Ken talks with us about the announcement from the European Nations that 11 countries have signed on to a “financial transaction” tax, aka the Robin Hood Tax. The Robin Hood tax will raise billions of dollars by taxing financial transactions by incurring a less than half a percent tax on Wall Street transactions. Nurses in the U.S. have been on the leading edge of this concept and are making some headway here at home. Keep an open mind. If you listen to the simple details you might agree – this is a very fair and doable measure. Visit robinhoodtax.org.

Diane Carlson Evans who served as an army nurse in Vietnam talks about the announcement by the pentagon that women can now serve in combat roles in the military. Diane shares her story and tells us that women have been serving in combat since World War 2, mostly as nurses. However, because it was not “official” combat the women were not given weapons, though they were oftentimes still caught in the front lines of battle.

Listen to our guest this week RN Jeff Breslin of the Michigan Nurses Association on The Safe Patient Care Act “Every Michigan resident deserves to receive safe care at every hospital, every time. Michigan’s nurses are simply asking for our leaders’ support to make that happen.” Jeff will talk with us about this important initiative that is sweeping the country.

Donna Smith and friends from NNU on last summer’s Medicare for All bus tour.

And later, a fierce leader, and one of our favorite guests, Healthcare and Human Rights Advocate Donna Smith, will join us. As some of you know, Donna has been leading the charge for the past 8 years for a universal healthcare system in our country. Donna was featured in Michael Moore’s film “Sicko.” For the past 5 years she worked as the Legislative Coordinator for National Nurses United. She is now the Executive Director of Healthcare for All Colorado. We’ll talk with Donna about all things healthcare, a little politics, the effects of the sequester – particularly the ones you don’t hear about — and more. For more information about Healthcare for All Colorado, visit healthcareforallcolorado.org.

And don’t forget, our resident health and fitness expert Joanie Greggains with another edition of “Fit Happens.” We’ll also tend to email questions and a few “off-the-grid” jokes that only nurses can tell and insist they aren’t going to be bleeped!

Photo by Michael Lehet.

And Shayne…well growing up as an only child in rural Oklahoma was not exactly eventful. He shares about the time he made Jello salad with his mom.

Good show this week! RN Betty Sparks joins us. Betty is a nurse at Newton Wellesley Hospital and is trained to provide care and treatment in the wake of all types of disasters. 

Betty, who was on the ground to help victims after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti after the devastating earthquake, was working at the medical tent at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. She was there to respond and care for the victims when the bombs exploded. She is trained to do this and she has seen horrific scenes before, but this time it was different; she knew her son was at the finish line with a camera getting ready to photograph her daughter-in-law as she finished the race. Betty is with us to share what it was like to be at the horrific scene.

We always love it when we are introduced or we discover great resources to share with our listeners. Well today we have Bruce Bronzan with us. Bruce is the co-founder and president of The Network of Care. He served as a member of the California State Legislature for 10 years where he was the chairman of the Health Committee and the select committee on Mental Health.

Trilogy Integrated Services, the company that developed the Network of Care, is dedicated to improving information and communication in the health and social service fields at the community level. Check it out!

And don’t miss this weeks edition of “Fit Happens“ as our health and fitness expert Joanie Greggains  debunks 10 common fitness myths and Casey and Shayne answer email questions.

Image courtesy of Businesswire

Ahhhh, technology! It’s a very good thing, but when are we going too far? Should ROBOTS replace doctors and nurses? Can they diagnose and treat patients? Well it’s already happening in some hospitals. Get the good, the bad, and the ugly on this emerging trend when Casey and Shayne visit with National Nurses United RN Deborah Burger.

David Bedrick

Our bodies and our hungers carry messages; carry wisdom. Turning these into our enemies in order to lose weight, or try to change other habits, is almost never sustainable. Author and psychologist David Bedrick returns to the show and will show us how to listen to our bodies, befriend our hungers, and develop more loving strategies to affect change.

David is the author of the best-selling book, Talking  Back To Dr. Phil, Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology. David facilitates an on-air process with Casey about “losing weight.” Check it out on our website or visit www.talkingbacktodrphil.com.

AND, this weeks top 10 craziest things patients have insisted on keeping in their hospital rooms. A hint: A cherished, stuffed, real dog; the family pet for 20 years who recently passed on.

And we always joke about our nurses at National Nurses United and how busy they are. Even though we do like to have fun with that, its true! RN and Co-President of National Nurses United, Jean Ross will be with us to talk about H.R. 6411, the Inclusive Prosperity Act (aka the Robin Hood Tax). I swear these people never sleep—but that would be wrong because they are nurses and they know the value of a good night’s rest. That said, this week we find over a thousand of our friends, aka the “Sea of Red Scrubs,” on Capitol Hill this week at a rally to support Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison as he reintroduces the Inclusive Prosperity Act.

Rep. Keith Ellison and Jean Ross

You’ve heard us beating this drum for at least 18 months…The Robin Hood Tax makes so much sense it is hard to argue against it. But game on, as there are corporate interests (i.e. Wall Street) who have bought some “blinders” to help our elected officials to ignore it. Here’s how simple it is: a small tax (less than half of 1%) on speed trades—you know the million-trades-per-minute trades—could raise billions for healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It’s not hard, it works, eleven of the European Union Countries have adopted it, the U.S. used to have a transaction tax – and it worked – and lastly, before I have to take a breath, check out the facts at www.robinhoodtax.org.

EVEN if you side with your Republican or Democratic people—this simply makes sense. Why are the nurses fighting for this? Because they see the ravages of our protracted economic slump every day in hospitals across the country.

Marcia Singer

Ever hear about “adult play?” NOT THAT KIND! Well, Marcia Singer the creator of Love Arts Foundation is here to tell us what adult play really is. The self-described shaman, or medicine woman, is both a healer and creative artist.

And we want to welcome CastleRock Broadcasting in beautiful Castle Rock, Colorado to our Nurse Talk family of broadcasters. Check it out at www.castlerockradio.com.

And….a little combination of world news with an oh-so-slight medical twist. While Kim Jong Un, the 28-year-old petulant third generation dictator of North Korea, struggles to find his “inner and outer” power, our crack research team at Nurse Talk decided to check into his country’s healthcare system. Universal Healthcare???? Yip, universally horrifying healthcare. Not a surprise.

But this is very interesting – at least to us…Have you ever wondered about what a business or an organization has to provide in order to acquire and keep a not-for-profit (aka nonprofit) status? Well the truth is most of us don’t really think about it…but we should because some of those nonprofit entities, such as hospitals, are not really held to account with respect to their end of the bargain. Now, we are not saying any of these businesses are not doing a good job and are not operating above board, but a recent study (conducted by California Nurses Association) shows some major hospitals may not be providing enough “charity” care to the communities they are suppose to serve.

Our guest, RN and Director of Government Relations for CNA, Bonnie Castillo will talk about a new bill, AB 975 that aims to press California non-profit hospitals to fulfill their charity care obligation in exchange for the substantial public financing they receive through their tax-exempt status. It  passed its first hurdle last Tuesday in the California Assembly Health Committee, overcoming opposition from California’s biggest hospital corporations and its allies. The bill won broad support in the committee hearing from nurse members of the California Nurses Association who attended the hearing in a sea of red scrubs.

According to national statistics, six of the top 10 professions at greatest risk for back injury are nurse’s aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, health aides, radiology technicians, and physical therapists. Healthcare industry workers sustain 4.5 times more overexertion injuries than any other type of worker.

Well, registered nurses from hospitals in Kansas City and St. Louis, members of National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), with the help of their state legislators, recently introduced HB 856 - the Safe Lift Bill. Sounds like a no brainer right? Listen and find out how challenging it was to get this bill introduced. Trust us – this is important even if it isn’t a sexy topic. The next time you are in a hospital you want to make sure whoever is lifting or moving you doesn’t have a bad back. That could lead to – well – you may end up on the floor on top of a nurse!

