to a different state and the rest of the story you won’t believe! Oh, how about five doctors in the family? Try four and one nurse. This is a story that you will hear and be clear that anything is possible! Dr. Thornton says, “Don’t let anybody else define who you are.”

Ratio Fight in Vegas, Volunteerism, Main Street and More

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:20:56 +0000

Coming up on the Show…What happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas...A volunteer extraordinaire visits the studio… What’s happening to our Main Streets?…An anonymous email question leads the nurses to believe they may have a celebrity on the other end of the cyber-line.

Casey and Dan talk with RN Lisa Myers from St. Rose Hospital in Las Vegas. Lisa and thousands of fellow nurses have gone through a protracted negotiation process with their hospitals since the nurses voted unanimously to join National Nurse United over 15 months ago. Although Lisa’s hospital has settled their new contract some of the others have not. At issue? Safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Studies prove that having fewer patients during shifts saves lives. Listen to our discussion…One of those patients may one day be you!

RN, BSN Susan Dean

And Kaiser RN, BSN Susan Dean joins us in the studio. Susan is not only an amazing nurse but she is an extraordinary volunteer. For the past seven years she’s gone to Guatemala with a team of doctors and nurses from around the U.S. with the organization Faith in Practice (http://faithinpractice.org). During a week’s time the team performed over 80 lifesaving medical procedures. Susan is also a volunteer with Operation Access, an organization that provides medical care to the uninsured right here at home in the San Francisco Bay Area (http://www.operationaccess.org).

And stick around for an anonymous email question from someone who doesn’t like the show but has nowhere else to turn for medical advice!

Popcorn Ceilings. Who’s Your Doctor’s Daddy? Great Medical Tips. Thelma Hobbs.

Nurse Talk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:48:11 +0000

COMING Up…our friend and Capitol Hill correspondent Donna Smith (legislative organizer for National Nurses United) talks about “Who’s Your Doctor’s Daddy?” Healthcare giants buying up hospitals is not new…but they’re also buying up the doctors. Now this in and of itself doesn’t seem to surprising…but Donna tells us the reasons all of this is disturbing, confusing and something everyone should know about. Do you know who owns the medical facility you have or will be treated in? Do you understand the paperwork you sign when you are admitted to a hospital or clinic? Check it out.

RN, MBA Patricia Raya and Corine Mogenis

Which Side Are You On? A Nurse’s Memoir and Rita Goes Red Cross | Show 415

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:50:53 +0000

Coming Up…Casey and Dan just can’t get enough of themselves! The jury is still out as to whether others feel the same… Great show though. What do the Pips have to do with it? Listen and find out.

Michael Lighty joins Nurse Talk for a conversation about Main Street vs. Wall Street. Which side are you on? Michael is the articulate and passionate Director of Public Policy for National Nurses United. Michael recently spoke with Casey at the NNU Staff Assembly in D.C. You won’t want to miss what he has to say.

Later in the show RN and author Kate Genovese joins us. Kate has written a book called Thirty Years In September, A Nurse’s Memoir. Her memoir poignantly describes the adventures of her nursing career, beginning with her trial some days as an LPN, when she lost her nursing license because of a drug addiction, her recovery, and going back to school once again to obtain her RN. Full of hilarious anecdotes, Thirty Years is a tale of strength, hope, and courage in a world of sickness and death.

And last but not least our hosts chat with RN Rita Grady who just happens to have the same last name as Dan. That’s right Dan’s mom is going to visit with us about her recent Red Cross “tour of duty” in the tornado ravaged states of Alabama and Missouri. Rita doesn’t mind if we share with you she is 82 and has an aversion to recliners.

And of course the Phobia, Square Needle, news and hiccups in between.

WALL Street. ASSISTED LIVING The Musical. SURVIVING Cancer. SLEEPING With Mites | Show 414

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:58:46 +0000

COMING UP…Yikes…Dan is away so comedian Lynn Ruth Miller sits in with nurse Casey and from there…we’re not sure what happens!

These days it seems like everything can be a musical, Menopause The Musical, Rocker Chics The Musical, Book Of Morman The Musical, Foreclosure The Musical. Well look out because here comes Assisted Living The Musical. That’s right and we talk to the creators of the show Rick Compton and Betsy Bennett. Assisted Living is the show that asks the question…the question…what was the question? Rick and Betsy opened the show this week in San Francisco. Check it out at www.assistedlivingthemusical.com.

Why are nurses marching on Wall Street? Isn’t that a bit far from a hospital?

Casey talks with our friend RN and human rights activist DeAnn McEwen. DeAnn just returned (to her home in Southern California) from a trip to NYC where she was joined by hundreds of other nurses and others in a rally on Wall Street. The message was simple, Wall Street—pay your fair share! It’s not radical…it is a simple 1/2 penny transaction tax. That alone would raise an estimated 38 billion dollars….that’s with a B! www.nationalnursesunited.org.

And later in the show we visit with Wayne Cooke. Wayne has written a book called On The Far Side Of The Curve. Wayne is eight years away from his diagnosis and just returned from a trip to Hong Kong to see his new grandson. It’s good to be alive! Listen while Wayne gives a very down to earth account of his journey.

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

You Have to Hear it Again: Rewind Worst Practices by Hospital Administrators | Best of Nurse Talk | Show 313

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:39:27 +0000

Coming Up…a rewind and an update from Boston about how things are going at two hospitals we featured (Tufts and St. Vincents) as the poster children for worst practices by hospital administrators. AND a moving and inspirational story told by Linda and Tony Cole. When the Cole’s son Anthony was 12 years-old he suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the school playground. It took paramedics 13 tries to bring Anthony back. Now 23, he lives with a brain injury and Tony and Linda have written a book about their remarkable journey.

News Flash

This week hundreds of nurses and allies marched on Wall Street as part of the Main Street Contract for America. Their demands are simple…tax Wall Street transactions 1/2 cent per transaction. That’s it! Let’s all pay our fair share. More next week.

On with the show: Casey and Dan open the by announcing the 2011 uninsured death tolls for California and the U.S… Do read more about this on our blog.

AND in an attempt to share more medical knowledge with their listeners—Casey decides they should read from the Physicians Desk Reference…you know…like the Republicans read the Constitution the first day of the congressional session.Later in the show, our nurses visit with Massachusetts RN Barbara Tiller. Barbara works at Tufts Medical Center and is chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association‘s local bargaining unit. Barbara will share with us some disturbing facts about two hospitals in her area, (Tufts and St. Vincents) notorious for worst practices by hospital administrators to cut costs and boost profits by failing to provide appropriate nurse staffing. There have been over 800 unsafe staffing reports filed against one hospital alone.

A moving story by Linda and Tony Cole

And an inspiring conversation with Linda and Tony Cole who have written a book called Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage & Destination. They wrote the book about their son Anthony. When Anthony was 12 years old he was at school and out for recess when he said to a friend, “I have no pulse” and then collapsed on the playground. It took paramedics 13 tries to bring him back to life. Now 23, Anthony lives with a brain injury and Tony and Linda have written about it. You won’t want to miss the remarkable story of courage.

And of course the same old craziness from our hosts, Square Needle, Phobia of the Week and lots in between.

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Naughty Politician Lane, Fair Taxes plus Karyn on AIDS and Wilda on Alzheimer’s | Show 413

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:49:51 +0000

What up with male politicians?? Twitter, Facebook, bathroom stalls, mountain trails, pay-offs borrowed from Mom and Dad!! Yikes can anyone imagine a female in high office getting away with any of this? Barbara Boxer tweeting bra-less photos of herself to a 21-year-old guy?? Join Casey and Dan for a walk down “naughty politician lane.”

And more discussion about the role nurses are playing in leading the voice of opposition to cuts in Medicare and Social Security and fighting for taxation on wall street transactions. Listen, we are not talking about about persecuting those who do business on Wall Street—we are simply calling for a fair transaction tax in the amount of a half a penny per. Our D.C. friend and expert on all things Capitol Hill, RN Donna Smith is with us to make sense out of the sometimes senseless.

Later in the show Casey and Dan talk with RN, MSN, humorist Karyn Buxman. Karyn reminds us that in July we acknowledge the 30-year anniversary of the first diagnosed case of AIDS. Karyn shares about the fear, lack of understanding, treatment and protocol in hospitals, and shame surrounding the patients. We’ve come along way—but where are we now?

We welcome an old friend to the studio, RN Wilda Ruthier. Wilda is traveling around the country with her partner Bonnie in their RV–doing anything they please! They stopped by to visit and we literally dragged Wilda into the studio and made her speak. Sad–but we did. Years ago Wilda started the first of its kind, Alzheimer’s assisted living facility in Burlington, Vermont. This was before anyone really knew what it was. She and her staff worked on treatment protocols that are still used in facilities around the country. Congratulations to her innovation and years of care and service to others.

A big salute to all of our RN friends from the Massachusetts Nurses Association!

You can also listen anytime right here on NurseTalkSite.com and iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

1000 RNs on a Mission in DC and Go Army?

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:22:36 +0000

Can you be in the Army without joining the Army? Maybe…check it out! Main Street not Wall Street…and Casey and Dan get an email from a woman who has lost her charm…

COMING UP…on Nurse Talk. Our Nation’s capitol just got hit by a big storm this week. One thousand RNs on a mission to remind elected officials they need to listen to those of us on Main Street–not Wall Street.

Is our country really broke? Is it really necessary to cut Medicare and Social Security? Why are nurses taking the lead in the fight to return to values such as caring, compassion and community? We’ll talk about that and more on the Main Street Contract for America from our friend, and National Nurses United Co-President RN Deborah Burger. And more discussion in the coming weeks on Nurse Talk.

Later in the show, Casey and Dan have some fun with Dr. James Harrison from an organization called MEDCOM. Did you know if you are a doctor or a nurse you can go to work for the Army without being in the Army…AND get all the perks?

Go Army but not Go Army?

And of course the usual silliness, Square Needle, news and Phobia of the Week!

You can also listen anytime right here on NurseTalkSite.com and iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

Heal America/Tax Wall Street Bonus Podcast and A Walk Down Memory Lane | Show 211

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:59:35 +0000

This week on Nurse Talk Casey talks with RN and co-president of National Nurses United, Deborah Burger about “The Main Street Contract”. Will we be a “me” society…or a “we” society? It’s time for a Main Street contract…heal America/tax Wall Street.

Find out how you can join the fight to raise standards for America’s working people! With the erosion of living standards for many, and new attacks almost daily from Wall Street-funded politicians, all Americans need a new contract, a binding relationship for their security, for their families, and for future generations.

All this and more in our Bonus Podcast.

Maggie and Casey ham it up

Then, on the show this week, a walk down memory lane….listen to the issues we discussed in 2009. Have we made a dent? Are things better..or worse? What the hell…let’s just see if we can make you laugh a little! The usual shenanigans…Maggie is back from her “estate sale” shopping spree–sporting a $2 pair of European shoes. She’s unhappy though and thinks she paid too much because they are quite worn.

Deborah Burger Co-President of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee gives our listeners a “state of the state” about Health care reform and the role CNA/NNOC is playing in the process.

Casey and Maggie talk to two MAD AS HELL DOCTORS…they’ll talk about their impending motor home caravan to Washington D.C. to raise awareness for “single payer” health insurance.

Public Employees Heroes or Villains? and Veteran Nurse Acts Out | Show 411

Nurse Talk — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:34:09 +0000

Wow…I’m glad we decided not to go Camping last weekend! As in Harold Camping…the genius who predicted or calculated it was Judgment Day. Something went terribly wrong. Thank God! Mr. Camping now says he might have been one number off in his calculations. I had no idea Judgment Day was a calculation! If there’s anybody out there that remembers Professor Irwin Corey…I think we found his brother!

This week Casey and Dan open the interview archives and share a very recent segment featuring RN Dennis Kosuth. We spoke to Dennis a few weeks ago about the vilification of public sector workers in recent months. Remember not too long ago school teachers, fire fighters, police and nurses were considered heroes. Now these professionals are being blamed for financial failures at the state and national levels. Listen as Dennis shares with us what is happening in his hospital and others around the county because of these financial and professional attacks. It is indeed an issue that has or will impact us all. The assault on the middle class is alive and well.

And later in the show RN Alison Whittaker joins Casey and Dan. Alison has been a nurse for over 20 years and currently lives and works in the Bay Area. She has written and performs her one-woman play called Vital Signs.

The play is a gutsy, truthful, painfully funny account of nursing—particularly in a hospital setting. Alison plays 20 characters including co-workers, patients, family members, etc. Casey, Dan and Alison have great fun talking about Vital Signs and all the funny things that happen when you are a nurse. Alison appears inVital Signs on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 7:30 pm at The Marsh San Francisco. For tickets call 415-282-3055.

You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

The Real McCoys, American Idol, Dad, Angels and Dogs, Boston and Sore Feet | Show 410

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 18 May 2011 07:51:58 +0000

What do The Real McCoys, American Idol, Dad, Angels and Dogs, Boston and sore feet have to do with one another? Not much…but this week on Nurse Talk…you’ll hear a little about them all.

Casey and Dan check in with Boston RN and president of Massachusetts Nurses Association, Donna Kelly-Williams. Every week we take a look at what is happening in health care all around our country and if you have listened to the news and/or—our show—you may have come to the conclusion that things are spinning out of control a bit. Donna will share with us about some very important issues in her state including cutbacks in services and hospital staffing, nurses benefits being reduced, and in some cases eliminated, and retaliation for nurses organizing in support of patient safety and care.

And first time author, longtime nurse, Maggie Hogan joins Casey and Dan to talk about her inspiring new book called Dad, Angels and Dogs. After being a nurse for 32 years Maggie was called to service by a request of her mother’s before she died. “Maggie please promise me you will take care of your father after I’m gone.” Well…Maggie kept that promise and took care of her father until his death. Through her journey she met and depended on the love and kindness of many…including angels and dogs. Yes, we said angels and dogs. Her poignant and down to earth story is an inspiration to all.

Coming up…continuing discussions about single payer health care, a new look at hospitals that are contracting with prisons to take care of inmates (there’s an interesting twist to this story), a conversation about unions from a “different” point of view. That’s right—we’ll be talking with a few nurses who are opposed to organizing and unions. They have their reasons and we thought it would be valuable to listen to what they have to say. And—get this—remodeling your kitchen to have better kitchen sex? I do not kid! I would never make that up! This summer we’ll talk to the authors of a new book about ways to improve your sex life…and the kitchen, my good friends, is one of them!

Bonus Podcast | Assault on the Public Sector and Best of Nurse Talk | Show 403

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:09:01 +0000

This week we are broadcasting a show originally aired March 12, 2011. It was so good we are playing it again, and pairing it with an all new BONUS podcast, The Assault on the Public Sector. Once public employees who serve their communities as teachers, fire fighters, police and public healthcare nurses— were thought of as heroes. Now they are being vilified as the cause of these real and in some cases, perceived fiscal crises.

Casey and Dan talk with ER RN Dennis Kosuth. Dennis works at Chicago’s John Stroger (Cook County) Hospital and shares with us the damage that is mounting in county hospitals all over the country. He specifically shares his experience as an ER nurse at Stroger—one of the busiest county hospital in Chicago.

You can buy Marsha's book in the Nurse Talk Must Read bookstore

On the show, here comes RN Marsha Podd, The Baby Whisperer, and as always she is full of great information for moms and dads with babies and toddlers. She answers questions about her new book, Secrets of a Baby Nurse. Check her out on Nurse Talk and at gotosleepbaby.com.

Then, RN champions from National Nurses United tell us about their experiences in Madison, Wisconsin. Jean Ross, co-president of NNU and Jeff Breslin, president of the Wisconsin Nurses Associatsee ition call in and share the importance of solidarity with our pro-union brothers and sisters everywhere.

And what an honor it is to have California Congresswoman Jackie Speier with us. Some of you may have heard her courageous speech on the house floor when she shared a very personal story about having a surgical procedure that resulted in the loss of her baby. She gave the speech in response to a contentious debate about cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. If you missed it somehow, see it, then listen to the show!

Coming up next week…big scoop on newly introduced single payer health care legislation! With us to talk about it is Sen. Bernie Sanders, and our friend and D.C. Goddess, Donna Smith. Don’t miss it!

A big thank you to our sponsors NNU, CNA and MNA and to all of our listeners!

