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Listen | Segments Sponsored by National Nurses United
These segments are sponsored by National Nurses United.Scroll down to browse the segments in the order they were broadcast. Categories on the right sidebar menu allow you browse and listen to the whole show, shows that feature topics from National Nurse Magazine, and outtakes and bloopers we call the Comedy Pharm and Nurse Talk Theatre.
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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!
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.”
With us this week 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?
“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”
We 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 isAnna 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.
More on the decline (evaporation) of mental health services. We are joined by RN and Vice President of theMassachusetts 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.
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.
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.
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.