And Michelle Camicia, Kaiser RN has lived almost all of her 46 years in Marin County, California. She attended nursing school at San Francisco State University and earned her Master’s in Nursing from Sonoma State University. Her life was moving along according to plan – but then in May of 2012 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Casey and Shayne talk with Michelle and Dr. Marla Anderson, Chief of the Department of General Surgery at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael, about Michelle’s personal experience since being diagnosed. They will also talk about Kaiser San Rafael’s prestigious accredited Breast Cancer Center and how it is going the extra mile to support patients.

And of course our wonderful health and fitness expert Joanie Greggains gives us another reason to listen, as she talks about jeans (the pants jeans) that help reduce cellulite! That’s what we said. You won’t want to miss this weeks edition of “Fit Happens,” only on Nurse Talk.

Jackson Park RN leaders celebrate tentative agreement.

And later in the show, if you haven’t found this great app called iTriage, look no further than the Nurse Talk website. iTriage is an amazing resource for everyone. Have a symptom? Go to the iTriage symptom checker. Need information about a disease? You’ll find complete clinical descriptions from A-Z. Is your medical issue an emergency or do you need to find a clinic or hospital near you? Yip, you guessed it; a complete directory of everything in your area including WAIT times. It’s incredible and we use it all the time. You should too. It’s free and it works. We welcome back Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Wayne Guerra for a conversation on this revolutionary tool.

Donna Smith last summer with National Nurses United’s Medicare for All bus tour.

This week one of our good friends returns to Nurse Talk to talk about her new project, Healthcare for All Colorado. None other than Donna Smith is with. Donna as most of our listeners know, worked for five years as National Nurses United Legislative Advocate based in D.C. She just returned to her home state of Colorado and now serves as the Executive Director of Healthcare for All Colorado.

Having (successfully) gone through two bouts of cancer, Donna has great advice on how to make your insurance company accountable–at least to some degree. In her new role she will do what she has done for many years, advocate and educate people about what can be done to access healthcare and to eventually change the current system to a nationwide universal healthcare system.

For more information about Healthcare for All Colorado and National Nurses United visit: healthcareforallcolorado.org and nationalnursesunited.org.

And—it’s time to get HIP about the issue of “low bone density.” That’s right it’s time to talk about your “bones.” And no one is more qualified than Dr. Kenneth C. Howayeck. He is an author, lecturer and osteoporosis educator.

Dr. Kenneth C. Howayeck

Dr. Howayeck is an author of books on self-care, including Bone Health Made Easy.. Here’s a jaw dropper–”If you break a hip and you are over 50, 1/4 will die in the first 12 months primarily from that injury!” Not good! Only three in ten osteoporosis sufferers actually know they have this “silent killer” affliction. For great information from Dr. Howayeck check out bonehealthmadeeasy.webs.com.

And from our Scrubs Magazine Top Ten , Interesting Hospital Fashion Moments: top of scrub pants rolled down complete with pink thong and muffin top hanging out…give me a break! Unroll the tops…it’s a hospital, not a nightclub!

Author David Bedrick joins us this week.

We have a very good show this week. How many of you have ever wanted to talk back to Dr. Phil? Well, I, for one, have. Now a new book called none other than Talking Back to Dr. Phil has been written by our guest David Bedrick.

In his book, Bedrick tackles the major issues that provide fodder for reality shows and pop culture experts, including body image and weight loss, addiction, domestic abuse and bigotry. That’s right…Talking Back to Dr. Phil moves past simple, pop culture answers to our psychological wounds and shines a light on the path of loving kindness that leads to deep, emotional healing. You really will be dazzled by this great conversation with the author.

Why should anyone care about legislative bills that have to do with healthcare and staffing? Sounds boring? Not so fast! AB 975 Charity Care? Check it out. Or maybe SB 631 Observation Study? You don’t want to end up in a hallway at the hospital for over 24 hours do you? Listen as we check in to see what the California Nurses Association has been doing lately to fight for nurses and their patients.

California State Capitol Building, Sacramento

We have with us Stephanie Roberson the lead lobbyist for CNA working in the Governmental Relations department in Sacramento, Calif. Stephanie has been working with the nurses since 2007.

And Bay Area Health and Fitness Expert Joanie Greggains hits the pavement with her new segment “Fit Happens,” only on Nurse Talk. Check it out. Or if you have a question or comment for Joanie email fithappens@nurstalksite.com or call 1-800-977-1863.

And from our friends at Scrubs Magazine The 10 Best Responses to Annoying Patients. Here’s one for you:

“’All nurses are overpaid, fat and lazy.’ (Yes, I had a patient say this to me once. Then she gave me a “thank-you” gift.) Comeback: “This fat, overpaid, lazy nurse just saved you and your baby’s life.”

The other 9 are even worse!

Donna Smith last summer with National Nurses United’s Medicare for All bus tour.

This week one of our good friends returns to Nurse Talk to talk about her new project, Healthcare for All Colorado. None other than Donna Smith is with. Donna as most of our listeners know, worked for five years as National Nurses United Legislative Advocate based in D.C. She just returned to her home state of Colorado and now serves as the Executive Director of Healthcare for All Colorado.

Having (successfully) gone through two bouts of cancer, Donna has great advice on how to make your insurance company accountable–at least to some degree. In her new role she will do what she has done for many years, advocate and educate people about what can be done to access healthcare and to eventually change the current system to a nationwide universal healthcare system.

For more information about Healthcare for All Colorado and National Nurses United visit: healthcareforallcolorado.org and nationalnursesunited.org.

And—it’s time to get HIP about the issue of “low bone density.” That’s right it’s time to talk about your “bones.” And no one is more qualified than Dr. Kenneth C. Howayeck. He is an author, lecturer and osteoporosis educator.

Dr. Kenneth C. Howayeck

Dr. Howayeck is an author of books on self-care, including Bone Health Made Easy.. Here’s a jaw dropper–”If you break a hip and you are over 50, 1/4 will die in the first 12 months primarily from that injury!” Not good! Only three in ten osteoporosis sufferers actually know they have this “silent killer” affliction. For great information from Dr. Howayeck check out bonehealthmadeeasy.webs.com.

And from our Scrubs Magazine Top Ten , Interesting Hospital Fashion Moments: top of scrub pants rolled down complete with pink thong and muffin top hanging out…give me a break! Unroll the tops…it’s a hospital, not a nightclub!

Check out Mary Maxwell from Caregiverstress.com—doing what she does best—giving great advice. Love it!

We all know good things happen to bad people or is it bad things happen to good people? Well anyway a few weeks ago over 4000 people were on a lovely Gulf of Mexico Carnival cruise—which turned into a major disaster. The crew and passengers were left to fend for themselves and, boy, things got as bad as things can get. It’s also kind of amazing that we haven’t heard much, if anything, about this in the aftermath? Hmmmm. Our medical records should be so private!! Oh–of course they are–HIPAA!

Casey: “The crazy part of that whole thing? Who was making these incredibly stupid decisions, it seemed to have gone from bad to worse. God help the nurse on that cruise!”

Shayne: “Well Casey it is our lucky day because earlier this week we caught up with one of the ship’s nurses. Lets listen…”

Shayne: “Well, Casey, this feels like another 5 minutes of our lives wasted.”

We do have a great show this week. We are joined by California RN Sherri Stoddard, a veteran nurse with 31 years of labor and delivery on her resume. Sherri is passionate about her career and no less passionate about the health of her community and the country. She talks with us about the health and safety effects of the proposed Keystone Pipeline, and why nurses and healthcare professionals are opposed to it. Whether you are for or against the pipeline, the truth is there are short and long term health and environmental effects that all of us should be aware of. Sherri Stoddard also sits on the Board of Directors of the California Nurses Association.