The State of Maine’s Health Care and Humor Helps in Chemo | Show 409

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:04:10 +0000

The cat’s away so Maggie and Casey play. Dan is off on vacation this week so Maggie stepped in to sleep in the chair. It’s been a while since she was in the studio and the producer forgot to give her a tumbler of box wine before she put on her headset. Sorry Maggie.

Good show this week—RN Judy Brown calls in to play “Wheel of Misfortune” with us. Of course that is the game where you spin the wheel and land on one of the country’s ten worst governors. Right now Arizona governor Jan Brewer is ahead by one spin! Judy lives and works in Bangor, Maine and has been a nurse at the Eastern Maine Medical Center since 1982. She has been on the board of the Maine State Nurses Association for 15 years. Judy will give us a “state of healthcare” update for her state and talk about her governor’s proposed legislation and how it will impact patient care.

And later Casey and Maggie talk with our friend from Hawaii, Advanced Practice RN Hob Osterland. Hob talks with us about the new video Humor Rumor that she created to promote a recent study she conducted at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. The study called COMIC (comedy in chemotherapy) was a randomized controlled trial that examined the impact of comedy on symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy. While cancer is no laughing matter…the study was. Listen to find out the results. And check out Hob’s video the Humor Rumor.

And coming up in June—Nurse Talk travels to our nation’s capitol to join over 1000 nurses as they come together at the National Nurses United staff assembly. We’ll interview all kinds of interesting people; politicians, nurses from around the world, mini mart clerks and more.

The Nation’s Worst Governors and Wake Up! About Sleep Apnea | Show 408

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:00:31 +0000

Let’s play Wheel Of Misfortune! Find out if you live in one of ten states with the worst governor. It’s easy…just spin the wheel and a governor will pop up—complete with the list of why he/she is in the running! Listen this week as our friend Donna Smith helps us inaugurate the game! Who did the wheel land on this week?

And Dan and Casey have a conversation with Donna about all things Capitol Hill and beyond. How about cuts to social security, vouchers for medicare, patient safety and more. Donna Smith as most of you know, is a legislative advocate for National Nurses United.

Then…wake up it’s time for a conversation about sleep apnea. Wow were we surprised to hear about how many people are diagnosed with it, how many go undiagnosed…and the serious health risks that are associated with it…particularity if left untreated. Our nurse on duty Casey Hobbs has a special interest in this conversation…as she was recently diagnosed and is now plugged in to her brand new 2011 2-door CPAP machine. Casey was so impressed with her Kaiser Respiratory Therapist, Grace Bartee, that she invited her to come on the show and talk about sleep apnea and all that goes with it.

A big shout out to our listeners in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond!

You can also download and listen anytime here at NurseTalkSite.com and iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

Bonus Podcast | Billing Fraud Hurts plus RN Jean Ross and Dr. Yvonne Thornton | Show 311 Best Of Nurse Talk

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:27:01 +0000

Have we got something for you! Bonus Podcast this week friends, plus a special trip down memory lane with a best of the best of Nurse Talk featuring RN Jean Ross and Dr. Yvonne Thornton. But first, here’s this:

California Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones joins in the lawsuit against Sutter Health. Sutter is being sued for “alleged” fraudulent billing to the tune of $millions of dollars since 2009. Why does this affect all of us? So many reasons—fraud carries a heavy price for patients, healthcare providers and insurance companies—and contributes to the rising cost of healthcare for everyone.

Follow the Money. Fraudulent billing can add to the rising cost of healthcare.

Casey talks with RN Susan Wittstock about this and other issues that are impacting us all. Susan has been an RN at Sutter Medical Center (formerly Alta Bates) since 1987 and has seen a myriad of changes over the years. Check it out on www.nursetalksite.com!

And…Rewind that show! So good we’re playing it again, Sam.

Hunting from a recliner? No, it’s not Sarah Palin but it’s a great story. Tune-in as Casey and Dan talk about this and much more. Joining us is Minnesota RN Jean Ross. Jean is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and has been an RN for over 30 years. Checking in about national issues from single-payer healthcare to the proposed Medicaid and Social Security cuts. With over 160k members National Nurses United is a powerful political force on the national political scene.

And later…we host an incredible woman, Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, author of the best selling book, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters. Dr. Thornton has just finished her second book, Something to Prove, A daughter’s legacy to fulfill a father’s legacy. When she was a little girl her father had a dream that all five of his daughters would be doctors. He knew that would not happen if they stayed in the housing projects so he moved the family to a different state and the rest of the story you won’t believe! Oh, how about five doctors in the family? Try four and one nurse. This is a story that you will hear and be clear that anything is possible! This show was originally broadcast December 26, 2010.

Calling all cars, calling all cars…we are looking for great nurse stories or patient stories or anything health care or health insurance related. Good, bad, funny or sad…we want you! Call us and leave your story (anonymous if you wish) on our hot line at 1-800-977-1863 or Email to pattie@nursetalksite.com or post it on Facebook!

Life After Death and We’ll Show You An Emergency Gov. Snyder | Show 407

Nurse Talk — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:38:47 +0000

Do you ever wonder if life continues on beyond physical death? Does love ever die? Have you heard from your deceased loved one? Hospice nurse and author Elissa Al Chokhachy joins Casey and Dan for a powerful and poignant conversation about life after death. Elissa has written a book called Miraculous Moments: true stories affirming that life goes on after death. Without a doubt–this conversation provides invaluable hope and reassurance for the dying and bereaved. Don’t miss it.

And later in the show our nurses on duty—aka Casey and Dan—talk with Michigan RNs Katie Oppenheim and Bonnie Nesbit. Katie and Bonnie give us an inside perspective on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s proposed emergency financial law. The law, put forth by Governor Snyder gives emergency financial managers the authority to cancel union contracts and fire current city or municipal workers without cause. Emergency financial managers can be appointed by the sitting governor. How does this affect nurses and patients? Find out…

Retaliation, Travel Nursing and “Home Remedies” | Show 405

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:06:20 +0000

Oh my…the show got away from Casey and Dan (aka the nurses on duty) this week! With comedian Lynn Ruth Miller stopping by it’s ALWAYS fun, a bit on the crazy side and hard to distinguish who’s saying what and/or why they’re saying it at all. Health benefit? Sharpens the mind.

Topics this week include a case of retaliation against nurses by D.C.’s largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center. In October of 2010 the nurses at the hospital voted to join National Nurses United. Story ends happily ever after? Not yet…this month the RNs staged a one-day strike to protest WHC’s unwillingness to negotiate and the systematic retaliation against the hospital’s nurses. Casey and Dan talk with WHC RNs Raj Rajini and Peggy Dinkel to find out what is happening now. It is reported the hospital (parent company Medstar) spent $1.5 million a day on a campaign against the union and the nurses during the strike and the four day lock out that followed. You can learn more in this link to the open letter from National Nurses United (PDF).

AND a little lighter conversation with Greg Allen. Travel you say? Sandy beaches, beautiful mountain resorts, tropical islands? You get paid to go? Thats right—how about the life of travel nursing…a new twist and just maybe your next gig. Greg is the CEO of Cirrus Staffing, one of the largest most successful travel nursing companies in the U.S. Aloha STAT! For more information about traveling nurse careers go to www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com.

And of course the Phobia of the Week, The Square Needle Award and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller talking about home remedies. Her views are NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THIS RADIO SHOW….please don’t try these at home (or anywhere)!Don’t forget to check out Grit TV’s new Nurses Station segment and stay healthy!

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am Eastern or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM Pacific on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

The Nurses Station and The Hero Nurse | Show 404

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 06:57:33 +0000

The nurses on duty, a.k.a Casey and Dan, have too much fun with the news…none of which is particularly useful…but good for a laugh nonetheless.

A great chat with our favorite health care activist…CNA/NNU’s Donna Smith. As most of you know, Donna is a legislative organizer in Washington D.C., and if you ever need to know anything about what’s going on in the nation’s capitol, she is the go-to person. Donna weighs in on collective bargaining, the importance of the Wisconsin demonstrations, single payer health care and other topics near and dear to us.

And she shares about the new Grit TV series, The Nurses Station, that will be opening with a SiCKO reunion of sorts. The series visits the families that were featured in Michael Moore’s film SiCKO about the failure of the U.S. health care system and the toll it takes on American families. Donna and her husband Larry were featured in the film.Here’s a clip of Donna’s appearance on Grit TV called “What Value Does Private Insurance Add?”

And we meet a real hero. Kaiser intensive care nurse Janet DeMers. Although Janet is humble and would never refer to herself as a hero…the family of a Novato, CA man thinks otherwise. It turns out Janet was on her way to work one day last month when she happened to drive by a man on the ground tangled up in his bicycle. At first she thought he had just fallen off, but something didn’t seem right so she went back. Her instincts served her well…the man was in cardiac arrest. Tune in and find out what happened next…

And coming up in the weeks ahead…Have Nurse Will Travel…let’s check out traveling nurses. Pack your stethoscope and your blood pressure cuff and be sure you can get though airport security and you’re off! A look at nurses who travel from site to site.A show about Mommies and Blogs? That’s right and who better to unveil this new kid on the block, The Mommies, A Musical Blog, than the writer/producer of the mega-hit Menopause, The Musical, Jeanie Linders? Just happens she can’t stop writing and creating shows that have perfect demographic pitch and big doses of laughter that bring her audiences to a common place…humanity!

Don't miss Lynn Ruth Miller's new segment,"In My Day"

Last…Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller kicks off her new Nurse Talk segment “In My Day.” You won’t want to miss her reflections!You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!

The Baby Whisperer Is In the House and News from Wisconsin | Show 403

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:47:47 +0000

You can buy Marsha's book in the Nurse Talk Must Read bookstore

It finally happened! The Baby Whisperer, RN Marsha Podd, is really on the show this time. Thanks to the genius scheduling of someone who shall remain nameless—we announced that Marsha was going to be on last week. Well, here she comes and as always she is full of great information for moms and dads with babies and toddlers. She answers questions about her new book, Secrets of a Baby Nurse. Check her out on Nurse Talk and at gotosleepbaby.com.

And our RN champions from National Nurses United update us on their experience in Madison, Wisconsin. Jean Ross, co-president of NNU and Jeff Breslin, president of the Wisconsin Nurses Association call in and share the importance of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin. See pictures and learn more at http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/solidarity.

Marchers in the jazz funeral parade on 3/3/2011 in Madison

And what an honor it is to have California Congresswoman Jackie Speier with us. Some of you may have heard her courageous speech on the house floor when she shared a very personal story about having a surgical procedure that resulted in the loss of her baby. She gave the speech in response to a contentious debate about cutting funding for Planned Parenthood.

And lots more from Casey and Dan as they twist and turn through the news and sometimes their views, the Square Needle Award, the Phobia of the Week and staying awake while listening to the soothing voice of Marsha Podd. All this and more…

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Solidarity in Madison and Veterans Benefit Scandal | Show 402

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:02:21 +0000

Direct from Madison, Wisconsin…our nurse friends Jean Ross and Jill Fullier chat with our correspondent Peter B. Collins about why they are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there.Over 100,000 people were present and accounted for at last Saturday’s rally.

Mr. Kors follows the remarkable story of Sgt. Chuck Luther, who served in Iraq and won 22 honors before being wounded by mortar fire. The explosion left Luther with severe vision and hearing loss. Army doctors told Luther his blindness and deafness were caused by a personality disorder

Later In the show, Casey and Dan have a fascinating conversation with investigative reporter Joshua Kors. Joshua talks about his three part series, The Veterans Benefit Scandal. Kors’ report exposes the Army’s systematic cover up of over 25,000 false diagnoses of pre-existing personality disorders.According to a report on armytimes.com, “service members receiving administrative discharges for those disorders have no opportunity to get disability compensation or medical benefits…many service members separated for pre-existing personality disorder had served in combat and displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress.”Shameful. You won’t want to miss this. To say this is a scandal of epic proportions is an understatement.And in the coming weeks…The Baby Whisperer, RN Marsha Podd takes your questions, and an exclusive interview with Congresswoman Jackie Spiers. Also…what everyone should know about Oakland’s Children’s Hospital.You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Inspiration and Perspiration | Show 307BO

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:13:50 +0000

Here comes…THE BABY WHISPERER, RN Marsha Podd! She is taking your questions to answer on the show taping this weekend to air March 5/6. Call 800.977.1863 or email pattie@nursetalksite.com for everything you ever wanted to know about babies but were afraid someone might think you inadequate.And…WHAT IS SCRIPTING AND ROUNDING? Find out…next week.WHAT’S GOING ON WITH OSHA? There is increasing concern as a number of proposed rules that were designed to protect workers’ health and safety have been withdrawn by the Obama administration…What does this mean for you and all workers in this country? Answers to this question and many more are coming up on Nurse Talk.COMING UP this week for our BOSTON listeners—a great encore with a delightful woman named Judith Stark Frost. Judith was a second grade school teacher for over 30 years. She loved teaching her kids how to read but even more than that she loved the humorous things they said. She wrote a very funny book called Priceless Proverbs From the Tongue of the Young. How about these: “A penny saved is…not much” and “He who marries for money…better be nice to his wife.” We all know how funny kids can be without even knowing it!

And later in the show RN Rita Batchley talks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a Southern California public sector hospital. Rita has written a book called Labor Pains, an inspirational book for all nurses about authentic power and finding your true purpose. A very interesting perspective on connecting with your “inner nurse,” health care reform and social change.This week in SAN FRANCISCO…the show you were expecting last week…but got men in polyester shorts instead. Some of you may have noticed that from time to time you can’t find us in our usual slot on Green 960 AM San Francisco. Well, it’s only temporary. Seems that basketball is occasionally more pressing than cutting edge health care discussions.

Larry Byrd and Magic Johnson back when the uniforms made basketball more interesting!

But never fear, because this week you WILL hear about Heart Health Month. We will talk about the American Heart Association’s GoRed Campaign with heart health expert Dr. Joanne Dames. Did you know that heart attacks are the leading killer of women? That’s shocking! Don’t miss it!You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

GoRed and Tackling Workplace Violence | Show 401

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:39:15 +0000

You’ve gotta have heart…miles and miles and miles of heart…BUT it has to be HEALTHY. That’s right…February is Heart Health Month and we talk about the American Heart Association’s GoRed Campaign.Did you know that heart attacks are the leading killer of women? That’s shocking to most of us. Most people think it is breast cancer. We have with us this week heart health expert Dr. Joanne Dames. Dr. Dames is passionate in her quest to educate the public about cardiovascular disease as well as the benefits of bystander CPR and early defibrillation. Don’t miss this! It is lifesaving information.AND…we’re going to hear a repeat about a topic that is alarming. Boston RNs Karen Coughlin and Linda Condon will talk about workplace violence as it relates to RNs and health care workers. Did you know nurses are on par with police officers and prison guards as victims of workplace violence and assault?

Hats off to the Republican women in the legislature of state of Wyoming. They don’t call it the Suffrage State for nothing! Tune in!You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Singing Anesthetists and Real Nurse DENIED Insurance Protests | Show 319

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:39:42 +0000

Waking Up Is Hard To Do…you will love our guests this week. Gary, Keith, Rich and Doug a.k.a. The Laryngospasms, a group of practicing Certified Registered Anesthetists who create and perform medical parodies. These guys are so much fun and their music is a kick. Oh, and they’re really smart too. Join us for a conversation and some music as we chat with them. You can check them out at www.thespasms.com.

And Casey and Dan talk with RN Cynthia Campbell and her husband Alan. Four years ago Cynthia got the devastating news that she had stage four cancer. If that wasn’t enough, when it came time for her insurance company, Blue Shield to pay for her life saving treatment–they canceled her policy. Cynthia and Alan were caught up in a nightmare that is all too common.

Cynthia is now healthy and she and Alan recently took part in a demonstration outside Blue Shield headquarters in San Francisco. They were joined by several hundred others including nurses from the California Nurses Association. Our friend RN DeAnn McEwen was with the Campbells as they successfully delayed a proposed a 59% proposed rate hike. The three of them join us in conversation.And…the Square Needle Award goes to Ginny on the block! “Who?” you say? Tune in and find out.

Speaking Truth to Power Works and These Singing Nurses are Funny | Show 319

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:12:18 +0000

Hey if you weren’t around for the Laryngospasms and our enlightening conversation with cancer survivor and now health care activist Cynthia Campbell…tune in for this show. Laugh, learn and listen as we treat you to a “Best of Nurse Talk.” Check it out!

