Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:45 — 73.8MB) | Embed

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:45 — 73.8MB) | Embed

This week Shayne goes home to Oklahoma! Well at least on the radio—as we give a big warm welcome to our new affiliate 1610 AM The LaZer, America’s progressive station in Cowlington, Oklahoma. Greetings and thanks for letting us into your great state.

Shayne: “Well, Casey I am just wondering if anyone else is as confused and tired of the drama that continues to play out in our nation’s capitol? First it was the “debt ceiling,” then it was the “fiscal cliff,” now it’s the 4-door Ford “Sequester.” Have we always had these themed dramas? Lord, I even found instructions on the Internet on what to do if the “fiscal cliff” happens. Check this out:

First, relax! Then call your representative in Congress. Then turn off the TV. Postpone spending. Get some cash ready.

Why didn’t I think of that?”

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:45 — 73.8MB) | Embed

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. Read more…

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!

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:32 — 4.8MB) | Embed

We have a great show this week. We’ll visit with New York RN Mary Fitzgerald. Mary is a proud member of the New York State Nurses Association and was a part of the Peoples Medical Relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Sandy when many community clinics, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies were closed, leaving residents without access to medical services. Are they making progress? Mary tells us about what has been done and what efforts are still in place for long-term, sustainable work with communities and local organizations. Tune in and learn more.

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.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:45 — 73.8MB) | Embed

This week we present a wonderful rewind about TM, Transcendental Meditation and then just to make you “nuts” we’ll give you a review of D.C. Constipation! No segue for that. If you missed our great discussion about TM, tune in this Saturday at 11 am Pacific on KNEW960 am on the air or streaming.

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. Read more…

Well some of you may be old enough to remember Ernestine Tomlin, the blunt Ma Bell phone receptionist. Now, we find out she’s not just a pretty face–she is an advocate for Universal Health Care! “One ring-dingy, two ringy dingy’s…hello…” and she’s off to the races.

This week we have two very honorable guests to share with you. We promised them we would not tarnish their stellar reputations so they agreed. First, Ken Zinn the D.C. based Political Director for National Nurses United then retired army nurse captain, Vietnam war veteran and founder of the Women’s Vietnam Memorial, Diane Carlson Evans.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:29 — 4.8MB) | Embed

Who would have thought Casey and Shayne would be called upon to be medical advisers during the SUPER BOWL for Jim Harbaugh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers? I am sure not many—and to be truthful—they weren’t. BUT one of them dreamed about it. Which one could that have been? Well, at the very least it is exciting to see our 49ers back in the SUPER BOWL.

And speaking of the Bay Area—most of you locals know TV and radio health and fitness expert Joanie Greggains. After 25 years on KGO radio in San Francisco—Joanie crossed the picket line and will be featured on Nurse Talk in a new weekly segment called “Fit Happens.” The segment begins in February.

Also coming up—one of our favorite guests RN Marsha Podd, aka The Baby Whisperer. One of the topics she’ll talk about—postpartum depression. If you have questions for Marsha call 1-800-977-1863 and leave your question on the message line and she will answer on the air.

IT’s WORTH REPEATING…this week…a look at the V.A hospital system from RN Irma Westmoreland and Bay Area fitness and health expert Joanie Greggains helps break down the top 10 barriers to exercise. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:30 — 4.8MB) | Embed

Casey: “Shayne although the song Send In The Clowns is a bit dreary the clowns we are going to talk to today are anything but. I am so excited—almost as excited as I got when everyone else went to the circus—we have Tim Cunningham from Clowns Without Borders with us and wait until you hear about the remarkable work they do. You really won’t want to miss it even if you sleep through the rest of the show.”

Rudi, Lisa and Alejandro of Clowns Without Borders perform for children in Mexico acing the daily tolls of child labor and past traumas.

What a wonderful find this was: Clowns Without Borders, founded in Barcelona in July 1993. The idea began when Tortell Poltrona, a professional clown in Spain, was invited to perform in a refugee camp in Croatia. This performance unexpectedly attracted audiences of more than 700 children, proving to Poltrona that there is a great need for clowns and entertainment in crisis situations. He founded Clowns Without Borders to offer humor as a means of psychological support to communities that have suffered trauma. The clowns have organizations in nine countries Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, South Africa, Canada and the United States. We’ll visit with RN and president of “Clowns,” Tim Cunningham. This is just a beautiful story.

AND—Flu shot controversy rages on. RN and co-president of National Nurses United, Karen Higgins joins us to discuss this “vibrant” topic. What do you think? Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:30 — 4.8MB) | Embed

Shayne: “Well, Casey already this year there is so much going on in the news. Of course all kinds of political issues such as the “fiscal cliff,” the looming debt ceiling, and a range of other hot topics such as—hospitals working overtime to cut staffing and increase profits, storms like we’ve never seen before, world hunger, poverty, melting of the polar ice caps, unemployment and more. BUT the one bit of news that I find most important Casey and I think you will agree—Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy.”

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 pubic 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 good 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

What do nurses find in their pockets? With the help of Scrubs Magazine we find out. Read more…