Nurses at Stop Keystone rally in San Francisco Feb. 17, also call for a tax on Wall Street speculation with portions of the revenue to go for fighting climate change

And later—Bay Area health and fitness legend, Joanie Greggains will be in studio with us. Joanie will talk about her new segment called “Fit Happens.” The segment is heard only on Nurse Talk and premieres March 9th. She’ll also be talking about what nurses can do to take care of themselves. You know we caregivers take care of everyone else and if there is anything left over we take care of ourselves. Stick around Joanie is always fun and has great information about health and fitness.

Well this week Goldie Hawn starts the show with a run down of the “time zones.” We must admit—her explanation sort of makes sense. Casey and Shayne struggle to figure out what time it is in the Midwest if it is 9am in California and what time it is in New York if it is noon in Omaha. Come on now–face it we all do it! We use our fingers and/or our toes or calculators, if need be, to figure this mystery out. And then throw in the international dateline and we’re really in trouble!

Author Marsha Podd, RN on the show this week

This week on Nurse Talk we have one of our favorite guests in the studio—RN Marsha Podd aka the “Baby Whisperer.” We joke with Marsha that her voice and energy are so soothing we all go to sleep when she visits. Marsha is the author of one of Amazon’s best selling books, Secrets of a Baby Nurse, How to have a Happy, Healthy and Sleeping Baby from Birth. We refer to it as the “Baby Bible.” Find out how to wean your infant from the cradle to a bed and at what age that should happen. Also Marsha addresses a question from a listener about postpartum depression. To learn more about Secrets of a Baby Nurse or about Marsha Podd, visit gotosleepbaby.com.

And DC hospitals are facing a staffing shortage. To counter this trend, RNs have put forth the Patient Protection Act, which “provides a minimum number of nurses on duty by specific unit at all times.” RN and nurse leader Judy Alba will be with us to talk about this and why RN-to-patient ratios are so critical to patient outcomes. For more information about this and other National Nurses United topics visit nationalnursesunited.org.

And this weeks Nurse Talk Top Ten is: The Top 10 Funniest Explanations Your Patients Have Given You. Check this out! Oh! These are real comments that nurses sent in to Scrubs Magazine, the sponsors of our weekly top ten. A nurse writes:

I had a patient refuse to use her O2 for fear of “getting addicted.” I told her, “Hon, that happened the second you were born; hold your breath and see how long you can go without it. Now put it on please?” She did!

RN Mary Fitzgerald of the New York State Nurses Association addresses the continued impact of Hurricane Sandy on health conditions. Photo by New York State Nurses Association on Facebook.

Author, Spearker, Nurse Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE

We’ll also chat with one of our favorite guests, RN, author, humorist and motivational speaker, Karyn Buxman. Karyn will talk to us about why—in April—San Diego turns into one of the funniest places on earth. You won’t want to miss the 26th Annual Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Conference in San Diego, CA April 4-7, 2013.

The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) is an international community of professionals who incorporate humor into their daily lives. AATH is the leader in providing evidence-based information about current research and practical applications of humor.

And check out Karyn’s new book What’s So Funny About OR Nursing? Karyn has a series of What’s So Funny books sharing how humor and laughter, when practiced proactively and strategically, can truly make a positive impact on one’s health. You really should check them out at karynbuxman.com.

And David Letterman has nothing on us–it’s time for the Nurse Talk Top Ten sponsored by our friends at Scrubs Magazine. The responses are from real nurses—cause you can’t make this stuff up!

Nurses—“Have you ever sighed after a patient demanded a glass of water that was exactly 72 degrees warm or some better-tasting food (um, not gonna happen!), and wished you could make some hospital behavior just plain illegal”? Join the club!

And an email question for the nurses is about a brother-in-law who seems to have a problem when he’s in public places. Is said brother-in-law rude or is there something really wrong with him?

Marjie Biller

TM instructor Marjie Biller joins us to talk about the practice and a program specifically created for nurses and healthcare practitioners.”

Check out this recent article about the benefits of TM from Medical News Today: “TM should be part of government-funded health programs—From high stress levels to cardiovascular disease, the TM® technique has proven effective in treating and preventing a wide range of ailments. Said Dr. Vernon Barnes, ‘Adding TM practice at a young age could prevent future cardiovascular disease and save many lives, not to mention reduce the national medical bill by billions…’” With a “B.”

Both Oprah and Nurse Talk host Casey can vouch. Casey says, “I just happen to be practicing TM and I cannot say enough about the benefits.”

For more info check out the TM Women Professionals web site. You can also contact Marjie at 415-715-8778 or mbiller@tm-women.org.

And, just what is the “Fiscal Cliff” and what is it doing to our health? A great scientific experiment is unleashed as we listen to a few callers explain the “fiscal cliff.” Don’t miss it as we are sure you will be disappointed at our low-tech research and analysis. Then our good friend and Capitol Hill correspondent, Donna Smith joins us to weigh in on all things D.C. What does she say about the fiscal cliff, the implementation of Obamacare, Social Security and Medicare? And what’s in store for healthcare in 2013? It’s all on Nurse Talk. Tune in.

Ken talks with us about the recent announcement from the European Nations that 11 countries have signed on to a “financial transaction”tax, aka the Robin Hood Tax. The tax will raise billions of dollars by taxing financial transactions .50 per $100. Nurses in the U.S. have been on the leading edge of this concept and are making some headway here at home. Keep an open mind. If you listen to the simple details you might agree this is a very fair and doable measure.

AND…Diane Carlson Evans who served as an army nurse in Vietnam is with us to talk about the recent announcement by the pentagon that women can now serve in combat roles in the military. Diane shares her story and tells us that women have been serving in combat since World War 2, mostly as nurses. BUT because it was not “official” combat the women were not given weapons though were oftentimes still caught in the front lines of battle. This is an amazing story about the mostly unrecognized heroines of U.S. Wars.

Women’s Vietnam Memorial photo by Michael Sirois

AND—Flu shot controversy rages on. What do you think? You can add your 2 cents on our home page or by calling our message line at 1-800-977-1863. Nurse Talk took a Facebook poll this week and we got some very passionate answers. We will share this with you in the show. Very interesting—and no less interesting was a mainstream media newscast we’ll share. Fired for not getting a flu shot? One hundred and fifty at TriHealth, Cincinnati’s largest employer live to tell.

RN and co-president of National Nurses United, Karen Higgins joins us to discuss this “vibrant” topic.

Casey: “Oh Shayne I couldn’t agree with you more. That poor thing has gone through so much, and now this! I’m sure she and papa-to-be, Kanye West, are ecstatic—but this will be such a public 9-months for them. First the paparazzi will be looking to get the best photos of the “baby bump,” and then they may try to catch her on a private beach in her bikini.”

And so starts some advice for Kim and papa Kanye. We didn’t say good advice, but it is advice.

And a visit with RN DeAnn McEwen, Co-President of the California Nurses Association, about a recent press release announcing the largest nurses union in the U.S., National Nurses United and its affiliation with the National Union of Healthcare Workers. Find out why and why you should be interested.

RN Deann McEwen last year at a rally to step up the campaign to extend guaranteed healthcare coverage to all Californians

Kira Reginato

Should you really move in mom and/or dad? What happens if they move in and won’t move out? Well here comes Kira Reginato to save the day. Kira is the host of a popular northern California radio show called “Call Kira about Aging.” Kira is president of Living Ideas For Elders, an eldercare management firm. And boy do we need her advice. With our parents and relatives aging—we are often the ones who step up to take care of their needs. And we don’t always know where to look for the answers. You won’t want to miss what Kira has to say about all of this.

What do nurses find in their pockets? With the help of Scrubs Magazine we find out. It’s not always pretty! A patient’s set of false teeth! Wrapped in a glove! Crazy but true!!!?