Gary, Keith, Rich and Doug a.k.a. The Laryngospasms, a group of practicing Certified Registered Anesthetists who create and perform medical parodies. These guys are so much fun and their music is a kick. Oh, and they’re really smart too. Join us for a conversation and some music as we chat with them. You can check them out at www.thespasms.com.

And Casey and Dan talk with RN Cynthia Campbell and her husband Alan. Four years ago Cynthia got the devastating news that she had stage four cancer. If that wasn’t enough, when it came time for her insurance company, Blue Shield to pay for her life saving treatment–they canceled her policy. Cynthia and Alan were caught up in a nightmare that is all too common.

Cynthia is now healthy and she and Alan recently took part in a demonstration outside Blue Shield headquarters in San Francisco. They were joined by several hundred others including nurses from the California Nurses Association. Our friend RN DeAnn McEwen was with the Campbells as they successfully delayed a proposed a 59% proposed rate hike. Since this show aired, Blue Shield backed off the proposal.And…the Square Needle Award goes to Ginny on the block! “Who?” you say? Tune in and find out.

Also check out Grit TV’ s The Nurses Station at http://grittv.org/tag/the-nurses-station.More GRITtvYou can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am Eastern or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM Pacific on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Capitol Hill and Applied Humor | Show 318

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:52:08 +0000

Even if it is old news by now Casey and Dan just had to say something about a “Sputnik” moment. Seems Casey is confused and doesn’t know we have already put a man on the moon.This week our good friend Donna Smith updates us on all things “Capitol Hill.” She talks about the real state of social security as well as other topics such as health care reform and what she and 180,000 of her closest friends at National Nurses United do every day to fight for patients rights and single payer health care.We also check in with her about the recent “Stand Up” campaign directed at President Obama. Stand Up features nurses asking the President to stand up for the needs of working people, stand up for social security benefits, stand up for health care for all, stand up for protection for workers. It’s always a pleasure and an education to have Donna with us.

The Associaton for Applied Humor

Later in the show we talk with Roberta Gold. Roberta is an RTC, recreational therapist by trade and a humorist by choice. Roberta visits with us about her own practice but really wants to shout out the glory of the upcoming AATH (Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor) Conference in Orlando in April. It is a great conference…we went last year and all we did was laugh our way through it. Well, not all the way. Roberta also talks about the AATH Humor Academy. Yes you can graduate from a Humor Academy! Check it out…

And this just in–congratulations to everyone who took part in the Blue Shield protest in San Francisco Tuesday. Hundreds of people marched in front of Blue Shield headquarters this morning and managed to get a 60-day reprieve of a proposed 59% health insurance rate hike! Thank you all for your dedication.

You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime from our audio archive and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Keeping the Promise | Show 317

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:03:46 +0000

But first a little housekeeping. Some of you may have noticed that from time to time you can’t find us in our usual slot on Green 960 AM San Francisco. Well it’s only temporary. Seems that basketball is more popular than little old Nurse Talk. How can this be? Is it that much fun to listen to a basketball game on the radio? Not getting it. BUT never fear you can always listen to the live stream online at www.green960.com, even when we are not on the air. You can listen to the show by going to our NurseTalkSite.com or iTunes too. So glad there are no basketball fans in Boston!We have a great show in store for you this week. Twirling babies, suntan beds in Russian prisons and quite literally a “train-wreck” start us off.

But lets get serious. In our ongoing series featuring topics from National Nurse Magazine, Casey and Dan talk with Nurse Practitioner Lauri Hoagland. Lauri is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Quality Liaison at Kaiser Napa, and serves on the California Nurses Association Board of Directors. Lauri talks about National Nurses United’s RNRN, the Registered Nurse Response Network and a program called Continuing Promise. Lauri was was deployed in Costa Rica through the program and with other nurses provided care to hundreds of patients a day. We could all use some good news and this program falls into that category.

Appearing in December’s National Nurse magazine, Brooke Casipit, Mandi Howard, Lauri Hoagland, and Tara Rynders share a rare moment of rest on board; the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, where RNRN volunteers lived and worked.

Lynn Ruth Miller

And grab your ear muffs…our friend and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller is in the house. We never know what Lynn Ruth is going to talk about and we never know how to get her back to Earth once she starts. Always funny and definitely inspirational.Square Needle, Phobia, email questions and some things in between.Do you know the difference between a viral and bacterial infection? Find out. Sounds easy doesn’t it? It may be, and it may not…

Obamacare | Show 314

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:07:02 +0000

My Heavens! When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with mars then peace will guide the planets and love will see the stars! WELL NOT ANY MORE! Thanks to an overactive galactic phenom called “precession”…everything has changed.

Dan's New Sign

Well not everything…just our astrological signs. Dan shows up to the show a former Cancer and he claims he’s now a two-door full-throttle Scorpio. WHO ARE YOU NOW BABY?!

DeAnn McEwen, RN

Hey, we have a great show coming up. Our good friend RN DeAnn McEwen joins us. DeAnn is an ICU nurse at Long Beach Medical Center and a member of the CNA/NNU Council of Presidents. She shares with us her view of “Obamacare” and why it is not the bill those of us who wanted single payer health care for all would have chosen.

Why single payer? DeAnn says, “If an RN believes in the premise that all persons have the right to access basic health care, and to be treated with respect and dignity, then his or her behavior will be more likely to be congruent with this belief.” What’s next for health care? Listen and find out.AND it’s time to make someone out there laugh! Casey and Dan make random acts of kindness look better all the time. They reach out and touch some folks to see if they might share a laugh. Some do…..and some? Not so much.

And just to remind our friends and listeners out there…the 2011 uninsured death toll for California is 121 for the U.S. 1,287.

Worst Practices by Hospital Administrators | Show 313

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:59:14 +0000

Casey and Dan open the show by announcing the 2011 uninsured death tolls for California and the U.S…95 for the state and 800 and counting for the nation. Do read more about this on our blog.

AND in an attempt to share more medical knowledge with their listeners—Casey decides they should read from the Physicians Desk Reference…you know…like the Republicans read the Constitution the first day of the congressional session.Later in the show, our nurses visit with Massachusetts RN Barbara Tiller. Barbara works at Tufts Medical Center and is chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association‘s local bargaining unit. Barbara will share with us some disturbing facts about two hospitals in her area, (Tufts and St. Vincents) that have become poster children for worst practices by hospital administrators to cut costs and boost profits by failing to provide appropriate nurse staffing. There have been over 800 unsafe staffing reports filed against one hospital alone.

A moving story by Linda and Tony Cole

And of course the same old craziness from our hosts, Square Needle, Phobia of the Week and lots in between.You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Gwen Collins on Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and Susan Shapiro Barash, Best-Selling Author | Show 312

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:44:11 +0000

Happy New Year to all and to all a good night? Well that doesn’t make too much sense now does it?

Sexy 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme S Coupe’s significance becomes clear on the show this week.

What happened to Casey’s poor aunt Sylvia? Listen and find out. An old friend of Nurse Talk calls to check in…oh boy she never disappoints…who could it be?Casey and Dan chat about 2010 and Casey shares that if she could pick a song that reflects last year it would be “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Hmmm? Great show this week.Florida RN Gwen Collins checks in with us to talk about her efforts to protect her patients and how she is educating her community on the importance of RN-to-patient ratios. It’s not just a nursing issue. It is an issue that has an impact on all of us.

Author Susan Shapiro Barash with Her Daughters, Jennie and Elizabeth

And later, we talk with author Susan Shapiro Barash. Susan is the author of the best seller, Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships. She has written a new book called, You’re Grounded Forever…But First, Let’s Go Shopping: The Challenges Mothers Face with Their Daughters and Ten Timely Solutions. Are we raising monsters? Why do mothers feel like they need to be friends with their daughters? Get the answers and check out Susan’s book at www.nursetalksite.com.Join us for all the fun.You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Health care is a right not a privilege. 2011 Uninsured Death Toll in CA: 63 | in US: 533. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

National Nurses United on Politics and Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, author | Show 311

Pattie Lockard — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:56:49 +0000

Hunting from a recliner? No, it’s not Sarah Palin but it’s a great story. Tune in as Casey and Dan talk about this and much more.Joining us is Minnesota RN Jean Ross. Jean is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and has been an RN for over 30 years. Checking in about national issues from single payer healthcare to the proposed Medicaid and Social Security cuts. With over 160k members National Nurses United is a powerful political force on the national political scene.

And later…we host an incredible woman, Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, author of the best selling book, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters. Dr. Thornton has just finished her second book, Something to Prove, A daughter’s legacy to fulfill a father’s legacy. When she was a little girl her father had a dream that all five of his daughters would be doctors. He knew that would not happen if they stayed in the housing projects so he moved the family to a different state and the rest of the story you won’t believe! Oh, how about five doctors in the family? Try four and one nurse. This is a story that you will hear and be clear that anything is possible!

Plus, the usual shenanigans and a lot in between. Happy holidays and thank you all for being our friends and supporters!

Rewind Mary Michelucci and Terri Tate | Show 247BO

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:09:45 +0000

This show was originally broadcast August 29, 2010 but it was so good, we’re going to play it again. Dan’s back from Disneyland and updates us on the new and improved “It’s a Small World” ride. Anyone who has ever been to Disneyland knows just how annoying this ride was. Get ready—Danny boy says it’s even worse now—but hey, don’t tell your kids.Casey and Dan visit with an RN from San Francisco’s St. Luke’s Hospital. The hospital has been under fire for discriminatory hiring practices. This is yet another issue that has plagued the hospital since Sutter Health took it over.

Later in the show we visit with RN consultant and inspirational speaker Terri Tate. Terri introduces a very sensitive topic known as “lateral violence,” or nurse-on-nurse violence. Its a very sensitive topic and this is an interesting and important conversation you won’t want to miss. Join us!

Terri Tate in an interview for BlogHer on Humor and Healing

Happy Holidays to you and yours…Remember you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

RN Karen Higgins on What’s Up in DC and RN Karyn Buxman, Speaker. Author.”Freakin’Funny” | Show 310

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:09:24 +0000

“Oh my there is so much happening in the news these days Dan,” says Casey. Dan responds with “lets see if we can RAP IT ALL UP Casey.” Well, you have to check it out..they do indeed RAP IT UP.

Obamacare, don’t you dare,touch my junk, its not fair,pat downs, radiation,don’t ask…don’t tell,debt panels, medicare,social security go to hell,unemployment, that’s OKbut don’t take my tax cuts away,people, people where does it go?the republicans got it…JUST SAY NO!

But, on to the real stuff. Casey and Dan have a great conversation with our friend RN Karen Higgins about the recommendations that came from the President’s Debt Reduction Panel. What Karen has to say is shocking, at the very least, and should make all of us stand up and take note. We are NOT in the business of spreading fear but we do want to shine the light on the continued assaults on the working class in our country. If you are a nurse—can you imagine working in the ICU or any other department in a hospital when you are 69 or 70? Think of what it takes to get through your shift now—when you are still physically strong—add a few years and who’s lifting who?

Brace yourselves! Karyn Buxman is in the house. Karyn is an RN, MSN, and publisher of the Journal of Nursing Jocularity, a humor magazine for RNs. She is also the current president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor conference. If you are allergic to laughter…don’t say we didn’t warn you!Coming up in the next several weeks all new interviews, a new segment by our friend and funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller and of course we continue to thank you our listeners and supporters. Have a very happy holiday season!

The Best of the Best, Holiday Parties, Funny New Segment | Show 237BO

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:50:21 +0000

To Our Listeners, Supporters, Friends and Families…..We wish to thank you all for listening, laughing, and helping us make this dream a reality. Happy Holidays!

Thanks making our hamming it up possible.

Coming Up on Nurse Talk this week, the best of the best, an encore of Casey’s visit with Minnesota RN Mary McGibbon talking about Minnesota’s nurses strike, the largest strike of its kind in U.S. history. It was all about the ability to treat all patients with safety and good care as the number one priority.

AND GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES because we have an absolutely-must-listen interview about prostate cancer on the show. Casey talks with Dr. Arthur L. Burnett and Norman S. Morris. They have co-written a book called Prostate Cancer Survivors Speak Their Minds with advice on options, treatments and aftereffects. Dr. Burnett is Director of Male Consultation Clinics for Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Norman S. Morris is an Emmy-award winning journalist and a prostate cancer survivor.In the coming weeks, Casey and Dan visit with our friend Marsha Podd, aka the Baby Whisperer, and Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller starts her new segment called “In My Day”, oh you won’t want to miss it…I’d describe it for you, but suffice it to say…hearing it firsthand is much better.

Lynn Ruth Miller

Watch for Nurse Talk listener parties in your location…Remember you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Lynn Ruth Miller, plus DeAnn McEwen and Martha Kuhl on Workplace Violence | Show 309

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:57:55 +0000

Casey and Dan talk about Dan’s bout with the “brown recluse” family in his garage. Funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller stops by the studio and gives tips on how to get through the holidays—starting with how to avoid getting arrested while going through security at the airport.

BurGranny – Portrait – 1/2 from Joan Tilouine on Vimeo.

Cynthia B. Palomata

On a more serious note RNs DeAnn McEwen and Martha Kuhl talk about the tragic murder of RN Cynthia Palomata. Cynthia was murdered by a patient while she was on duty. Unfortunately workplace violence is on the rise in hospitals and other health care facilities. This tragedy has brought about the critical need for workplace policies and legislation that will prevent and protect workers from ever having to be victimized by this growing epidemic.A trust account has been set up for Cynthia’s family.Cynthia B. Palomata Trust FundRedwood Credit UnionSan Rafael Branch209 3rd Street San Rafael, CA 94901-3546(415) 457-4612Routing #321177586Account #356859

Don’t forget, you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Rewind Kathy Carder and Dr. Nieca Goldberg | Show 244BO

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:49:22 +0000

Encore, Encore! For this week’s show we are rewinding a show originally broadcast in August because it was so “moving”…There’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on! Casey and Dan talk to RN Kathy Carder about earthquake safety (or the lack thereof) in hospitals. Kathy resides in Venice, California and is a nursing practice representative for Cal Nurses. She explains that there are literally hundreds of California hospitals that were built in the 1950s (and some before that) that are at extreme risk when another large earthquake hits. NOW, PLEASE DO NOT PUT OFF THOSE SCHEDULED SURGERIES BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW MORE AFRAID OF AN EARTHQUAKE WHILE YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL…do listen to what Kathy has to say and then take action by calling your local representatives to help hospitals see the light.AND she’s back! Our friend Dr. Nieca Goldberg, the author of the best selling book, The Complete Guide To Women’s Health. The good doctor has some great advice on what you should do before taking you vacation. YES—we’re talking to you. Dr. Goldberg says you would be shocked to find out how people suffer from a lapse of common sense prior to and during their vacations when it comes to their health and well being. Check it out it’s really good advice as you embark on holiday trips.

Donna Smith and Cameron Harris | Show 308

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:23:06 +0000

Casey and Dan rap with Donna Smith about the midterm elections. What now? What later? What is the future of health care reform and what can we do to keep the drum beating for single payer health-care? It looks as if it will happen state by state not on a national level. We at Nurse Talk support health care for all as a right not a privilege.

AND please listen to Whiz Kid Cameron Harris. Cameron has been on Nurse Talk before and he is an amazing guy. When he was 8 he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Fast forward 8 years and here he is with his own national podcast show called In Range. Cameron shares tips about how to manage the disease, and not let it manage you. You can find Cameron’s podcast empire at www.harwoodpodcast.com.What ever happened to Haiti? That’s what we want to know. In the coming weeks we’ll have an update. What happened to the billions of dollars in pledges? The hundreds of thousands of volunteers? Answer: Not sure…but we will find the people who can tell us. Stay tuned.The holidays are coming up…you will be with friends and family…don’t forget to add laughter to the recipes!

Coming Up on The Show: Judith Stark Frost and RN Rita Batchley | Show 307

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:23:16 +0000

News Flash! Meg Whitman is selling her campaign bus on ebay!! Well, after $160 million plus to her campaign, Meg has retired to her Atherton home to lick her wounds. She can’t call a nurse cause she—well—lets just say she made some enemies along the way. Never one to let grass grow under her feet we heard she just listed her campaign bus, 1,062 office chairs, 890 desks, a fleet of telephones, 1,600 computers and a variety of two-piece women’s pant suits—all on ebay. Clearance sales can be a bite!