You can listen and laugh every week on Saturday at 11 am in the San Francisco Bay area on KNEW 960AM or live stream at www.960knew.com. Check out our favorite apps featuring Nurse Talk for custom radio on your listening devices: Progressive Voices, TuneIn and iHeartRadio. 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.

RN Deborah Burger on Restoring America’s Mental Health System

Shayne and Casey welcome RN and Co-President of National Nurses United, Deborah Burger. Deborah is a frequent guest on Nurse Talk. She recently wrote an article about the need to restore our mental health system. In the wake of the tragic shooting in Connecticut and gun violence at an all time high in our country—many questions are left unanswered. Most of us agree that guns are a huge problem and laws to restrict automatic and semi-automatic weapons must be passed and enforced. But that alone is not sufficient, we must look at and restore access to mental health services and continue to work towards universal healthcare for all.

And related to the tragedy in Connecticut we wanted to share something with our listeners that we find to be a beautiful tribute to the souls who were lost that day. It’s a song written by up and coming songwriter Alex Hobbs (who does happen to be Casey’s nephew). Alex’s heartfelt song is called “Heaven Wasn’t Ready For This.” We were so moved by his tasteful and beautiful gift we wanted to share it with others. Alex will be with us later in the show.

And Shayne gives Casey a pop quiz about “professional boundaries,” one of her favorite topics. Does she pass? To find out listen to this week’s show on nursetalksite.com or tune in.

We’ll also have a little health trivia and your email questions. What should you do if you are a runner and have “shin splints?” Well the answer is pretty obvious but not to this seemingly charming “jock.”

And can you take too much Tylenol? Is ten a day too much? Yip! Tune-in as Casey and Shayne give their advice. (BUT, remember they cannot prescribe, diagnose, or treat and they always request that you see your physician!)

Jeff Breslin

While the nation was watching Honey Boo Boo, the Governor of Michigan was pushing through a radical bill during a lame duck session. Governor Rick Snyder just signed the “right to work” law in the state of Michigan. A state that was built on the strength of labor unions. The state that worked with those unions and corporations to build a strong middle class. Later we’ll have more on this sad day from Michigan RN and President of the Michigan Nurses Association, Jeff Breslin.

Authors Corine Mogenis, and Patti Raya join us with their must-read book.

And…don’t you think most people would like to be more involved and educated about medical decisions that affect them and their loved ones? We’re talking about empowerment here. Later we’ll visit with Corine Mogenis, a medical malpractice paralegal, and RN and legal nurse consultant Patti Raya, the authors of a great book called Medical Tips From The Inside, Things You Need to Know. One reader says, “This is a must have book…you can learn so much from reading this book and how we’ve all been left in the dark. It’s a great gift for parents and in-laws that still think of doctors as GOD [wake up] ! Pick one up for yourself and others – they will be so grateful!”

Paul, John, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, George and Ringo

Casey: “Because I can’t think of the Beatles without thinking about the 70’s and I can’t think of the 70’s without thinking of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Maharishi achieved fame as the guru to The Beatles and other celebrities. He started the TM program in the late 1970s that claimed to offer practitioners the ability to levitate and to create world peace. The Maharishi is reported to have trained more than 40,000 TM teachers, taught the Transcendental Meditation technique to more than five million people and founded thousands of teaching centers and hundreds of colleges, universities and schools.

Marjie Biller, Transcendental Meditation instructor

And Shayne, I just happen to be practicing TM and I cannot say enough about the benefits. Later in the show we have TM instructor Marjie Biller with us to talk about the practice and a program specifically created for nurses and healthcare practitioners.” For more info check out the TM Women Professionals web site. You can also contact Marjie at 415-715-8778 or mbiller@tm-women.org.

And, just what is the “Fiscal Cliff” and what is it doing to our health? A great scientific experiment is unleashed as we listen to a few callers explain the “fiscal cliff.” Don’t miss it as we are sure you will be disappointed at our low-tech research and analysis.

Donna Smith

Then our good friend and Capitol Hill correspondent, Donna Smith joins us to weigh in on all things D.C. What does she say about the “fiscal cliff”, the implementation of Obamacare, Social Security and Medicare? And what’s in store for healthcare in 2013?

Shayne to Casey:

“O.K Casey — its sort of a personal thing so I hope you won’t be mad — but I researched some exercise options for you and want to gift you a membership to whichever one of these resonates with you.”

Casey responds, “O.K. if you must — it’s better than having to do the research myself — what ya got?”

Says Lisa M. Wolfe of Demand Media about this hot new fitness option, “If you have an addictive personality, use caution when beginning a weighted hula hoop workout. Hooping may take priority above your other daily activities…”

Shayne: “O.K.:

• Weighted Hula Hooping. Bally’s fitness is now offering classes.
• Strippercise. Toned celebrities like Kate Hudson and Carmen Electra started shilling this female-only fad five years ago, boasting both body and boudoir benefits from sensual “aerobic striptease” classes. This is a cousin to Pole Dancing.
• The Bodyblade. Take the long, sword-like plastic bar, hoist it overhead and shake vigorously for a trunk-targeted workout that supposedly causes up to 270 muscle contractions per minute, giving you washboard abs and ropey shoulders that are rounded, not chiseled.
• Or Cirque du Soleil-Inspired “Aerial Aerobics.” The breathtaking stunts of the world’s best-known circus acrobatics troupe first inspired workouts at trendy gyms like Crunch and Equinox and have now spawned “aerial fitness studios” where you tone up by defying gravity.”

Which ones does Casey choose and why? Tune In.

Next, a practice that is under reported but carries with it deadly consequences. It’s called FRACKING. Communities across the country are being poisoned by toxic chemicals used in natural gas drilling and the energy companies want to keep this top secret. This is becoming a huge public health risk.

Those fighting the spread of fracking, nurses, doctors, nearby residents, and other environmental activists, are finding themselves at a severe disadvantage because they lack one critical thing: information. What every RN needs to know about fracking, and how they must fight back against the industry. We’ll talk with Pennsylvania RN Patti Eakin later in the show.

And roll out the barrel because we’re going to have some fun with Irwin Keller, a.k.a. Winnie from America’s favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet, the Kinsey Sicks. Of course the Kinseys will be on stage here in San Francisco with their holiday show Oy Vey In A Manger, when Jewish-Gentile tensions surface, and mayhem ensues–all in glorious four-part harmony. Don’t miss the Chanukah spa classic “I Had a Little Facial” and, of course, the requisite and new Christmas cuisine standard, “Soylent Night.” Video viewing warning for the faint of humor: “A ribald, ridiculous, raunchy, decidedly R-rated romp through the best and worst of Christmas.”

All this and the usual — email questions and health trivia. A listener emails a question about eating over the holidays. He wants to, he will, he has and he wants to know how to avoid tummy aches and acid reflex. Hmmmm. Listen to some good tips and if you too suffer from this uncomfortable disorder we recommend you check out Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure by Dr. Jamie Koufman.

AND—we all know the V.A. hospital system is a lifeline for our returning veterans. What we don’t know or may not think about is the overwhelming case loads for the healthcare practitioners who care for these vets. Recently V.A. System RNs won a NATIONAL CONTRACT that they say will ensure vets the level of QUALITY CARE they deserve. At issue for a long time has been the lack of sufficient staffing among other safety concerns. V.A. RN Irma Westmoreland is with us to talk about this landmark contract. Irma also talks about the advances that have been made within the system to increase and improve immediate care for Veterans. We don’t hear enough about the good that is being done and the improvements being made so this is great news to share.

Joanie Greggains

For those of you who live in the Bay Area—you probably already know and love Joanie Greggains, one of America’s favorite health and exercise personalities. Her TV exercise show, Morning Stretch, aired for 18 years, and her popular #1 talk radio show, The Joanie Greggains Show, was heard for 25 years on KGO Radio 810 AM in San Francisco, CA. Both have made her a familiar, popular, and respected authority in the health and fitness field. Joanie drills through ten “Barriers to Exercise.” Turns out Casey has every one of them. Check out Joanie’s website at www.joaniegreggains.com.

Casey and Shayne talk a little bit about the meningitis outbreak. For the non-nurses in the audience, what is meningitis? How does one get it? What are the treatments? Is it always deadly?

This show was originally broadcast October 20, 2012.

Most of us don’t run with the crowd that attends the Annual Fall Fashion Week in New York City. BUT…it does seem somewhat exciting and it certainly highlights all of the beautiful fall fashions and—SADLY—the fact that eating disorders are alive and well in the fashion industry. Well, just because we are boring old nurses doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun and run with the “it” people. Nurse Talk presents our 3rd annual FALL FLU FASHION SHOW—and believe me it is a doozy!

Speaking of fashion…oooohhh, oh, ouch. Avert your eyes.

JD from the hit 90′s “medical” show Scrubs, shows us a scrubs fashion faux pas.

And we welcome back Dr. Francine Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro returns to talk about her successful treatment of veterans with PTSD. Dr. Shapiro discovered one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of psychology, EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Her new book is Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy.

We also have two of her colleagues, Dr. E. C. Hurley, Ph.D., who has been working with soldiers and veterans since he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, and Dr. Mark C. Russell, Ph.D., who is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, and board certified clinical psychologist, with 26-years of military experience. Together with the help of EMDR therapy—these clinicians are producing groundbreaking results for these soldiers with PTSD.

Children, assisted by EMDR HAP, who have overcome their fear of the sea after the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people in 14 countries.

Dr. Shapiro also talks about HAP, the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program, the mental health equivalent of Doctors Without Borders: a global network of clinicians who travel anywhere there is a need to stop suffering and prevent the after-effects of trauma and violence. Visit http://www.emdrhap.org/home/index.php

AND we’ll check in with RN and Friend of Nurse Talk, Deborah Burger. Deborah is also co-president of National Nurses United. She’ll talk about California Proposition 30 endorsed by the California Nurses Association and supported by Governor Jerry Brown. Prop. 30 would raise from $6 billion to $9 billion every year, mostly through a small increase in taxes for the top income brackets, starting at households making $250,000 or more per year, as well as a temporary one-quarter of a cent increase in the state sales tax—with the revenue going for healthcare, education, childcare and other critical services.

This show was originally broadcast September 15, 2012. Check us out at TUNE IN. Listen anywhere, anytime for any reason or no reason at all!

And Casey offers scientific evidence that “laughter is the best medicine.” What happens when we laugh? We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues. In the last few decades, researchers have studied laughter’s effects on the body and turned up some potentially interesting information on how it affects us:

•  Blood Flow
• Immune Response
• Blood Sugar Levels
• Relaxation and Sleep

Just to test the affects on blood flow and blood pressure, Casey and Shayne conduct a very dangerous “on air” experiment. You won’t want to miss it.

On a bit of a serious note, November is National Diabetes Month, including World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14th. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) urges people to take action and make simple but important lifestyle changes to achieve their health goals — whether they have diabetes or are at risk for the disease. For more information about Diabetes Education and Resources visit http://ndep.nih.gov/.

And RNs Jean Ross and Karen Higgins join us to talk about the recent elections, what the results mean to our country and respective states. Both Jean and Karen are full time RNs and also serve as two of the three co-presidents for National Nurses United.

And Dr. Christina Purpora joins us to talk about “horizontal violence.” A veteran RN writes, “A silent killer has made its way into nursing and slowly eaten away at the core of who we are as nurses.” This epidemic is becoming so widespread that everyone from administrators to nurses’ aides are affected by it. Dr. Purpora is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of San Francisco (USF). Prior to beginning her academic career in 2010, she earned a Ph.D. in nursing at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Marilyn Kentz

AND so goes another episode of Nurse Talk. BUT of course there’s more to us than that! Comedian, writer, storyteller, sitcom star Marilyn Kentz chats with Casey and Shayne about her new one woman show Will I Ever Wear A Bikini Again? Some of you may remember Marilyn and her friend and neighbor (from Petaluma, Calif.), Caryl Christensen from their 1990′s hit sitcom “The Mommies.” Marilyn talks about the value of humor in her life as well as the joys of aging without grace!

A tribute to our nurses from National Nurses United and all nurses around the world. As we always report, nurses are at the top of the list every year for being the most admired and respected profession. Nurses take an oath to advocate for their patients and they take it very seriously — sometimes a great peril to themselves. This week we take a look back at 2012 when the nurses fought for everything from RN-to-patient ratios to ensure safer staffing for patients, to Medicare for All, the Robin Hood Tax and the fight to save Social Security as we know it.

Donna Smith

At the front of the fight on many of these issues was Donna Smith, NNU’s legislative and healthcare for all advocate. While Donna was literally marching on the streets for others she herself was once again diagnosed with cancer. After a bout with cancer in the mid 90′s that left Donna and her husband Larry broke — the cancer returned. Now it was her turn to fight once again for herself.

What does it take to “live a good life for the rest of your life?” Seeing your doctor and staying healthy is always a good thing and approaching your health from a preventive perspective is even better. Our guests Ron Cain and Dave Parkes, financial consultants at Pacific Advisors in the San Francisco Bay Area, tell us that it is imperative we approach our financial well-being exactly the same way. Great advice if I do say so myself! To get your own Living Balance Sheet and schedule your financial check-up with Ron and Dave, contact them here:
www.pacificadvisors.com/davep
www.pacificadvisors.com/rcain

And speaking of politics — -oh,  I don’t think we were speaking of politics — BUT let’s. Our guest this week is Michael Lighty. Michael is the Director of Public Policy for the California Nurses Association. He talks with us about the upcoming election and the high stakes in California with Propositions 30 and 32. Often times these propositions are written in such a way that they are very difficult to understand — or shall we say interpret.  Michael helps decode and tells us why voting yes on 30 and no on 32 is important for nurses and patients. For more  California voting information or a national voting guide visit nationalnursesunited.org.

Do you ever have one of those nagging recurring nightmares — NAKED IN THE NURSING HOME? Well, Naked In The Nursing Home, The Women’s Guide to Paying for Long-Term Care Without Going Broke written by Harold L Lustig might help reduce the frequency of that dream. Mr. Lustig is a financial adviser who specializes in working with the elderly and their families. So important, and the book is fun to read as well. Here are some of the things you can check out in the book: Tricks and Traps of Medicaid, including mistakes to avoid and secrets to navigating the system; why you may be eligible for free long-term care if you’re a wartime veteran, or the spouse or surviving spouse of one. All worth the price of admission — figuratively speaking!

Need a nurse? Let’s hope you can find one when you are in the hospital. Every week we talk about hospitals around the country and the nurses who work in them. Most people don’t realize that nurses take an oath to advocate for their patients. For some this doesn’t mean advocacy just when patients are in the hospital and in need of hands-on care. It can mean—and especially now—that nurses advocate for better conditions in which to care for patients at healthcare facilities all across the country. On this show we visit with RN Tracy Pelletier, a med surg nurse from the Aroostook County Medical Center in Presque Isle, Maine. As Maine goes so goes the nation. Tracy talks about the staffing and acuity issues in her hospital.

And we have an email question from a concerned daughter. She writes: “My father is 89 and I am concerned about him and his new girlfriend. Yes, I know he is lonely—I can deal with that. The thing that concerns me is the prescription for Viagra I found in his medicine cabinet. It’s hard to even go there—-but isn’t this dangerous? His girlfriend is 84 and very frail.”