On to the show…this week Casey and Dan talk with a delightful woman named Judith Stark Frost. Judith was a second grade school teacher for over 30 years. She loved teaching her kids how to read but even more than that she loved the humorous things they said. She wrote a very funny book called Priceless Proverbs From the Tongue of the Young. How about these: “A penny saved is…not much” and “He who marries for money…better be nice to his wife.” We all know how funny kids can be without even knowing it!

And later in the show RN Rita Batchleytalks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a southern California public sector hospital. Rita has also written a book called Labor Pains, an inspirational book for all nurses about authentic power and finding your true purpose. A very interesting perspective on connecting with your “inner nurse,” health care reform and social change.And of course all the tricks…some funny…some….well, questionable. A big shout out to all of our listeners, without you nothing happens.

Queen Meg’s Farewell Tour and Ellen Kagan | Show 306

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:12:24 +0000

Hey Macarena, Macarena, Macarena…well this very tune causes a big disruption in the studio this week and our hosts are not amused…you might not be either…Coming Up…Count down to election 2010! And Casey and Dan catch up with Queen Meg in her big ol’ bus—traveling up and down the roads of the great state of California. Queen Meg (as many of you know) has a wicked platform that includes abolishing the Department of Education, enforced “vacation” time for citizens…as in “pink slips” (and that’s not the kind you wear), no new taxes (for the wealthy), no capital gains, or weight gains—and no hiring of undocumented workers…PLEEEEEZE!The polls show Jerry Brown running 10 points ahead of Ms. Whitman, so here’s hoping she gets her campaign “pink slip!”Then, Casey and Dan have some fun with guest Ellen Kagan. Ellen, who lives in beautiful Cape Cod, is a woman of many talents, including her latest endeavor, Ellen In Medicaland, a book that she is just finishing up. The book and blog, http://www.elleninmedicaland.blogspot.com, are great reads and tell the story of an unbelievable trail of medical mishaps.

Ellen Kagan author of Ellen in Medicaland

Ellen herself was once improperly diagnosed with terminal cancer. The diagnosis came from a very high profile teaching hospital that she names. Her advice to everyone who gets ill and counts on their medical professionals to properly treat you…”make sure you have an advocate with you, make sure you get second opinions, make sure you ask questions and get answers.” Please understand she is not bashing the medical profession—she is simply giving an account of what happened to her and uses it as a word of caution to others.AND coming up in the next few weeks, our wiz kid Cameron Harris with his podcast series, In Range, tips on how to live a healthy life with Type 1 diabetes, a heartbreaking conversation about gay teen suicide and how families can find help, National Nurses United growing and fighting for patient safety across the country and much more…Don’t forget you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream atwww.green960.com.A big thank you to CNA, NNU and MNA for their support of Nurse Talk.You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes.Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Rewind Andrew McGuire and Deborah Burger | Show 300BO

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:39:32 +0000

This week’s show is an encore presentation originally aired September 19, 2010 featuring Andrew McGuire and Deborah Burger.Andrew is the creator of the California OneCare Campaign. The campaign is simple, single payer health care for all Californians. This discussion takes us back to the good old days when many of us thought nationwide single payer health care was a possibility. You won’t want to miss this discussion.Dan and Casey try to figure out if they want to join the TEA PARTY or simply have one. It might have to be the latter because there’s enough confusion to go around. Dan thinks its an all-girls club and Casey thinks they’re “too radical!” Now that’s a twist…RN Deborah Burger, one of the three National Nurses United co-presidents joins us. She will enlighten us about all kinds of issues that affect all of us…not just nurses and health care workers. On that note, what ever happened to “health care reform?”More to come…..next week we shall visit Queen Meg as she travels the state of California on her last ditch (we certainly don’t wish that on her) effort to win the governor’s seat. Oh if there is an election god….we’ll pay to pray if we have to!

Also in the coming weeks we will have a panel discussion about gay teen suicide and what resources are available to help teens and their parents. And we’ll talk with Cameron Harris our wiz kid from “In Range.” Cameron has type one diabetes and rather than sit back and let it have him–he took it on as a challenge to be shared with others—he created a podcast network and his show “In Range” gives helpful information and advice to others with type one diabetes. Check it out.

Don’t forget you can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com.You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Evolution? and CNA’s Donna Smith | Show 305

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 06:53:12 +0000

Eisenhower, Nixon, Ferraro, Clinton, Palin, Angle, O’Donnell……we’ll hear from all of them on the show coming up…really! Oh dear lord…if you don’t believe in evolution this might just make you change your mind! Evolution, as in the caliber of our candidates running for higher office. Oh, a moment of silence for us all…please.SKELETONS are popping out of gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s closet in a HILARIOUSLY HAUNTED LATIN-STYLE MUSIC VIDEO written and directed by Oakland recording artist/activist COLETTE WASHIGNTON as a special presentation for the California Nurses Association. Watch this video and pass it along!BUT hey there is always interesting news from our friend Donna Smith. Donna brings some reality to all the myth we hear coming out of D.C. She chats with Casey and Dan about her campaign work in Nevada, the new components of the health care bill that are being rolled out, the need for SINGLE PAYER health care now more that ever, and what’s at stake in the upcoming elections.

AND we’ll check in with nursing student Laura Ricci. Laura will graduate this December from University of San Francisco. She talks about what her challenges have been and how much she loves her chosen profession. What’s next for her? Finding a job.And of course the usual noise, news, Square Needle, email questions, Phobia of the Week and anything in between…Hello to all our listeners in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com oron iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

RN Linda Carter on Nurse Patient Ratios | Show 303

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:38:10 +0000

Casey and Dan continue the discussion about California gubernatorial investor—oh sorry—candidate, Meg Whitman and the legendary country singer Slim Whitman. The facts are in and they are indeed sixth cousins.When reached for comment Whitman (Slim) had this to say, “Pray for me. I’ve tried to keep this a secret for many years. I’m just glad I’m 89 and off the circuit. If not, this news would have killed my career.” Ms. Whitman could not be reached for comment.AND ON TO something of greater importance. This week we visit with RN Linda Carter. Linda works in Augusta, Georgia for the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. It seems the hospital has an 8 million dollar shortfall so they are not replacing much needed RN positions and increasing work hours for the RN staff.

This formula is unfortunately, the “practice” in many hospitals around the country. Without mandated safe nurse patient ratios, this practice will not only continue where its already been implemented, but other medical centers will follow. This cannot happen! Recent studies have shown what nurses have already known–that nurse patient ratios save lives. Listen to Linda–its a great conversation.And of course we feel like a little laughter so Casey and Dan do “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?” Find out—some people are—and some people aren’t.Guess the Phobia of the Week and hang with us while we read some email questions and hear some phone calls. Plus, a call from an old (and we mean old) friend.You can listen…to Nurse Talk in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Single Payer, Nurse Ratios and Caring for Elders | Show 302

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:30:28 +0000

Please tell me I am not the only one who knows and loves Denny Crane! I just needed to hear his voice again so ordered an audio clip of the Denster and everyone in the studio looked at me like I was out of my mind…Help! Is anybody out there willing to defend me?

Karen Higgins, RN

OK on with it. Casey and Dan chat with Boston RN Karen Higgins. Karen is past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United. Karen shares her views on the continuing need for single payer health care in our country, the urgency regarding nurse-patient ratios and other important issues that affect all of us. It seems the hospitals are looking at more ways to cut staffing (this is in the face of a health care crisis) in preparation for Obama Care kicking in. Is it really Obama Care of is it just one more way to continue to make huge profits on the backs of hard working RNs and health care workers?

Kira Reginato

AND some great advice about taking care of your parents or other elderly loved ones. Kira Reginato joins us. Kira is the president of Living Ideas for Elders and is the host of her own radio show on KSRO, The Elder Care Show in Santa Rosa, California.AND course what would it be without the square needle award, phobia of the week, some crazy calls and emails and Casey and Dan acting up.A big shout out to all of our listeners and across the country!You can listen…to Nurse Talk in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at www.NurseTalkSite.com and www.TheRadioFactory.com oron iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

RN Deborah Burger, Dr. Allan Bernstein | Show 301

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:54:48 +0000

Are Slim Whitman (the country singer) and Meg Whitman related? Well you might think that’s just a spoof or not true. You would be wrong. This week Nurse Talk invested $110.00 to hire a “family tree” consultant to follow the Whitman roots. It turns out indeed the Whitmans are sixth cousins. Neither has acknowledged being related but then again we don’t think anyone except us really even gave it a second thought. Stay with us as this story develops.

We have a great show this week, RN Deborah Burger is with us talking about everything from politics to national issues that impact all of our lives. Deborah is one of three co-presidents of National Nurses United. She has been a nurse for 37 years and an advocate for thousands. We always love to have her with us.Also Dr. Allan Bernstein shares with us information about the importance of early Alzheimer’s studies and treatment.And of course the usual Casey and Dan talking amongst themselves.

Just a reminder to check out Cal One Care, the campaign for single payer healthcare for all Californians. We can do this! www.calonecare.orgYou can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM in the San Francisco Bay area or live stream at www.green960.com. Coming to you in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am and live stream at www.wwzn.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at www.NurseTalkSite.com andwww.TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”
Listen to this show

Andrew McGuire and Deborah Burger | Show 300

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:21:36 +0000

Its back to school! We have no idea why we started with that because it has nothing to do with he show coming up but it does fit in with the season. Hey…we do have a great show coming up.

This week we host Andrew McGuire. Andrew is the creator of the California One Care Campaign. The campaign is simple, single payer health care for all Californians. This discussion takes us back to the good old days when many of us thought nationwide single payer health care was a possibility. You won’t want to miss this discussion.Dan and Casey try to figure out if they want to join the TEA PARTY or simply have one. It might have to be the latter because there’s enough confusion to go around. Dan thinks its an all girls club and Casey thinks they’re “too radical!” Now that’s a twist…RN Deborah Burger, one of the three National Nurses United co-presidents joins us. She will enlighten us about all kinds of issues that affect all of us…not just the nurses and health care workers. On that note, what ever happened to “health care reform?”Casey tells Dan to unpack his luggage. He thought he was actually going to Boston next week…rather than just broadcasting there. Hope they’re ready for us.Lots of new shows throughout the coming season. If you would like to join us in our studio for a live taping of the show on October 16th..please email us at pattie@nursetalksite.com or call 415-515-8318. We only have space for ten–so hurry scurry. I guarantee you it will be entertaining. Hot cross buns and coffee!You can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM in the San Francisco Bay area or live stream at green960.com. Coming to you in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 AM EST and live stream at wwzn.com.

You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and www.TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”
Listen to this show

Mary Michelucci on SF St. Luke’s Discriminatory Hiring and Terri Tate on Lateral Violence | Show 247

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:24:39 +0000

Dan’s back from Disneyland and updates us on the new and improved “It’s a Small World” ride. Anyone who has ever been to Disneyland knows just how annoying this ride was—get ready—Danny boy says it’s even worse now—but hey, don’t tell your kids.Casey and Dan visit with an RN from San Francisco’s St. Luke’s Hospital. The hospital has recently been under fire for discriminatory hiring practices. This is yet another issue that has plagued the hospital since Sutter Health took it over.

Terri Tate

Later in the show we visit with RN consultant and inspirational speaker Terri Tate. Terri introduces a very sensitive topic known as “lateral violence,” or nurse-on-nurse violence. This is a very interesting and important conversation you won’t want to miss.And as a matter of gratitude we wish to thank our friends at California Nurses Association and National Nurses United for their unwavering support of Nurse Talk. Never could we have imagined the contribution they have been to us.We’d also like to thank all of the guests we’ve had on the show, the good people who work every week to create the show, June Miller, Peter Collins, Tonia McCallum, Casey Hobbs, Dan Grady, Liz Jacobs and last but not least…our listeners!

Nurse Talk is Coming to Boston!

And next month…move over Car Talk…we’re coming to Boston! A big thank you to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.You can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Workplace Violence | Show 246

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:46:53 +0000

Karen Coughlin, RN provides her testimony to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Judiciary

Listen to the Show Dan’s on vacation so after a series of her own “medication errors,” Pattie steps in and oh…it’s a bad hair day! It just makes us realize how much we miss Elvis!

BUT help is on the way when Casey talks to RNs Karen Coughlin and Linda Condon about the epidemic of workplace violence against nurses and other health care workers. This is something you don’t hear about and the conversation will shock you.

Linda Condon, RN, speaks about her experiences with violence in the workplace.

Did you know that nurses are on par with prison guards and police officers for the highest rate of workplace violence? For many years it has been looked at as just “part of the job.” Help is on the way and the nurses are on the front lines to change legislation to protect against this abuse.

And of course we always want to give a big thank you to our great presenting sponsors the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United. AND a warm welcome to our newest sponsors the Massachusetts Nurses Association. We couldn’t do this without you!

Remember if you have ideas about the show or if you know someone who would make a great guest–contact us at pattie@nursetalksite.com.

You can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Mark Lauren-Be your own gym! | Show 245

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:56:48 +0000

COMING UP ON NURSE TALK……..CHECK PLEASE….Meg Whitman + $100 million = YIKES…please don’t let the trend of buying your way into office get even bigger and more common. Casey and Dan try to help California governator hopeful, Meg spend her money in what they think are more meaningful ways…well, I know that is totally subjective!

Check out You Are Your Own Gym in our NT Must Read Bookstore

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? YOU ARE YOUR OWN GYM! That’s right you can be your own gym according to super trainer Mark Lauren who has just written the “bible” on sensible low impact workouts that you can do at home, with no equipment and relative calm. If you are anything like we are …this sounds like a good alternative to “macho man” at the gym. Mark has some great tips and workouts and you can pick up his book by going to the Nurse Talk Must Read Bookstore.

AND DON’T forget….Boston here we come! Nurse Talk will make its debut in Boston ( one of our favorite cities) after Labor Day on 50K watt station WWZN 1510 AM. A big thank you to our friends at the Massachusetts Nurses Association and of course California Nurses Association and NNU for making it possible to bring you Nurse Talk in expanded markets. And coming up next week a very compelling discussion on workplace violence in hospitals and other health care facilities. We are joined by RN’s Karen Coughlin and Linda Conlin for a very compelling look at what is happening in our hospitals.Remember you can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

RN Kathy Carder and Dr. Nieca Goldberg | Show 244

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:06:48 +0000

Hear this week’s showWE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT AFTER LABOR DAY NURSE TALK COMES TO BOSTON station WWZN. Thank you to our friends at the Massachusetts Nurses Association as they join the ranks of sister organizations California Nurses Association and National Nurses United…Hello Boston!

COMING UP THIS WEEK ON NURSE TALK…..Whole lotta shakin’ going on! Casey and Dan talk to RN Kathy Carder about earthquake safety (or the lack thereof) in hospitals. Kathy resides in Venice, California and is a Nursing Practice Representative for Cal Nurses. She explains that there are literally hundreds of California hospitals that were build in the 1950s (and some before that) that are at extreme risk when another large earthquake hits. NOW, PLEASE DO NOT PUT OFF THOSE SCHEDULED SURGERIES BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW MORE AFRAID OF AN EARTHQUAKE WHILE YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL…do listen to what Kathy has to say and then take action by calling your local representatives to help hospitals see the light.

Listen to Casey's earthquake story

Neica Goldberg, MD

AND she’s back! Our friend Dr. Nieca Goldberg, the author of the best selling book, Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide To Women’s Health. The good doctor has some great advice on what you should do before taking you vacation. YES—we’re talking to you. Dr. Goldberg says you would be shocked to find out how people suffer from a lapse of common sense prior to and during their vacations when it comes to their health and well being. Check it out it’s really good advice.Dan sings the blues, Casey reads the news and they both laugh themselves into better health.Oh, and you won’t want to miss hearing about the new “fall lineup” of Flus and Other Viruses.

Coming this fall. What a relief.

AND later this month California Attorney General Jerry Brown joins us, Senator Barbara Boxer will be with us and we’re going to reveal a sure fire way to “cure constipation now“!Remember you can listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Marsha Podd, RN Barbara Williams and Carmela Carlyle | Show 210BO

Pattie Lockard — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:15:29 +0000

Nurse Casey and Company welcome Marsha Podd, AKA The Baby Whisperer, and retired RN activist Barbara Williams. Barbara will talk about the importance of being and staying active in the fight for patients rights and the rights of RNs and other health-care workers. Marsha and Casey take questions from listeners about babies, toddlers and new mothers. Then, a surprise guest—Carmela Carlyle from Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is gaining momentum as a legitimate therapy that helps relieve stress and ease pain. (Originally aired October 25, 2009)

Barbara Williams, Marsha Podd, and Carmela Carlyle | Show 210BO

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:50:46 +0000

Oh the summer is flying by so fast! Nurse Talk hosts Casey Hobbs and Dan Grady talk about everything from car fires and catalytic converters to what is happening on the “hill” these days.

Donna Smith, RN

Our good friend Donna Smith from the National Nurses United D.C. office checks in with us on all things Capitol Hill. Donna is always a wealth of information and stresses the importance of the upcoming elections. One that stands out for us is the re-election of California Senator Barbara Boxer. Senator Boxer has been an outstanding friend and advocate for nurses in California as well as across the country.Later in the show Casey and Dan talk with our “former” student nurse and now full-fledged RN–Bryan Lo. Bryan has passed the California State Boards and is now looking for work. Bryan has such a great spirit as he listens to Casey put the fear of God in him about what he might expect as he embarks on his new career. Thanks Bryan for being such a good sport!

Then, nurses notes and email questions finish off the show and there you have it.In the coming weeks on Nurse Talk…..Dr Nieca Goldberg is back to give us some tips on keeping good health while you travel–this is good information people. Also coming up will be a new book “YOU ARE YOUR OWN GYM” by Mark Lauren—a bible of body weight exercises for men and women. This is the book I have been looking for all my life…Stay cool, have fun, relax and be with the ones you love! Have a great rest of the summer and remember “laughter is the best medicine!”Listen…to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at www.NurseTalkSite.com and www.TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

DeAnn McEwan and H1N1 | Show 208BO

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:41:29 +0000

This week we’re rebroadcasting a favorite show. The callers just keep getting better! This week a caller describes the agony of her “gas problem” in DETAIL. What do we expect with the tag line, “cause laughter is the best medicine?”Later in the show, Casey talks with De Ann McEwen about H1N1 Swine Flu policy issued by California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee.

Hob Osterlund, RN

On a lighter note we welcome Hob Osterlund, RN. Wait until you hear what she is up to! Hob is a Clinical Nurse Specialist living in Hawaii. She is working in the area of humor and health-care and performs a comedy alter-ego “Ivy Push, RN.” She also serves as President and Producer of the Health, Humor and Hospitals Project. How about the Chuckle Channel! TUNE IN AND FIND OUT MORE. (Originally aired October 11. 2009)

Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor | Show 241

Pattie Lockard — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:04:02 +0000

The White House Doctor by Dr. Connie Mariano

How often do we get the chance to talk with the former White House Doctor? Well, next week join us for an interview with Dr. Connie Mariano who was nominated to the rank of Rear Admiral by President Bill Clinton and eventually served as the White House Physician for President Clinton and President George W. Bush. She has written a wonderful new book called The White House Doctor, a riveting look into the personal lives of our presidents. Dr Mariano has also achieved an impressive list of “firsts” that include being:

the first military woman to become the White House Physician to the President,
the first woman Director of the White House Medical Unit, and
the first Filipino American in US history to become a Navy Rear Admiral!

YOU CAN PURCHASE THIS BOOK AND ALL OTHERS YOU HEAR ABOUT ON NURSE TALK RIGHT in our NURSE TALK Must Read Bookstore AND IF YOU DO—WE GET A LITTLE PARTY MONEY!You can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com, EnergyTalkRadio.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Marsha Podd and Trand Phillips Ratios | Show 235

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:54:12 +0000

This week: ENCORE, ENCORE—Casey talks about her recent skirmish at an Arizona checkpoint, and Marsha Podd, aka The Baby Whisperer—ROCKS! Also—listen to what RN Trande Phillips has to say about a new study that proves RN/Patient Ratios save lives.

Putting Nurses on the Map: NATIONAL NURSES UNITED RAISING THE BAR AND SHINING A LIGHT ON PATIENT CARE….See what’s happening around the country.

AND COMING SOON–NURSE TALK is starting a “Hot Job” of the week segment. Jobs from all around the country will be just a click away. Courtesy of our friends at Nurse Together.com.AND THIS FALL WE START A REALLY GREAT SEGMENT THAT FOLLOWS THREE University of San Francisco NURSING SCHOOL GRADUATES INTO THEIR LIVES AS RNs. It could even be called “THE REAL NURSES OF SAN FRANCISCO!“THAT’S IT AND STAY WITH US…you can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com, EnergyTalkRadio.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Beth Kean and Dr. Matthew Edlund | Show 240

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:37:49 +0000

DAN’S THING IS REVEALED AND LESLIE WHITE IS THE WINNER OF THE “DAN’S THING” CONTEST.

VW THING

So now we know…Dan’s search for the perfect THING is over and he is now the proud owner of a 1973 VW THING. For some of us who were around to witness the “roll out” of this fabulous das auto—it is really exciting to see the THING is as adorable as we remember. OK, a few scratches and scrapes —ALRIGHT—big dents and 240,000 miles later—she’s still a gem!! Stay safe Dan and here’s hoping you have AAA.OK COMING UP ON NURSE TALK…Casey and Dan visit with the California Nurses Association’s Beth Kean.

Picket Line at UC Davis, Photo Courtesy CNA

Beth talks about the recent ruling by a Superior Court judge that stopped the walk-out of over 12,000 UC Medical Center RNs. The RNs have been trying to call attention to the fact that UC Medical Centers (most notably U.C. Davis in Sacramento) have not been complying with the California RN-to-Patient Ratio law. The bill was passed over 10 years ago and mandates hospitals in California limit the number of patients per shift nurses can safely treat. A recent study proved that the bill does save lives. This is important stuff for all of us to know.

AND CAN WE TALK? Yes we can and we are talking about the POWER OF REST by Dr. Matthew Edlund. Dr. Edlund’s book is really a different approach to sleep and he makes a distinction between SLEEP AND REST. He finds that many people are not just sleep deprived they are REST deprived and there is a BIG DIFFERENCE. The book is fascinating and if you want to read it after you have listened to the interview–just go to our site at www.nursetalksite.com.OK all for now and you can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com, EnergyTalkRadio.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”Pattie LockardExecutive Producer

Hotel Hennepin. Union Yes in Texas. Dan’s Thing

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:45:35 +0000

COMING UP ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK…Casey and Dan visit with Texas RN Monica Sanchez about the union vote that recently occurred in Texas and made history as the first of its kind. Texas RNs in five cities voted to join National Nurses United. They will now join thousands of other bedside nurses across the country who are fighting for patient rights and better conditions for RNs.

Hotel Hennepin by our guest, Janet Izzo, RN,

ALSO WITH US IS RN Janet Izzo. Janet is a Minneapolis RN who has written a book called Hotel Hennepin (named after the Hennepin County Hospital where Janet works). In the newly released book Janet chronicles her career working in a large county hospital as a staff and charge nurse on the obstetrics unit. The stories are poignant, sad, hysterically funny and all amazingly true! Check out Janet’s book and all other authors featured on Nurse Talk in our NT Must Read bookstore.

AND—WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THE “DANS THING” CONTEST! We will be announcing the winner of the “Dans Thing” contest next week so don’t miss it! It’s fun and funny. We will also post a photo of Dan and the winner and Dans Thing on the website.

Coming in June, author Dr. Matthew Edlund

ALSO COMING UP THIS MONTH IS DR. MATTHEW EDLUND talking about his new book, The Power Of REST, Why Sleep Alone is Not Enough! Boy, don’t I know that…Its really an interesting book—so listen to the show and find out how you can employ a 30-day plan to reset your body!!

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”Pattie LockardExecutive Producer

Lynn Ruth Miller and the Queen | Show 238

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:18:40 +0000

What do Fergie, Meg Whitman, a two year old boy that smokes, “Queen Meg,” RN-Patient ratios, Mentos and soda, and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller…ALL HAVE IN COMMON? Absolutely nothing…but what fun it is to talk about them. Join Nurse Talk hosts Casey Hobbs and Dan Grady for another episode of Nurse Talk.

Queen Meg

Find out about what happens in the absence of scheduled guest “Queen Meg.” Who is Queen Meg? She just happens to be trying to buy her way into the California Governor’s office. BUT due to a scheduling conflict QM had to cancel but her sister steps in. Insanity ensues!

Lynn Ruth Miller

Also our friend Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller stops by the studio to laugh with Casey and Dan. Lynn Ruth is just back from her “world comedy tour” called Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s, Cha…Cha…Cha. She just happens to be one of the funniest seventy-seven year olds you’ll ever meet.AND Dan gives the last clue about what his “thing” is. Remember if you are the first to call or email with the answer you win $100 cash or $100 worth of Movie Tickets!! Look for clues on the website too and then call 1.800.977.1863 or email us at casey@nursetalksite.com.

Dr. Connie Mariano coming in June to Nurse Talk

HEY don’t leave us this summer! We got hot..hot …hot things happening. In June we have Dr. Connie Mariano, author of The White House Doctor. Dr. Mariano was a White House doctor during the Clinton Administration. She says she can talk at length about all kinds of things including the White House nurses! This will be very interesting.

You can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at www.NurseTalkSite.com, www.EnergyTalkRadio.com and www.TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”Pattie

National Nurses United D.C. Rally | Show 237

Pattie Lockard — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:08:22 +0000

Dan in the studio. What

DAN FOUND HIS “THING” …TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR YOU TO GUESS WHAT IT IS. THE WINNER GETS $100 WORTH OF MOVIE TICKETS. GO TO THE WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR THE CLUES…AND LISTEN TO THE SHOW ON JUNE 6TH FOR THE FINAL CLUE. CALL 1.800.977.1863 OR EMAIL YOUR GUESS TO casey@nursetalksite.com.

WHAT an exhilarating experience! Casey returns from the National Nurses United D.C. Rally where over 1,000 RNs marched to the Capitol in support of patients’ rights. “I never thought walking could be so much fun…let alone the amazing feeling of “power” in a united cause,” says Casey. “Just kidding about the walking–but the feeling of making something happen out of a strong commitment and a tour de force is a remarkable experience.”

AND speaking of remarkable, legendary White House reporter Helen Thomas was honored with the “Speaking Truth To Power” award by National Nurses United. Please check out the clip of this INSPIRING woman. HEY—we have a great show coming up. Casey visits with Minnesota RN Mary McGibbon. Minnesota Nurses just voted to strike last Wednesday. Over 12,000 nurses make this the largest strike of its kind in U.S. history. PLEASE—it’s not the money and benefits they are fighting over. It is the ability to treat all patients with safety and good care as the number one priority. I say this because I am learning a lot about nurses being advocates for patients. I am not a nurse but I have been, a patient, and (God forbid) will probably be one again. I am thrilled that someone has my best interest at heart. Honestly!

AND—GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES because we have an absolutely mandatory interview about PROSTATE CANCER on the show coming up. Casey talks with Dr. Arthur L. Burnett and Norman S. Morris–who have co-written a book called PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS SPEAK THEIR MINDS—Advice on Options, Treatments and Aftereffects. Dr. Burnett is Director of Male Consultation Clinics for Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Norman S. Morris is an Emmy award winning journalist and a prostate cancer survivor.You must listen to this and buy the book too! Browse our website for more information on all of the topics above.

You can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at www.NurseTalkSite.com, www.EnergyTalkRadio.com and www.TheRadioFactory.com.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”Sincerely,Pattie LockardExecutive ProducerNurse TalkP.S. send us to a friend

Arizona, Baby Whisperer and Trande Phillips | Show 235

Pattie Lockard — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:44:26 +0000

Trande Phillips, RN

COMING UP on the show this week…Casey talks about her recent skirmish at an Arizona checkpoint, Dan’s “thing” is now green and Marsha Podd, aka The Baby Whisperer—ROCKS! Also—listen to what RN Trande Phillips has to say about a new study that proves RN+Patient/Ratios save lives.

JUST BECAUSE summer is upon us doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to listen to Nurse Talk. Coming up is a very candid conversation about Prostate Cancer with Dr. Arthur L. Burnett II and Norman S. Morris who have written a new book that offers new options, treatments and advice. This is a do not miss.

Nurse Talk is off to Washington D.C. for Nurses Week where we will be interviewing politicians that we can catch if they don’t reach a run—and presenting a conversation about workplace violence. Patient-on-nurse violence is escalating but several RN organizations such as the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association and California Nurses Association are doing some great things to deal with and prevent it.

Until next time remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

Patient Ratios Save Lives | Show 234

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:33:52 +0000

This week RNs talk about a new study just out that proves “patient ratios save lives.” We’ll also talk with Karen Coughlin about workplace violence and what is being done to stop it.

We’ll be airing an encore presentation of Casey’s interview with Kay McVay. Kay is a retired RN who shares her story about a not so blissful retirement. KAY RETIRED IN 1995 JUST 7 SHORT YEARS BEFORE HER HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR NURSES. Kay was the type of nurse who once insisted on riding along in the ambulance with a patient with a heart condition to make sure he got the care he needed. “I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS PATIENT GETS TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY TREAT HIM–NOT TURN HIM AWAY.” She served as a past president for California Nurses Association and continues to work with the organization as President Emeritus.AND of course don’t forget the Baby Whisperer Marsha Podd will be with us in May.

Have you heard about “Dan’s thing” yet? It’s his latest passion and he is keeping it secret until he achieves it. Any guesses what it is?What is your “thing?” What makes your life complete? What keeps you feeling healthy and fulfilled? How do you relax? What are you working toward or searching for? Enter the Dan’s Thing Contest. Watch the blog and listen to the show for upcoming clues. Email your guess and tell us what your “thing” is…C’mon winner gets $100 in movie tickets or CASH toward their own thing. GET THE FIRST CLUE at www.nursetalksite.com.

What is Dan’s Thing?!? CONTEST

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:19:46 +0000

Have you heard about “Dan’s thing” yet? It’s his latest passion and he is keeping it secret until he achieves it. Any guesses what it is?We also want to know what your “thing” is. What makes your life complete? What keeps you feeling healthy and fulfilled? How do you relax? What are you working towards or searching for? Watch the blog and listen to the show for upcoming clues. Email your guess and tell us what your “thing” is…C’mon winner gets $100 in movie tickets or CASH toward their own thing. As a bonus, we’ll sign you up to Nurse Talk’s email newsletter.FIRST CLUE: “Old Looking” SECOND CLUE: “Dan’s Thing” is now green. THIRD CLUE: Even when some people see Dan’s Thing they have no idea what it is.

SMSN Student and RN Patty Eakin | Show 233

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:58:17 +0000

Casey talks with a student nurse panel from College of San Mateo, School of Nursing. It is a wonderful conversation with four very smart senior nursing students. They talk about why they were called to nursing, the challenges they have faced and will face, and of course they share a funny story or two—because after all “laughter is the best medicine.” Great discussion—don’t miss it.

Patty Eakin, RN

ALSO, WE visit with RN Patty Eakin from Temple University Medical Center about the current strike. This is a very important conversation that affects everybody in this country. It is not just about nurses and patients it is about large corporations systematically dismantling labor unions and stripping away the voices of workers and communities.

LAST WEDNESDAY, a strike by nurses, health care professionals and technical employees at Temple University Hospital, represented by the Pennsylvania of Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, began with a picket line that eventually grew to over 1200 for a noon-time rally.”If you want your constitutional rights, you need to go somewhere else.” Robert Birnbrauer, Human Resources, Temple University Hospital, DECLARED.Don’t forget the RN Heroes Project, sharing and celebrating ordinary nurses doing extraordinary things. For more information visit www.rnheroes.org.

AND JUST WHO DO YOU THINK GETS THE SQUARE NEEDLE AWARD THIS WEEK? Well, it isn’t a politician, banker, lawyer, criminal or the like. It is someone who square dances when their partner is doing the cha cha cha! Stay tuned.Remember it is not too late to send a nurse to Haiti. The cameras have left but the needs are still enormous. Nurses are still traveling to Haiti to help thousands of people in need with ongoing medical care. Please go to www.nationalnursesunited.org to find out about how you can help.’Til next time remember “laughter is the best medicine”!