Listen Saturday at 11am on KNEW 960AM in the San Francisco Bay Area or streaming on www.960knew.com to find out if she is more concerned about her father or her father’s girlfriend.

AND—we all know the V.A. hospital system is a lifeline for our returning veterans. What we don’t know or may not think about is the overwhelming case loads for the healthcare practioners who care for these vets. Recently V.A. System RNs won a NATIONAL CONTRACT that they say will ensure vets the level of QUALITY CARE they deserve. At issue for a long time has been the lack of sufficient staffing among other safety concerns. V.A. RN Irma Westmoreland is with us to talk about this landmark contract. Irma also talks about the advances that have been made within the system to increase and improve immediate care for Veterans. We don’t hear enough about the good that is being done and the improvements being made so this is great news to share.

Joanie Greggains

For those of you who live in the Bay Area—you probably already know and love Joanie Greggains, one of America’s favorite health and exercise personalities. Her TV exercise show, Morning Stretch, aired for 18 years, and her popular #1 talk radio show, The Joanie Greggains Show, was heard for 25 years on KGO Radio 810 AM in San Francisco, CA. Both have made her a familiar, popular, and respected authority in the health and fitness field. Joanie drills through ten “Barriers to Exercise.” Turns out Casey has every one of them. Check out Joanie’s website at www.joaniegreggains.com.

Casey and Shayne talk a little bit about the meningitis outbreak. For the non-nurses in the audience, what is meningitis? How does one get it? What are the treatments? Is it always deadly?

Deb Nault

We’ve got a visit with Deb Nault, RN, MS. Deb has more than 35 years of experience in women’s health care, including working as a certified nurse midwife in Michigan hospitals and as an adjunct faculty member at Michigan State University’s College of Nursing. She is currently director of nursing practice at the Michigan Nurses Association, the largest union for registered nurses in Michigan.

As is the case across the country—the stakes are high in Michigan this election cycle. Due to current Governor Rick Snyder’s slash and burn measures, working people in the state are standing up in support of Prop 2, an initiative that guarantees public and private workers the right to form unions and bargain collectively. Governor Snyder, like his conservative counterpart, Scott Walker in Wisconsin, continues to cut spending on the backs of the working middle class. That’s why the mighty Michigan Nurses Association has come out in support of Prop 2. For more information visit minurses.org.

Evan Falchuk of Best Doctors

What goes through your mind when you hear the word misdiagnosis? Nostalgia about when you won the Miss Iowa contest? Burt Parks? No?

Despite extensive new technologies, millions of patients worldwide are being treated for the wrong conditions. No laughing matter. Misdiagnoses mean needless suffering and hundreds of millions of dollars wasted each year. Enter Evan Falchuk, an attorney and Vice Chairman of Best Doctors, a company dedicated to achieving direct and immediate improvements in the quality and cost of healthcare.

And we welcome back Hal Isen, the creator of Core Wisdom. What nourishes your spirit and empowers you to live each day with wisdom, vitality and joy? What enables you to fulfill the dreams you have for yourself, your family, and your workplace? How do you unleash your creativity and your power to take effective action? We’ll be talking with Hal about one aspect of that equation called “being present.” What does that mean? Hope you can take some time to listen because this is an engaging conversation that can help nurses express compassion without going into an emotional black hole. Hal will be part of the new Nurse Talk interactive online chat series starting in November.

Donna Smith

Enjoy one of our favorites, originally broadcast June 2, 2012. Donna Smith, our National Nurses United D.C. correspondent brings us up to speed on all things Washington. Donna also shares a bit of personal news about her own health. Donna Smith is best known as one of the documentary subjects of Michael Moore’s 2007 movie, “SiCKO.” Her journalism career includes 15 regional awards from the AP Managing Editors. Donna now works as a national single-payer healthcare advocate and community organizer for National Nurses United, and co-chairs the Progressive Democrats of America’s national “Healthcare Not Warfare” campaign. She also blogs at MichaelMoore.com.

Marsha Podd, RN

And, it’s always a treat to have our friend RN Marsha Podd with us in the studio. A.K.A. the “baby whisperer”. When Marsha comes to 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, is the author of Secrets of a Baby Nurse. The book is getting rave reviews and if you know of anyone that is expecting a child, has babies or toddlers already, has looked at a child or even thought of a child–you need this book! To read more about Marsha and her advice for babies and parents visit her website at gotosleepbaby.com.

On August 6, 2012, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts signed into law Senate Bill 2400, “An Act improving the quality of healthcare and reducing costs through increased transparency, efficiency and innovation.” One provision of the law applies to hospitals as employers prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses.

In this show, is a discussion on how they did that in Massachusetts. Originally aired June 23, 2102, you can listen to Massachusetts Nurses Association President RN Donna Kelly Williams talk about the Massachusetts State Legislature House & Senate versions of a health reform bill that would ban mandatory overtime. Donna and her street gang of nurses were on the state house steps to support their efforts. Some (non-nurses) may be asking… “Why should I care about this?” You don’t want a tired nurse—now do you? It’s time to take action in your state.

Also on the show this week is author/humorist and cancer survivor, Eileen Kaplan who wrote a book called Laughter is the Breast Medicine. Eileen is now a speaker and cancer awareness advocate. She shares her journey about surviving breast cancer, and dealing with its aftermath. Eileen is just one of those NATURALLY funny people…who really knows how to make laughter out of lemons! Check our her website, laughteristhebreastmedicine.com.

And we welcome back Dr. Francine Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro returns to talk about her successful treatment of veterans with PTSD. Dr. Shapiro discovered one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of psychology, EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Her new book is Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy.

We also have two of her colleagues, Dr. E. C. Hurley, Ph.D., who has been working with soldiers and veterans since he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, and Dr. Mark C. Russell, Ph.D., who is a retired U.S. Navy Commander, and board certified clinical psychologist, with 26-years of military experience. Together with the help of EMDR therapy—these clinicians are producing groundbreaking results for these soldiers with PTSD.

Children, assisted by EMDR HAP, have overcome their fear of the sea after the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people in 14 countries.

Dr. Shapiro also talks about HAP, the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program, the mental health equivalent of Doctors Without Borders: a global network of clinicians who travel anywhere there is a need to stop suffering and prevent the after-effects of trauma and violence. Visit http://www.emdrhap.org/home/index.php

AND we’ll check in with RN and Friend of Nurse Talk, Deborah Burger. Deborah is also co-president of National Nurses United. She’ll talk about California Proposition 30 endorsed by the California Nurses Association and supported by Governor Jerry Brown. Prop. 30 would raise from $6 billion to $9 billion every year, mostly through a small increase in taxes for the top income brackets, starting at households making $250,000 or more per year, as well as a temporary one-quarter of a cent increase in the state sales tax—with the revenue going for healthcare, education, childcare and other critical services.

RN Alison Whitaker on Vital Signs, RN Jean Ross on Robin Hood and Dr. Jamie Koufman on Dropping Acid

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 at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco. If you missed Alison Whitaker’s Vital Signs in June…it’s been extended! Don’t miss it again get your tickets at the Marsh Theater.

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 Nurses Assembly in Chicago where over 1200 nurses talked about everything from healthcare to Medicare and promote a Wall Street Transaction Tax.

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.

We promise when the Democratic Convention rolls around we’ll give equal time to President Obama’s singing! Just a little fun on this sunny summer day.

AND—hey—what about that West Nile Virus?! Well, a listener in Utah wants to know if she should get her family face and head nets to keep them safe. Well now lets stay calm. Casey and Shayne will share the low-down on the facts about this nasty virus—what it is, where it comes from—and simple steps to save yourself the money it would cost to buy those face and head nets.

Michael Lighty

Also—get ready for a little policy talk with California Nurses Association Director of Policy, Michael Lighty. Or—closer to the truth—get ready for some very disturbing facts and findings from a report that cites the huge profits hospitals are making by virtue of their non-profit status. Private not-for-profit hospitals, which dominate the California hospital landscape, rack up tax exemption benefits of close to $2 billion a year beyond what they return to communities in charity care, according to the report.

The study was just released by the Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy, the research arm of California Nurses Association and National Nurses United. You really won’t want to miss this conversation. You can read the report for yourself at www.calnurses.org.

AND while we’re on the subject of money we’ll share a great victory for all of us from The California Clean Money Campaign. Trent Lange, executive director for the organization will bring us up to speed on AB 1648, the groundbreaking California DISCLOSE Act, which just passed the full Assembly last week by a solid majority of 50 to 26. This is great news and a blow to SUPER PACS, which can now hide their financial contributions. AB 1648 requires public disclosure of the contributors. A step toward renewing our democracy!

AND…listener Sharon B. gets some answers from Stanford nephrologist, Dr. Anjali Saxsena. Dr. Saxsena talks about Kidney disease—the symptoms, the treatments—and the National Kidney Foundation. Learn more at the National Kidney Foundation.

Hives in Phoenix…A listener is having a rough time—but keeps her sense of humor about it all. Gets nothing useful from the nurses—but—she probably knew she wouldn’t anyway!

Healthcare Trivia strikes again. This weeks question: What is the strongest muscle in your body? That’s right—that’s what we said. Here’s a hint—we all use it practically all through the day. You could win a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks if you are the first to respond with the right answer. Call 1-800-977-1863 or contest@nursetalksite.com.

Trivia was brought to you in partnership with iTriage. iTriage was founded in 2008 by two emergency medicine physicians to empower people to make better healthcare decisions, and improve healthcare delivery. The company’s mobile healthcare platform offers a proprietary Symptom-to-Provider™ pathway that empowers patients to make better healthcare decisions.

This week we give a salute to the Massachusetts Nurses Association. We are joined by RN and President of Mass. Nurses Association, Donna Kelly Williams. Donna speaks about the recent victories the nurses have had with respect to keeping Taunton State Hospital opened and witnessing the signing of legislation to make mandatory overtime illegal. She also finds a way to slip in a little about the Red Sox. Remember Boston you can listen to Nurse Talk on Revolution Boston 1510 AM. We thank all of you wonderful nurses for fighting the fight to improve patient care!

And–What’s So Funny about Diabetes? Well of course nothing–but there is humor in the circumstances. RN, Motivational Speaker and Author Karyn Buxman joins us to talk about the healing power of laughter and her new book series “What’s So Funny”.”. The first edition of “What’s So Funny” books is about the challenges of diabetes. We’ll visit with Karyn about her busy world and why she trusts the power of humor as a potent healing tool. http://karynbuxman.com/

And we play our new game (while working out the bugs so to speak) Health Trivia!. With a little help from our friends from ITriage each week we will present a quiz about all kinds of health related issues–and if you get the answer right—you get a FREE MRI! Just kidding. A free coffee gift card for $25–that is if our Producer remembers to send it to you.

The Laryngospasms sing “Breathe.”  Check it out on Nurse Talk coming up this Saturday @ 11am on 960 KNEW AM and Revolution Boston 1510 AM or nursetalksite.com.

And…Casey and Shayne take us on a walk down “Pain Lane.” HOW BAD IS YOUR PAIN? A new pain scale chart that starts at 0 with:

“Hi, I am not experiencing any pain at all. I don’t even know why I’m here.”

and ends with 11:

“Blood is going to explode out of my face at any moment.”

What a range! Lots in between too.

And…if you think the conversation about universal healthcare is for those who don’t work and want a handout…please watch this. It is not an isolated incident. It shouldn’t be about political parties or profits–it should simply be a matter of humanity.

And RN Jane Sandoval from San Francisco’s St. Luke’s Hospital joins us to talk about the proposed new 555-bed mega hospital that Sutter Healthcare Corp wants to build. Sounds nice doesn’t it? It is if you don’t know the move to consolidate services and locate a hospital so far away from the communities that need it the most. The new hospital would force closure of St. Luke’s, the City’s mainstay for medical services for lower income populations.

AND—square dancing gets impossible when your heel is killing you. A caller is forced off the square dancing floor because of severe pain in her heel. Casey and Shayne tell her there is hope…Do Sa Do and Allemande Left.

And from the Patient Advocate Desk—our friend and frequent guest RN and healthcare activist DeAnn McEwen talks about life-saving RN-Patient Ratios and what you need to know when you go to a hospital.

It seems the California Hospital Association and United Healthcare West are pushing a proposal to allow all California hospitals to suspend compliance with the life-saving 2004 RN Patient Ratio law. Their excuse—California’s budget problems—even though the proposal would apply to private hospitals as well as public facilities, and despite the fact that California hospitals are making record profits—$4,463,827,667 in 2010 alone. Yes, that’s TRILLION. Learn more at nationalnursesunited.org.

And healthy without health insurance? Protect yourself says Dr. Mathew Edlund. A countdown to healthcare as we know it. Some would say it is a real stretch to claim that if you just use the amazing and innovative technology of the human body and its incredible regenerative powers you can be healthy. What do you say? That is way too simple and naive? Well, not if you listen to Dr. Mathew Edlund, Director of the Center for Circadian Medicine and the author of The Power of Rest, The Body Clock Advantage and Designed to Last. This is fascinating advice.

And Casey and Shayne visit with Joyce Hoffman. You may remember Joyce was our Golden Bed Pan Award winner a few weeks back. IN APRIL OF 2009 in the middle of the night, at age 51—Joyce’s life changed forever. She had a stroke. On her blog “The Tales of a Stroke Patient” Joyce writes,

I was well and then I wasn’t. In a split second, the rest of my life changed forever.

You won’t want to miss what Joyce has to say on her road through recovery. Check out Joyce’s blog entries at nursetalksite.com.

Volunteer Nurses and Donna by the Medicare For All Bus

Our good friend and D.C. Healthcare correspondent Donna Smith joins us from the road—on the National Nurses United Medicare For All bus tour. The bus pulled out of San Diego, CA last week with 22 stops along the way. The nurses are providing mobile blood pressure screenings, information about accessing health screenings and check-ups in their own towns and cities and about the Robin Hood Tax, (robinhoodtax.org). Good stuff peeps!!! Oh, and for anyone who thinks the Robin Hood Tax is a pipe dream…check out this article..13 European nations—led by Germany—are moving closer to signing onto this initiative.

Well, that’s really the sound of the nurses in Massachusetts working harder and faster—but not if the state legislature has anything to do with it.

Casey and Shayne visit with Massachusetts Nurses Association President RN Donna Kelly Williams about the Massachusetts State Legislature House & Senate versions of a health reform bill that would ban mandatory overtime. Donna and her street gang of nurses have literally been on the state house steps to support their efforts. Some may be asking…”Why should I care about this?” You don’t want a tired nurse—now do you?

Also on the show this week is author/humorist and cancer survivor, Eileen Kaplan who wrote a book called Laughter is the Breast Medicine. Eileen is now a speaker and cancer awareness advocate. She shares her journey about surviving breast cancer, and dealing with its aftermath. Eileen is just one of those NATURALLY funny people…who really knows how to make laughter out of lemons! Check our her website.

And an email question—about a beloved sister—initiates a conversation about “family depression.”

All of those things are true but not so fast! Unfortunately there are some realities that are facing college graduates today. To begin with graduates are burdened with an average of $80,000 in student loans and many are finding it very difficult to find work in their chosen profession upon graduating. Unfortunately that is no different in nursing and it appears that some of that may be by design. RN and healthcare activist DeAnn McEwen joins us.