RN Heroes Project Feature This Week | Show 227

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:05:29 +0000

Tim Thomas, RN

Continuing the RN Heroes Project, co-hosts Casey and Dan talk with RN Tim Thomas. Tim is one of the nurses who went to Haiti as part of National Nurses United’s RN Response Network. Over 12,000 nurses volunteer to help. In an effort to acknowledge these selfless acts of service, the RN Response Network launched the RN Heroes Project.

This interview is one of a series that will be featured in the coming months. For more information and to listen to full podcasts, visit www.nursetalksite.com or www.calnurse.org or www.rnheroes.org. (This interview originally aired February 28, 2010.)

Talking with Andrew McGuire | Show 232

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:35:25 +0000

Casey and Dan speak with Andrew McGuire the Executive Director of California One Care. Andrew talks about the founding coalition and the campaign that is under way to pass SB 810, State Senator Mark Leno’s legislation for Single Payer Health Insurance for ALL Californians. Andrew has created an amazing campaign that includes a new 30-second spot every day for 365 days. These ads feature proponents of “single payer” doing their own ads. Anyone can submit an ad and so far there have been ordinary folk like you and me, and celebrities such as Lily Tomlin, AKA Ernestine and Paula Poundstone just to name a few. Don’t miss this great discussion. For more information on California One Care and how you too can make your own commercial, go to www.californiaonecare.org or visit our website at www.nursetalksite.com.

Tim Thomas, RN

And…Casey and Dan talk with RN Tim Thomas. Tim who is one of the Nurses who went to Haiti as part of National Nurses United’s RN Response Network. Over 12,000 nurses have volunteered to help. In an effort to acknowledge these selfless acts of service the RN Response Network launched the RN Heroes Project. This interview is one of a series that will be featured in the coming months. For more information and to listen to full podcasts visit www.nursetalksite.com or www.calnurses.org or www.rnheroes.org.

Later this month we will be hosting a student nurse panel…should be fun! And hey, DON’T MISS THE BABY WHISPERER…MARSHA PODD WILL BE BACK WITH US IN MAY SEND YOUR BABY QUESTIONS IN SO MARSHA CAN ANSWER. 1-800.977.1863 OR EMAIL US AT casey@nursetalksite.com…

UNTIL THEN remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

RN Heroes Project | Show 231

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:43:39 +0000

Nurse Talk is pleased to be part of the kick off of the…CNA/NNU’s Donna Smith joins the hosts of Nurse Talk, Casey Hobbs and Dan Grady–to introduce the RN Heroes Project. Donna gives a warm introduction to the project and is followed by a conversation with Massachusetts RN Kathy Reardon. Kathy speaks with humility about her time and service in Haiti and shares some very moving comments about her experience. When asked if she thought of herself as a hero…”Not at all, I just did my job,” replies Kathy.

Patient with Kathy Reardon, RN

In the coming months, Nurse Talk will speak with “RN Heroes” and share their inspiring stories. Thanks to the RN Response Network, CNA and National Nurses United for acknowledging the heroes that walk among us at www.nationalnursesunited/heroes:“Nurses do not seek out the situations in which heroes are identified and sometimes glorified; nurses offer themselves into the service of patient care whether that care is needed in the rubble of Haiti, the devastation of Sri Lanka after the tsunami or the flood-damaged Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans after Katrina.”Later in the show, a guest you’ve all been waiting for, Dr. Gail Altschuler, an expert at helping people lose weight, will answer your questions about weight loss and health. Her 30 years of experience as a physician as well as losing 50 lbs herself, have helped her find some keys to weight loss success. Did you know that stress causes a metabolic reaction that causes weight gain…besides just making you eat more? Take a break, tune-in to Nurse Talk and learn more.

Dan’s Mom Rita stops by | Show 230

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:50:14 +0000

…IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR! Well, Nurse Talk does it’s own version of ALL IN THE FAMILY as Co-host Dan Grady’s mom, Rita, stops by. Lovely Rita, as we like to call her, is a retired RN now working as a full-time volunteer for the Red Cross. It seems as though the apple does not fall far from the tree—Rita is as wild and wacky as her son! This week Casey and Dan talk with RN Laurie Bahr. Laurie has been an RN for 16 years and currently works in the Cardiac Surgical ICU at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. She sheds some light on current Pension Bargaining Efforts taking place in her state. It seems that hospitals are using the “economic downturn” to cut benefits that most RNs have been paying into for years. Laurie is active in the Minnesota Nurses Association, the organization that works to protect patients and the nurses who serve them.

A quick update from RN Carol Rodgers. You may remember Carol has been heading up efforts to save San Leandro Hospital in California from closure. She has good news and will update us on recent developments.Also a moving account of some of the RN’s back from Haiti and the usual playful antics —the Square Needle Award, “Is Anybody Laughing,” Phobia of the Week and some email questions.Tune in every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com, EnergyTalkRadio.com and TheRadioFactory.com.

Keep in mind, there is still time to phone in or email your questions for Dr. Gail Altschuler coming up next week. Gail will talk about weight loss and well being.We’ve got more coming your way! A panel of student nurses visits with Casey and Dan in April, we introduce a new segment we’re calling “The Real Heroes”…and more on Nurse Talk. Remember “laughter is the best medicine”. Thanks for listening.

CNA/NNU and Health Care Reform | Show 229

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:29:40 +0000

Confused and disillusioned about health care reform? Well, join the rest of us. Our go-to expert CNA/NNU’s Donna Smith visits with Casey and Dan and doesn’t hold out much hope for anything resembling a single-payer or a public option. Yes, there is some good that will come out of this but Donna urges all of us to call our congress and senate members and let them know we still want a single payer or medicare buy-in system.Later in the show, “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?”…oh my, we got some work to do pilgrims! America is not laughing as much as we need to be, so Casey and Dan are out to change that one call at a time. Lo and behold…Nurse Talk’s Maggie McDermott ends up on the segment talking about her pink slip.

Dr. Gail Altschuler

Don’t forget on March 28 Dr. Gail Altschuler will be with us taking your questions about weight loss and health. Call this week with your questions for the doctor and we will answer them on the air. Call 1.800.977.1863 or email pattie@nursetalksite.com.

You can listen to Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime on iTunes, or stream at NurseTalkSite.com, EnergyTalkRadio.com and TheRadioFactory.com. Until next week remember “laughter is the best medicine”

Patient’s Rights | Show 228

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:27:49 +0000

COMING UP this week on Nurse Talk, Casey and Dan talk with two Florida-based RNs who share their experiences in a state where RNs have not had the “voice” or the collective power to fight for patients rights, better work conditions and better laws. Things are changing and RNs Gwen Collins and Ansie Blot share about their involvement in new workplace campaigns.Also with us during our “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?” segment is RN Deb Gauldin. Deb is a power house and loves to laugh. She’s a musician and humorist has a cartoon and column, Deb’s Last Laugh in the Journal of Perinatal Education.

Square Needle, “News” and most times our views, Phobia of the Week and some email questions and calls. ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH YOUR WEIGHT? Well, tune in to Nurse Talk March 28th as we feature Dr. Gail Altschuler. Gail owns the Altschuler Clinic for Wellness and Weight Loss in Novato California. She has some great practical advice for weight loss and health. Gail will be taking your questions, so call or email before March 19 and we will have her answer your questions on the air. 1.800.977.1863 or pattie@nursetalksite.com.Listen laugh and learn with Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download on Itunes, Nursetalksite.com and Energytalkradio.com….Until next time…….remember laughter is the best medicine!

Dan Grady Co-Hosts! | Show 227

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:13:07 +0000

A very touching and insightful conversation with RN Tim Thomas, just returned from Haiti where he volunteered on the U.S.S. Comfort. Tim talks about his experience and how he would go back in a minute. He is full of gratitude for the extraordinary opportunity to serve such appreciative people. Tim was among the first of thousands of RNs who will be going to Haiti over the next months and years. The RN Response Network and National Nurses United are heading up this important task.

Nurse Dan Grady Joins Casey As Co-Host Later in the show…Dan and Casey inaugurate a new Nurse Talk segment called “Is Anybody Out There Laughing?” What happens when you make random calls and ask if people are laughing? Oh…let’s just say you really have to listen to the show to find out. Allison McDermott from Fireburndoctor.com checks in again. Just to remind you Nurse Talk does not necessarily endorse or subscribe to some of the opinions or practices we feature on the show…but we find this very interesting and worth a look.

The Square Needle goes to a California political candidate, the Phobia of the Week goes viral and Casey and Dan answer email questions from our listeners.For those of you living in Northern California, Marin County to be exact…watch for our announcement of Nurse Talk Live. That’s right, we may be coming to a venue near you and I can promise you won’t want to miss it. Great guests, complimentary coffee and pastries and that’s just for starters.

And last, we want to introduce our latest online radio partner, The Radio Factory. Nurse Talk can now be heard anytime at www.theradiofactory.com. Don’t forget our good friends at Energytalkradio.com and you can always listen to our podcasts at www.nursetalksite.com.Every Sunday 2PM/PST on Green 960 AM San Francisco and live-stream at www.green960.com… Until next time, remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

A NURSE TRAVELS TO HAITI”In Her Own Words”Lauren Aichele

Pattie Lockard — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:37:40 +0000

2 Weeks in Haiti on the USNS Comfort By Lauren AicheleFebruary 2, 2010 was the beginning of what would be the most exciting and rewarding experience that I have ever been involved in. A little over 24hours prior, I had learned of my deployment to Haiti. I felt so honored to be one of three nurses from National Nurses United/RN Response Network to have been chosen to be a part of Operation Unified Response on board the USNS Comfort Navy Ship. I quickly packed my bags, filled out paperwork, got the necessary injections, and left San Francisco at 6am that morning to head to Jacksonville, Florida. This is where I met the incredible people with whom I would share this experience. We were greeted by the United States Navy, and from day 1 until the end, they could not have been more gracious and grateful. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us.

After a briefing from the Navy the next morning, we flew from the Naval Base in Jacksonville to Port au Prince, where we arrived at dark. The town looked horrifying with people living in the streets and in whatever shelter they could throw together with sheets, boxes, etc. Rubble littered the dark streets and there were small fires everywhere, which may have been used for cooking or just to have some light. Some speculated they may be burning bodies. The scene was surreal and quite unsettling, and I was happy our bus was guarded at the door by US military staff with guns.We arrived at the ship by small boats. We were then assigned a place to sleep, filled out paperwork, had a late dinner and got to bed in time for a few hours of sleep before getting up to start our first full day. After breakfast and an orientation we started working! During this two weeks, I had never seen so many broken bones and such traumatic injuries. Fractures of the pelvis, tibia, fibula, femur, ulna, radius, hand, humerus, talus, spine, condylar fractures, and facial fractures.People had been waiting for weeks to have their surgeries. At this point, the fractures were healing which made them more difficult to fix. There were numerous pressure sores from people being stuck under the rubble for so long. There were head injuries, amputations, and many debridements. Many bones were crushed, infections were setting in, and there were multiple bring-backs. Some people had multiple broken bones. Tuberculosis and tetanus were seen. People had been paralyzed.There was also a trickling in of injuries unrelated to the earthquake, from car accidents, a kid falling out of a mango tree, and things of this sort. There were many children as well as adults.

One kid who stood out in my mind had been found in an orphanage after the earthquake all by himself and had a huge tumor on his eye. They did not know his name or age and called him “John”. They think he was around age 10. He couldn’t walk or talk and someone drove him by motorcycle to a Haitian hospital before he was flown to the ship. He wanted to bump fists with everyone he saw and it was touching to see him happy despite what he had been through.There was a 12 year old girl with a crushed tibia who came back for surgery multiple times and showed unimaginable strength. The translators were trying to get in touch with her father to let him know where she was. One guy in his 20′s came in with his arm hanging off and through it all he continued to wear a huge smile on his face.Some people had to choose between amputation or death because of gangrene. Some chose death. One middle-aged woman who needed her arm amputated refused to speak after an amputation was mentioned, and she was brought to the OR many times for debridements and trying to save her arm.

There were many stories and its tough to imagine what these people have endured. Some have lost family members and friends. Many were malnourished. People were in terrible pain. Its not easy thinking about what will happen to these people when they leave the ship to go back to the island. Some will need a lot of follow-up care, and I can’t help but wonder if they will get it. Where will they live, what will they eat, who will take care of them? These are the questions that plague me.The two weeks went fast, and I didn’t feel ready to leave. I wanted to do more.On the way back to the airport, we saw Port au Prince during the day. People seemed to be moving on with their lives as best as they could, kids were playing and looked happy. Their resilience is unreal. My heart goes out to the Haitians. This was an experience I would not trade for the world.

Lauren Aichele, RN

Lauren Aichele has been an operating room nurse for 14 years and is currently employed by University of California San Francisco Medical Center at Mt. Zion Hospital. She was previously a traveling nurse in the operating room and has worked at Indiana University Medical Center, New York University Medical Center, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Good Ol’ Days and Stress vs. Salt | Show 226

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:01:21 +0000

Houston, we have a wonderful addition to Nurse Talk. As some of you may know our Maggie McDermott has limited her role with Nurse Talk but still remains a part of our show. We have been searching for months for a perfect fit to co-host the show with Casey and we found him! Welcome Dan Grady, a hospice nurse and a very funny and talented guy too. Maggie helped us crown Dan as the new resident four leaf clover. Casey and Dan have great chemistry and we never know when he will break into his best Edith Bunker, Ted Baxter, or Elvis voice.

Sandra Falwell, NP

This week we welcome D.C. based nurse practitioner and activist Sandra Falwell. This is a great conversation, as Sandra has been in the profession for 40 years and shares some AMAZING stories about the “good ol days” or not so “good ol days” when she was once asked to give up her chair for a doctor. This was after a 14 hour shift, 27 patients and 4 codes. Tune-in for her answer to his question aka…DEMAND.

Nieca Goldberg, MD

DR NIECA GOLDBERG IS with us for Women’s Heart Health Month. She poses the question: Is STRESS KILLING US OR IS IT SALT? Dr. Goldberg has written the Complete Guide To Women’s Health and has agreed to be Nurse Talk’s resident Heart Health Specialist.AND check out “Flip Flops For Haiti” at www.jclfund.org. Kim Whitehurst, President of the Jeanie C. Linders Fund tells us about this great and simple way to help.

Steve Curtain from Nurse Together will check in with us. Nurse Together is a hot site for RNs, a “virtual lounge” if you will. It is one of the most comprehensive and resourceful sites we have seen. For more information go to www.nursetogether.com.

On our February 28th show we will talk with three RNs just back from Haiti. These nurses are part of an effort (sendanurse.org) sponsored by the RN Response Network and National Nurses United. Please join us for this exclusive interview.Donations are still needed for Send A Nurse and 100% of the proceeds go to travel and supplies for the nurses to treat the Haitian people. Go to www.sendanurse.org or www.NationalNursesUnited.orgYou can hear us in the San Francisco Bay Area every Sunday at 2PM on Green 960 AM or live streaming at green960.com. Nurse Talk is also available on demand on Energy Talk Radio at www.energytalkradio.com. Podcasts of the CNA segments are linked at www.calnurses.org or www.nursetalksite.com.

Send a Nurse | Show 225

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:35:28 +0000

The Nurses traveling to Haiti still need your help. Please donate today by going to www.sendanurse.org. Nurse Talk will be hosting Nurses returning from Haiti next week. Please support this cause..the nurses will be in Haiti long after the TV cameras are gone. Remember www.sendanurse.org.

Coming Up This Week On Nurse Talk…Casey invites Dan Grady to join her as guest co-host and together…well …they giggle through the show. Dan is a Hospice Nurse and loves to laugh, share his experiences and express his opinions…sounds like someone else we know. Casey talks with Nurse Practitioner, Kevin Barrett. Kevin has a Master of Science in Nursing and for the last eight years, has hosted a cable access TV show called AIDS. It is an interactive program that allows the community to ask nurses questions that deal with prevention, treatment and care of sexually transmitted diseases. KEVIN WORKS AT CHICAGO’S COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL AND RECENTLY ATTENDED THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SHAPING GLOBAL HIV AND AIDS WORKPLACE POLICIES. HE HAS MORE THAN A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH Persons with HIV/AIDS.