And Casey and Shayne welcome a very special guest Dr. Francine Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro discovered one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of psychology, EMDR Therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Her new book is Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy. “This groundbreaking therapy has given a life-transforming gift to the world by her rigorous development of a science-validated approach to soothing the suffering of our small and large life traumas,” says Daniel J Siegel, MD. You won’t want to miss Dr. Shapiro. For more information on EMDR and “Getting Past Your Past” you can visit the EMDR Institute’s web site.

CARDIOLOGY

• patient has chest pains if she lies on her left side for over a year
• by the time she was admitted to the hospital, her rapid heart had stopped and she was feeling much better

NEUROLOGY

• patient was alert and unresponsive
• healthy appearing, decrepit 69-year-old female, mentally alert, but forgetful
• she is numb from her toes down

You can’t do everything right!

This week we visit with RN Deborah Burger about the recent performance of Tell Us Where It Hurts, by Anna Deavere Smith, also known as Gloria Akalitus on television’s Nurse Jackie. We share some touching stories recreated by Smith in the play from the caretakers—career RNs—who have also been hit by the failing economy and healthcare costs. Their stories are told with honesty and courage. Share the humanity of what is happening all across the country.

And we share touching stories from our Nurse Talk Blog and salute the great writers and contributors that are featured each week. Two of those writers are Melissa Vaughan and her mother, Barbara Taylor Vaughan. For months now they have been chronicling Barbara’s progression of Alzheimer’s in a tender, honest, humorous account of their daily lives.

And we hear from an old friend, Lucille Jones—a rather crazy one at that (no offense Lucille). Lucille’s stories have been memorialized in our Nurse Talk Comedy Pharm…Check them out!

We’ve got questions about the insulin pump, cauliflower ear, and more…AND what’s so bad about working in Minot, North Dakota? A nurse sends a message to a friend and it’s not good news.

Donna Smith, our National Nurses United D.C. correspondent brings us up to speed on all things Washington. Donna also shares a bit of personal news about her own health. Donna Smith is best known as one of the documentary subjects of Michael Moore’s 2007 movie, “SiCKO.” Her journalism career includes 15 regional awards from the AP Managing Editors. Donna now works as a national single-payer healthcare advocate and community organizer for National Nurses United, and co-chairs the Progressive Democrats of America’s national “Healthcare Not Warfare” campaign. She also blogs at MichaelMoore.com.

And, it’s always a treat to have our friend RN Marsha Podd with us in the studio. A.K.A. the “baby whisperer”. When Marsha comes to 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, is the author of Secrets of a Baby Nurse. The book is getting rave reviews and if you know of anyone that is expecting a child, has babies or toddlers already, has looked at a child or even thought of a child–you need this book! To read more about Marsha and her advice for babies and parents visit her website at www.gotosleepbaby.com.

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…lets 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!

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.”

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.

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?

• “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”

Karen is past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United.

We also get some great advice about taking care of your parents or other elderly loved ones from Kira Reginato, president of Living Ideas for Elders and host of her own radio show on KSRO, The Elder Care Show in Santa Rosa, California.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Hal Isen, MFA, CHT

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.

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.

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.

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!

“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?”

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!

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.

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. Her recent article focuses on why teens can be so competitive during the holidays. She has some good ideas about how you can have a happy TEEN HOLIDAY. 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!

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.”

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.

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 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.

And later we visit with one of our favorite people Karyn Buxman RN, MSN. Karyn is a humorist who really does employ humor in the healing process. She’s here this week to talk about her new book “What’s So Funny About Diabetes.”

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.

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. 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.

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 in Behind Blue Eyes.

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.

If there were a radio jail…we’d be in it after comedian Lynn Ruth Miller gets together with Casey and Dan! The bleep button only goes so far.

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!

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.

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. Her recent article focuses on why teens can be so competitive during the holidays. She has some good ideas about how you can have a happy TEEN HOLIDAY. 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!

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.”

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. Her recent article focuses on why teens can be so competitive during the holidays. She has some good ideas about how you can have a happy TEEN HOLIDAY. 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!

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.”

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.

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!

This show was originally aired March 26-27, 2011.

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.

Casey and Dan visit with Texas RN Monica Sanchez about the vote the resulted in RNs in five Texas cities voting to join National Nurses United. They now join thousands of other bedside nurses across the country who are fighting for patient rights and better conditions for RNs.

Also on the show is RN Janet Izzo, who has written a book called Hotel Hennepin. Janet chronicles the poignant, sad and hysterically funny stories from her career as a staff and charge nurse on the obstetrics unit at a large county hospital in Minneapolis.

This show originally aired June 12-13, 2011.

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. 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.

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.

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.

This show originally aired November 6-7, 2010.

And author and sex addiction therapist George N. Collins is with us.  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. 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.

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.

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.

This show originally aired October 1-2, 2011. Read more about the show or listen to the podcast.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!”

We also talk with Greg Batte who has started a nurse advocacy organization called—surprise— Nurse Advocate Organization.

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.

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 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.”

Also New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry joins us to talk about his passion for history and his fascinating new book The Jefferson Key. Not only is this author of 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. This is a great story–all of it!

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.

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.”

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!”

And Kaiser RN, BSN Susan Dean joins us in the studio.  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 powerhouse medical paralegal Corine Mogenis talks with us about a new book she and partner 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.

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.

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 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!”

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.

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!”

Casey also interviews DeAnn McEwen, who joined hundreds of other nurses in a rally to tell Wall Street pay its share! A proposed 1/2 penny transaction tax would raise an estimated 38 billion dollars….that’s with a B! www.nationalnursesunited.org.

And later we visit with Wayne Cooke, author of On The Far Side Of The Curve. Wayne is eight years away from his colon cancer diagnosis and gives a very down to earth account of his journey.

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!”

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 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 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.”

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 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 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.”

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.

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 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 iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too.

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

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!

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!

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.

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

Remember “laughter is the best medicine.”

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!

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…

Oh my…seems like we just can’t get rid of Gomer Pyle! For some reason Dan continues to channel Gomer and he actually thinks he has been chosen to deliver an important message to the masses. What could Gomer have possibly known that would be so important to the rest of us? Stay tuned.

Casey and Dan have a great discussion with our friend RN Deborah Burger. Deborah is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and shares details of an open letter she wrote for CommonDreams.Org. The letter: Want to cut the federal deficit? Restore fair taxes on Corporations and the Wealthy? Why does this affect nurses you say? Find out as Deborah puts forth the details of what is being cut from the budget and why—and why no one is talking about raising revenue–NOT just cutting spending. Yes this does affect nurses and all of the rest of us. To read Deborah’s letter go to nationalnursesunited.org.

And you’ve heard us say on the show that according to the latest Gallup poll–nurses are (top of the list of) the most trusted professionals. 85% of those polled thought nurses were honest and displayed integrity. OF course our own nurses Casey and Dan are very proud of their profession BUT thought it might be useful to conduct their own Nurse Talk poll. A little less scientific, perhaps—but nonetheless—oh so much fun. Listen as they swing into action with the Nurse Talk “Nurse” poll.

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!”

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!

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!”

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!”

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!”

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!”

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.

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!”

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!”

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…

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!”

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.

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 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 and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember “laughter is the best medicine!”

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!”

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!

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!”

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!

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!”

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.

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.

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!

Later in the show RN Rita Batchley talks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a southern California public sector hospital, and her new book, Labor Pains.

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!”

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!”

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!”

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!”

Boston RN Karen Higgins joins Casey and Dan to discuss the continuing need for single payer health care in our country, urgency regarding nurse-patient ratios and other important issues that affect all of us.

Karen is past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United.

We also get some great advice about taking care of your parents or other elderly loved ones from Kira Reginato, president of Living Ideas for Elders and host of her own radio show on KSRO, The Elder Care Show in Santa Rosa, California.

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

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

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.