And Casey and Dan visit with Chip Lutz, a former Navel Officer (with a sense of humor!) CHIP CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH). HE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FABULOUS UPCOMING 23rd Annual Conference.

Dan’s lovely mother Rita gets in on the act and helps the nurses (she just happens to be one) answer email questions.Listen To Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM/PST on Green 960 AM or live stream at www.green960.com, Energytalkradio.com and nursetalksite.com on demand. WATCH FOR NEW AND EXCITING CHANGES COMING YOUR WAY!! And, please welcome our new strategic partner Nurse Together.

Casey Interviews Michael Lighty, CNA Director of Public Policy | Show 221

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:03:57 +0000

Michael Lighty, the Director of Public Policy for the California Nurses Association, joins Casey to speak about healthcare reform and advocating for single-payer bills state-by-state. If you think real healthcare reform is important, you won’t want to miss his strategy. Click here to listen to the segment by going to the Nurse Talk CNA On Demand page.

Michael Lighty

Michael has over twenty years of experience in political, community and union organizing. He has spoken throughout the country on healthcare reform, financing and delivery issues and is currently coordinating the national policy and organizing for CNA/NNOC’s healthcare reform program.

Save San Leandro Hospital | Show 219

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:30:32 +0000

Nurse Talk spoke with RN Carole Rodgers last week. (See show 219, December 27, 2009) Carole works at the Alameda County Medical Center and has recently been active in the fight to keep San Leandro Hospital open. The hospital is now run by Sutter Health Group who is trying to close it. Closing facilities that serve the “underserved” is a pattern that is practiced by Sutter.

SAVE SAN LEANDRO HOSPITAL

Supporters say, “We need the help from the community to let our County Board of Supervisors know they have the power to keep San Leandro Hospital open as an acute care facility – with a 24 hour emergency room!”http://www.savesanleandrohospital.com/

Karen Buxman laughs it up | Show 218

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:04:44 +0000

Brace yourselves! Karyn Buxman is in the house. Karyn is an RN, MSN, and publisher of the Journal of Nursing Jocularity, a humor magazine for RNs. If you are allergic to laughter…don’t say we didn’t warn you! CNA/NNOC’s Donna Smith sets the record straight about current healthcare reform and talks about the advent of the new “Super Union” National Nurses United.

This week Nurse Talk welcomes CNA’s Donna Smith. Donna (as many of you know) works in the D.C. office and is a fierce advocate for single payer healthcare legislation and other critical issues that face RNs and patients in our country. She and her family were featured in Michael Moore’s movie, Sicko. Nurse Talk Host Casey Hobbs catches up with Donna in a bowling alley in Chicago where she and a group of single payer loyalists are raising money for the cause. Always informed and passionate about the issues–Donna tells it like it is.

AND congratulations to all of you who won our Holiday Giveaway! Great stuff! Thanks to all who contributed the fabulous prizes. J La Chic Productions, Energy Talk Radio, Kinsey Sicks, Lynn Ruth Miller, Katheryn O’Shaunessy, Serenity Pet Services, Points South Restaurant. AND REMEMBER…”laughter is the best medicine!”

The Kitchen Sink | Show 217

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:27:49 +0000

Talk about your kitchen sink…Well, we do cover a lot of topics this week on Nurse Talk. Casey will talk with RN Jean Ross who is the newly appointed National Nurses United Co-President. Jean will talk about the new “super union” and what this means not just for RNs across the country but for health care in general. It’s all good!

Later on in the show we’ll talk with Johnny Trotman–the hardest working guy in showbiz–at least that’s what he tells us. Johnny will talk about JLaChic Productions Theatre 39 @ Pier 39 and will also tell us about a great New Years Eve party coming up. He’s going to give away two VIP tickets to that event so you really need to register yourself for the holiday giveaway people! Just go to nursetalksite.com. Just between you and I or us…these tickets have a value of $175 each. Win them before I do!Lynn Ruth Miller calls in to cheer us all up. All she has to do is tell us how old she is and we all feel better! She said it, we didn’t. Lynn Ruth is always fun and inspiring.To learn more about our topics and guests go to: www.nationalnursesunited.org or www.calnurses.org. Information about JLaChic Productions can be found at www.theatre39.com and Lynn Ruth Miller at www.lynnruthmiller.com.

GOOD THINGS…If you live in Marin County check out these offers…Katheryn O’Shaunessy at Renaissance Salon and Spa is offering a complimentary hair style with any color or tint. This is an $85 value and is available for a limited time only. For more information go to www.nursetalksite.com/links.php.If you are looking for a GREAT pet care service–look no further. Paula Cottom owner of Serenity Pet Services is offering a weekend of free pet sitting for new customers. Check out Serenity Pet Services at www.nursetalksite.com/links.php.

Don’t forget to enter our Holiday Drawing!!!! Tickets to great local shows, haircuts, pet sitting services, free advertising, massage, restaurant gift certificates…You can hear us in the San Francisco Bay Area every Sunday at 2PM on Green 960 AM or live streaming at www.green960.com. We are also available on demand at Energy Talk Radio at www.energytalkradio.com. You can also go towww.calnurses.org to download podcasts of the CNA segments or towww.nursetalksite.com/audio.php.As always we thank our sponsors at the California NursesOrganization/National Nurses Organizing Committee @calnurses.org. REMEMBER…”laughter is the best medicine!”

Karen Higgins and the Kinsey Sicks | Show 216

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:46:38 +0000

Is it a bird…a plane…a helicopter..? NO…its Winnie from the Kinsey Sicks, America’s Favorite Beauty Shop Dragapella group. Casey talks to Winnie (peppy and hilarious) during the second half of our show.

Kinsey Sicks

Coming up this week in our RN segment we’ll visit with Karen Higgins, RN, President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Karen has worked at Boston Medical Center for the past 35 years and has seen and experienced radical changes in the healthcare industry. She shares with us her point of view about healthcare reform and the current Massachusetts system that is being touted as a model for a national system. Karen is also one of the co-presidents of the new 150,000-member National Nurses United, the largest RN union and professional association in U.S. history.Join us for our usual shenanigans, the Square Needle Award and the Phobia of the Week. AND REMEMBER…”laughter is the best medicine.”

Cokie Giles Visits | Show 214

Pattie Lockard — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:56:40 +0000

Casey Hobbs RN Co-Host of Nurse Talk has a casual and informative visit with Cokie Giles. Cokie talks about the importance of Organizing and the progress that has been made in her great state of Maine particularly since joining with CNA/NNOC.Cokie graduated with a BSN from University of Maine in 1978. She has worked as a staff nurse for 31 years, the last 13 years in the endoscopy department at Eastern Maine Medical Center. She has her national certification in gastroenterology nursing. Cokie has been a member of the Maine State Nursing Association for 20 years, and has been a steward for the last seven years. She acted as treasurer of Unit 1 for four years and was elected president of MSNA in 2009 and sits on the Board of Directors of the CNA.You can hear Cokie’s conversation by visiting calnurses.org or nursetalksite.com. To listen to Nurse Talk in its entirety go to green960.com, 2PM every Sunday and live stream or listen at 960AM on your Bay Area AM dial.

Conversations with Patty Eakin and Terri Tate | Show 213

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:35:10 +0000

Coming Up on the Show…While Pattie tries to talk about a conversation she had with her 93-year-old aunt, Casey finds a shopping bag left in the studio by Maggie. The rattling begins and Casey describes the items in Maggie’s sale bag. Let’s see…the first item is a snow flake globe with Jesus in the praying position. Next up, ceramic nun salt and pepper shakers. You’ll have to tunein to hear the rest.Our first guest this week is RN Patty Eakin. Patty is the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. As an emergency room nurse at Philadelphia’s Temple University, she sees it all. Patty has direct experience caring for thousands of uninsured patients who would have no place to go if they could not be treated in the ER.As President of PASNAP, Patty spends a great deal of her time advocating for safety and quality healthcare for patients. One of those protections being safe patient ratios. She credits the California Nurses Association for their 12-year fight to establish requirements for safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

Terri Tate

Later in the show we talk to Terri Tate. Terri is a remarkable woman and a down-to-earth inspirational teacher disguised as a stand-up comedienne. Her unique brand of humor shines hilarious light into the darkest corners of the human experience. She visited these dark places, most notably during two near-fatal bouts of disfiguring oral cancer. Terri has re-emerged, committed to illuminating the way for others as they discover their own path to healing, purpose and passion.

AND…the holidays are coming up! Every week friends of Nurse Talk with nice gifts for our listeners will call in to tell us what they are putting under the Nurse Talk Tree. It’s easy to win…all you do is go to www.nursetalksite.com and click on the holiday page and register.We’ll have the usual features…the Square Needle Award and the Phobia of the Week…along with email questions and calls.You can hear us in the San Francisco Bay Area every Sunday at 2PM on Green960 AM or live-stream at www.green960.com. You can also go to www.calnurses.org to download CNA segment podcasts or to www.nursetalksite.com/audio.php. As always, we thank our sponsors at the California Nurses Organization/National Nurses Organizing Committee @ calnurses.org. REMEMBER….”laughter is the best medicine!”

Maggie’s Out of Control! | Show 212

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:33:44 +0000

Oh lord it’s Maggie and she is out of control. A little celebrity attention and she turns into a DIVA! Who knew…I think Whitney Houston would be lower maintenance! Join us as Maggie chats with Casey and can’t wait to get on the road to do some A-1 shopping at her GERADGE (Irish for Garage) SALES! Everyone is gonna get the good stuff Casey!

HEROES ARE everywhere and we take a few minutes to acknowledge a few personal heroes as well as some Heath Care Reform Heroes.Casey and Maggie visit with Michael Michaud host of Life Without Limitations. Michael has an absolutely remarkable story about his recovery from HIV-AIDS and other medical complications. Michael speaks eloquently about this miracle. Life Without Limitations can be heard on EnergyTalk Radio.com–an up and coming Internet radio station that Michael Co-Created.AND HEY GET READY for the Nurse Talk Holiday Giveaway. Each week until mid December we will be putting great holiday gifts under the Nurse Talk Fake Silver Tree–gifts like two VIP $175 tickets to a Royal NEW YEARS EVE AFFAIR AT the San Francisco Ritz Carlton, four tickets to the San Francisco Opera’s Nutcracker, tickets to the new KINSEY SICKS Holiday Show, Champagne, Hotel Stay for Two in SF Premium Hotel. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE A WINNER IS GO TO THE NURSE TALK WEBSITE AND REGISTER TO WIN. MORE DETAILS TO COME…

Health Care Debate, Sicko and Maggie’s Gig | Show 211

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:04:17 +0000

COMING UP…As the Healthcare debate rages on, Casey has a hard time keeping up and compares it to a horse race…Coming down the inside lane is Barack Obama riding “Can’t We All Just Get Along” and gaining speed is Max Baucas on “No Public Option” and here comes Olympia Snow on “Republican Token”…you get the drift.

REMEMBER MICHAEL MOORE’S MOVIE SICKO? Well, Donna Smith, whose family was featured in the movie will be with us and she is a Power House! Donna took adversity and turned it into a passion to make insurance available to EVERYONE! She has a great story…you won’t want to miss her.Later in the show….WHIZ KID Cameron Harris will talk about his video podcast show “In Range.” Cameron created the show to share tips on how to manage Diabetes. He has Type One which was diagnosed when he was 8 years old. We’ve asked Cameron to be a regular on the show.

Maggie has a “gig” at the White House as a “Senior”… advising Obama on Healthcare Reform. She says she will push for “red wine” being covered as a prescription for good health.AND REMEMBER…”laughter is the best medicine.”Don’t FORGET YOU CAN LISTEN TO NURSE TALK ON GREEN 960AM OR LIVE STREAM AT WWW.GREEN960.COM EVERY SUNDAY AT 2PM. Oh…and WWW.ENERGYTALKRADIO.COM, EVERY DAY AT 4PM.And, as always we thank our sponsors at the California Nurses Organization/National Nurses Organizing Committee @ calnurses.org.

Staying Active and the Baby Whisperer | Show 210

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:36:59 +0000

COMING UP…Nurse Casey and Company welcome Marsha Podd, AKA, The Baby Whisperer, and retired RN activist Barbara Williams. Both have a lot to say about two very different topics.Barbara will talk about the importance of being and staying active in the fight for patients rights and the rights of RN’s and other health-care workers. She may be retired from her job—but she is still very actively advocating for a “single payer” insurance option for all. Yet another RN who has been on the front lines and knows how broken the current system is. HOWEVER…that does not keep her from being optimistic about true health care reform.

Marsha Podd, RN

AND THEN…Baby…Baby…Baby! Marsha Podd, RN, AKA, The Baby Whisperer is back! Marsha and Casey take questions from listeners about babies, toddlers and new mothers.AND, WE have a surprise guest—Carmela Carlyle from Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is gaining momentum as a legitimate therapy that helps relieve stress and ease pain. Carmela also gives CEU’s (continuing education units) for RN’s who take her classes. Check it our at www.nursetalksite.com.

AND REMEMBER…”laughter is the best medicine.”Don’t FORGET YOU CAN LISTEN TO NURSE TALK ON GREEN 960AM OR LIVE STREAM AT WWW.GREEN960.COM. EVERY SUNDAY AT 2PM. Oh…..and WWW.ENERGYTALKRADIO.COM—EVERY DAY AT 4PM.

Kim Kutcher Fights Blue Cross | Show 209

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:39:23 +0000

On the show this week, Casey interviews RN Kim Kutcher. Kim lives and works in Orange County and has been fighting her insurance company, Blue Cross, for 2 years. She needs back surgery to correct a critical injury (most likely work-related) and has been denied time after time by her insurance company. This unfortunately is an all too common story.
In the studio with us will be RN Helen Greenspan. Helen wrote a great story about her workplace evaluation. It’s funny and alarming at the same time. RN’s compared to cars? Tune in and find out.Don’t forget to leave your questions on the hotline for Marsha Podd–the Baby Whisperer–coming up on the October 25th show! 1.800.977.1863 or email pattie@nursetalksite.com REMEMBER ….laughter is the best medicine!

H1N1 Policy and Nursing Jocularity | Show 208

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:38:39 +0000

Listen…Laugh…Learn…COMING UP THIS WEEK AND BEYOND.The callers just keep getting better! This week a caller describes the agony of her “gas problem” in DETAIL. What do we expect with the tag line, “cause laughter is the best medicine”?Later in the show, Casey talks with De Ann McEwen about a recent H1N1 Swine Flu policy issued by California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee. De Ann is an RN and serves on the Board of Directors of CNA/NNOC. The policy deals with the medical practice guidelines. A very interesting discussion.On a lighter note we welcome Hob Osterlund, RN. Wait until you hear what she is up to!

Hob Osterlund, RN

Hob is a Clinical Nurse Specialist living in Hawaii. She founded that state’s first inpatient pain management program. Hob is working in the area of humor and health-care and performs a comedy alter-ego “Ivy Push, RN”. She also serves as President and Producer of the Health, Humor and Hospitals Project. How about the Chuckle Channel! TUNE IN AND FIND OUT MORE.ATTENTION ALL OF YOU MOTHERS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS, and NANNY’S……..THE BABY WHISPERER, MARSHA PODD, IS BACK. Call in or email your questions so Marsha can answer them on the air during our October 24th show. CALL OR EMAIL NOW 1.800.977.1863 OR pattie@nursetalksite.com. In the mean time remember, “laughter is the best medicine”!LISTEN to streaming audio of Nurse Talk every day at 4PM ENERGYTALKRADIO.COM

Nurse Twitter for the Week of 2009-10-04

Pattie Lockard — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Email or call Casey and Maggie about anything that ails you. 1.800.977.1863 or maggie@nursetalksite.com. #

Sassy Seniors, Conversations from the CNA Conference and Heart Health | Show 207

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:06:12 +0000

Look out ol’ Maggie is Back. Fresh off her photo shoot for “Sassy Seniors” Magazine. Is this the start of something new for Maggie? She shares a list of models that have come before her…Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Conservative Madame Phyllis Shafley, the Late Governor Ann Richards. My…she is in good company.

Casey shares more clips from conversations from the California Nurses Association Conference. The conference brought in over 1,200 RN’s from all over the world.

Also on the show is Nicole Britvan speaking on behalf of the American Heart Association. Nicole talks about the new and important guidelines for sugar intake. Did you know if you drink one soda a day you are taking in two days worth of sugar? Learn more on the show and www.americanheart.orgDon’t forget we can be heard…just about everywhere now, www.energytalkradio.com, www.nursetalksite.com, iTunes and of course every Sunday at 2PM/PST on Green 960AM, live streaming at www.green960.com.Call in anytime at 1.800.977.1863 and leave your questions or comments for the nurses. AND DON’T FORGET……”laughter is the best medicine!”

Health Care Reform Myths Debunked and the Usual Shenanigans | Show 206

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:23:16 +0000

Casey welcomes Linda Silas, RN, and president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. We’ll talk to Linda about health care in Canada and dispel some of the myths that we have all become familiar with during the U.S. health care reform debate.

Casey takes calls and visits with…well…lets just say a VERY interesting lady who willingly gives her name “Lillian Thall.” She talks with Casey about her first pedicure and wonders if it was a safe thing to have done. The horse is out of the barn on that one Lillian!REMEMBER YOU CAN CALL OUR 19-HOUR HOT LINE 1-800-977-1863 and leave a question or comment for the nurses or you can email us at maggie@nursetalksite.com.

Check out our website and listen anytime to any show or segment. Podcasts are now available at http://www.nursetalksite.com/podcast.rss Don’t Miss Nurse Talk every Sunday at 2PM, PST on Green960 AM San Francisco or live stream at www.green960.com. REMEMBER, LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

CNA/NNOC Conference and Life for African Women Foundation | Show 205

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:36:34 +0000

Use Our 800 hotline to leave questions for Casey and Maggie, answer the Phobia Of The Week or tell us what you think of the show…1.800.977.1863.

Casey recently attended the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee Conference in San Francisco where the new RN “Super Union” was endorsed. She visited with RN’s from all over the U.S., and other countries.

Casey shares a conversation she had with Angela Gorman, an RN from Wales who started a foundation to save the lives of Sub-Saharan African women dying after giving birth. Angela talks about how and why she started the foundation that now supplies medication costing less than 50 cents per dose, but was simply not available until her vow to make it happen.

She also shares why she’s shocked at American’s resistance to universal health care, and her views about why U.S. health care and the lack of support for nurses is “missing the mark.”

To learn more about the conference and the new RN “Super Union” visit http://www.calnurses.org.Also, learn about “Give Blood…Get Smart,” the Blood Centers of the Pacific blood drive. Give Blood and enter to win a Smart Car…This is great! We’re there! http://www.bloodcenters.org 888.393.GIVE.Maggie is still on location modeling for “Sassy Seniors” magazine, but we have a great show in store for you including the answer to last week’s Phobia of the Week: Ablutophobia. Sure, you could Google it, but itwouldn’t be as much fun as hearing the answer from Casey.

Don’t miss us Sunday @ 2PM on Green 960AM San Francisco or live stream athttp://www.green960.com. You can always listen at http://www.EnergyTalkRadio.com. Also, NEW Nurse Talk To Go: The Podcast! Subscribe to the Podcast through ITunes or your rss reader and never miss another show at http://www.nursetalksite.com/podcast.rss. As always we thank our sponsors at the California NursesOrganization/National Nurses Organizing Committee @http://www.calnurses.org.

Medical Information Technology and What Laughter Means

Pattie Lockard — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:20:17 +0000

Maggie is away and the girls in the sound booth play! While Maggie is on Vacation (or is she?)– Casey goes it alone and runs into some mischief from the sound booth. Casey talks with Linette Davis, a Health-care Information Technology Educator with the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy–about a very interesting and important perspective that RNs should be aware of in this age of emerging technology in hospitals and clinics. Later, Casey has a joyful conversation with writer/comedian Lynn Ruth Miller. Lynn Ruth is a remarkable young woman (75 years young) who talks about what laughter has meant in her life. We think you will find her fun and inspiring.

Estate Sales and No Protection for Whistle Blowing Nurses in Texas

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:02:04 +0000

This week’s show features a great interview with an RN from Austin Texas that shares a story you won’t want to miss. It involves two RN’s in Kermit, Texas who have been brought up on serious charges and face 10-15 years in prison. FOR WHAT YOU ASK? The answer–for advocating for their patients by informing the Texas Medical Board of a doctor’s unsafe practices.

AND Casey and Maggie take house-calls and of course play around with the Square Needle Award and the Phobia of the Week…CHECK IT OUT.

Shenanigans, Health Care Reform, and Mad As Hell Doctors

Pattie Lockard — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:33:03 +0000

COMING UP THIS WEEK……the usual shenanigans…Maggie is back from her “Estate Sale” shopping spree–sporting a $2 pair of European shoes. She’s unhappy though and thinks she paid too much because they are quite worn.

Deborah Berger Co-President of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee gives our listeners a “state of the state” about Health Care Reform and the role CNA/NNOC is playing in the process.

Casey and Maggie talk to two MAD AS HELL DOCTORS……they’ll talk about their impending motor home caravan to Washington D.C. to raise awareness for ”single payer” health insurance.

The Square Needle Award and the Phobia of the Week…..Listen on Green960 AM San Francisco or live stream at www.green960.com. Call Nurse Talk at 1.800.977.1863 to leave your medical questions for the nurses!

Coming Up on Nurse Talk | Menopause and Swine Flu

Pattie Lockard — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:19:10 +0000

While Maggie goes grocery shopping…Casey interviews Jeanie Linders writer/producer of the smash hit, Menopause the Musical. Also, a critical discussion with RN Jan Rodolfo about the critical gaps in H1N1 preparednesss and growing RN infections–you won’t want to miss this.

On The Show 04.12.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:03:31 +0000

Back By Popular Demand The “Baby Whisperer”MOTHERS DROP EVERYTHING—AGAIN, well, not everything—because you won’t want to miss the opportunity to listen and ask questions. JOINING US THIS WEEK is Marsha Podd, R.N., an OB/GYN nurse, and Certified Lactation Expert with a degree in Child Development. Marsha has over 20 years experience working with parents and young children.She leads mothers’ groups and teaches parenting classes at the Center for Creative Parenting in Larkspur and Novato, California. She has also authored many articles for Parenting Passages and other publications and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Variety magazine. Recently, she lectured health professionals in Bucharest and Sibu, Romania and volunteered at hospitals for abandoned children.Marsha will join us for some good conversation about sleep (and/or the lack thereof) as well as take your questions. So, just like before, you can call—or for those of you who are shy—email your questions to Marsha. That call in number is 1-866-960-5753 or email casey@nursetalksite.com.Our friends from California Nurses Association will update us on what they are up to and of course our usual line up of Casey and Maggie with the news of the week, the “SQUARE NEEDLE SALUTE” and the “PHOBIA OF THE WEEK” contest.LISTEN SATURDAY and until then remember “laughter is the best medicine.”Go to Green 960 AM radio or www.green960.com to listen live online. Visit us at www.nursetalksite.com.

On The Show 4.05.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:59:59 +0000

GREETINGS! What kind of promoters would we be if we didn’t start out with “WE HAVE A GREAT SHOW IN STORE FOR YOU SO DON’ T MISS IT.” IT’S true…we do have a—let’s say—FABULOUS—show coming up.Joining us this week is Lynn Ruth Miller, comedian, author, painter and actress. Lynn Ruth just got back from LA where she was filmed for America’s Got Talent. She’s been compared to a short Joan Rivers, Dr. Ruth on Acid—and well—there’s more but we don’t have the space. Lynn Ruth will share with us the significant role laughter has played in her life including getting her through one of the worst times in her life when she battled an eating disorder.We’ll also talk to Sandra Call Sultan and her husband and business partner, Dr. Craig Sultan. They are presenting a great one day conference called, Caring for the Caregivers, scheduled for April 26th in Napa.Casey and Maggie will check in with the news of the week and the usual pranks, so join us this Saturday at2PM Pacific time. Until then remember “laughter is the best medicine.”OUR CALL-IN NUMBERS ARE 1-866-960-5753 IN AREA OR 415-882-9670 OUT OF AREA.Go to Green 960 AM radio or www.green960.com to listen live online. Visit us at www.nursetalksite.com.

On The Show 3.29.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:56:49 +0000

COMING UP on NurseTalk this week our friend MARILYN KENTZ. Some of you (we sure do) might remember Marilyn from her hit 90′s TV show The Mommies. She and her next door neighbor, Caryl, put together a little comedy stage show advertising it as “A show for women who don’t want sex more than once a month”–and women flocked to it. After a year of sold-out comedy clubs, the two friends found themselves moving from Marin County to Hollywood to star in their own NBC sitcom.We will visit with Marilyn and find out what she is up to now.GET ON YOUR FEET–GET UP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!NurseTalk has joined forces with the American Heart Association to talk about their Start! movement. Nia Lendaris will be with us to talk about the Start! campaign and efforts to promote health, nutrition and exercise to help fight against heart disease and stroke.You won’t want to miss Nia’s information.Join us for all the fun and dialog this Saturday at 2PM-PDT on Green 960 AM. You can also listen live by going to www.green960.com and clicking the “listen live” button.OUR CALL-IN NUMBERS ARE 1-866-960-5753 IN AREA OR 415-882-9670 OUT OF AREA.Visit our website at www.nursetalksite.com or go to www.green960.comUntil then remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

On The Show 3.22.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:38:14 +0000

WE HAVE A SPICY, OUTSPOKEN RN JOINING US (NOT CASEY) THIS WEEK. Her name is Adrienne Zurub and she has written what is being described as a “provocative” book about the nursing profession. The book is called Notes From The Mothership. They say nursing has no voice, (we’re not sure who says that) well, Adrienne has one and she’ll share it with us Saturday!The Toll Of WarA San Francisco VA doctor working in the liver clinic and treating patients with hepatitis C began to notice (when she first started working there) that most of the patients in the waiting room were from the Vietnam era, in their 60′s and older.Over a matter of months the faces began to get younger—the waiting room was starting to fill with young men in their late teens and 20′s. They were emotionally and physically scarred by a new war in Iraq.With no programs at the VA that offered the type of integrated care they needed the doctor came up with the idea of a specialized clinic—thus OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM/OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM INTEGRATED CARE CLINIC was born. Join us as we talk to a founding member of the clinic.Join us for all the fun and dialog this Saturday at 2PM-PDT on Green 960 AM. You can also listen live by going to www.green960.com and clicking the “listen live” button.OUR CALL-IN NUMBERS ARE 1-866-960-5753 IN AREA OR 415-882-9670 OUT OF AREA.Don’t Forget What’s Coming UpComing up, actress, comedian, author, lecturer Marilyn Kentz, plus, our friend Nia Lendaris, RN, MSN, CNS. Nia will talk about START WALKING the American Heart Association’s great campaign to get us on our feet and out the door. And last but not least our BABY WHISPERER, Marsha Podd will be back with us in April.Visit our website at www.nursetalksite.com or go to www.green960.comUntil then remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

On The Show 3.15.08 Shame on Sutter

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:03:23 +0000

Shame on Sutter

Our guest this week is Jan Rodolfo representing our friends at the California Nurses Association. Jan, who is an Oncology Nurse, sits on the CNA Board. She is going to talk about the importance of the unprecedented 10-day strike against Sutter Health here in the Bay Area. She will also update us on the status of Kim Kutcher, the 46-year-old nurse who was denied back surgery by her insurer, Blue Cross.JOIN CASEY AND MAGGIE AS THEY PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR IRISH FRIENDS AND THOSE THAT SIMPLY LIKE TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY. You won’t want to miss the top of the hour or any of the show for that matter.AND as a surprise to Maggie, one of her childhood friends will be calling in from Ireland—this—you won’t want to miss.Join us for all the fun and dialog this Saturday at 2PM-PDT on Green 960 AM. You can also listen live bygoing to www.green960.com and clicking the “listen live” button.CALL IN AND JUST SAY HELLO OR CALL WITH A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR HEALTH—your neighbor’s health —or your favorite politician’s health.OUR CALL-IN NUMBERS ARE 1-866-960-5753 IN AREA OR 415-882-9670 OUT OF AREA.Visit our website at www.nursetalksite.com or go to www.green960.com.Until then remember, “laughter is the best medicine.”

Coming in March and April

Adrian Zurub, is a nurse who also happens to be the author of Notes from the Mothership. Adrian is funny and has a great story to tell.AND, remember the 90′s TV show, The Mommies? Well, we do and Marilyn Kentz, the feisty, outspoken brunette of the dynamic “mommies” duo will be with us to talk about the importance of laughter in our lives. Her experience as a three-time published author, life coach, parent educator and facilitator for several women’s support groups lends plenty of wisdom and substance to her penchant for humor.

On The Show 3.08.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:15:54 +0000

Here Comes the Baby Whisperer

MOTHERS DROP EVERYTHING—well, not everything—because you won’t want to miss the opportunity to listen and ask questions. JOINING US THIS WEEK is Marsha Podd, R.N., an OB/GYN nurse, and Certified Lactation Expert with a degree in Child Development. Marsha has over 20 years experience working with parents and young children.She leads mothers’ groups and teaches parenting classes at the Center for Creative Parenting in Larkspur and Novato, California. She has also authored many articles for Parenting Passages and other publications and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Variety magazine. Recently, she lectured health professionals in Bucharest and Sibu, Romania and volunteered at hospitals for abandoned children there.Marsha will join us in studio so you can call in—or for those of you who are shy, email—your questions for Marsha. That call-in number is 1-866-960-5753 or email casey@nursetalksite.com.

But wait, there’s much more…

ALSO ON THE PROGRAM is our usual line up of Casey and Maggie with the news of the week, the “SQUARE NEEDLE SALUTE” and the “PHOBIA OF THE WEEK” contest.Tune in this Saturday at 2PM-PST to Green 960 AM or listen online at www.green960.com and click the”listen live” button.Remember the CALL-IN NUMBERS ARE 1-866-960-5753 in area OR 1-415-882-9670 out of area. EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS to casey@nursetalksite.com.LISTEN SATURDAY and until then, remember, “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”

On The Show 2.23.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:37:36 +0000

NurseTalk welcomes CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION special guest, Geri Jenkins, San Diego-based CNA President. She will be talking about “individual mandates.” Should everybody be forced to purchase health insurance? Geri is a liver transplant nurse at UCSD and was involved in the organizing committee to bring attention to the Nataline Sarkisyan case. Nataline was the 17-year-old that died after she was denied a liver transplant from her insurance company, Cigna.Maggie and Casey will talk about hot topics in the “news,” roll out the PHOBIA OF THE WEEK CONTEST and entertain you with some other twists and turns.We’ll also have a special guest from THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION to talk about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack that women should be aware of.Have fun with us, same place same time: Saturdays @ 2PM PST. Listen live on Green 960 AM or go to www.green960.com and stream online. Don’t be shy, call in and join us! Ask a question, give us an answer, tell a joke, tell Maggie how great she looks on the radio.1-866-960-5753(in area)1-415-882-9675(out of area)Until then, remember, “laughter is the best medicine!”

On the Show 2.17.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:00:26 +0000

Listen this week to see who in the news earned the NurseTalk™ Square Needle Award!Casey and Maggie will share medical headlines and entertain a “special” guest AND we really will introduce the PHOBIA OF THE WEEK CONTEST. The winner gets two VIP tickets to the new hot San Francisco musical playing at Theatre 39–InSignificant Others.Join the nurses and all the fun on Green 960 AM at 2PM PST or or go to www.green960.com and listen to live streaming. Share your stories, call in with your questions and don’t spare your opinions!1-866-960-5753 (in area)1-415-882-9670 (out of area)

On the Show 2.10.08

Pattie Lockard — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:00:04 +0000

Join Casey and Maggie in a lively discussion about these hot topics and more.”Did you know that when you go to the hospital or emergency room and don’t have insurance–you will most likely be charged more?”Heard of Cheney Care? “We don’t need insurance. We need guaranteed healthcare like the president, vice president and all the members of Congress.” Says the California Nurses Association. Stay tuned.What? Veterans not entitled to mental health care?AND—introducing our “Phobia of the Week” contest. The winner gets two VIP tickets to a new San Francisco musical.Drop everything and join us at—2PM PST on Green 960 AM or go to www.green960.com and listen to live streaming. Call in 1-866-960-5753 (in area) or 1-415-882-9670 (out of area)Get NurseTalk to Go! Download the show at www.nursetalksite.com