Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:47 — 73.9MB) | Embed

This week we’re sharing  a vintage clip of one our favorite funny ladies, Ellen Degeneres in her first appearance on the Johnny Carson to start you off with some chuckles.

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/. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:22 — 17.0MB) | Embed

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. Why be involved in patient advocacy beyond the bedside? Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:20 — 4.6MB) | Embed

This week we’re sharing a vintage clip of one our favorite funny ladies, Ellen Degeneres in her first appearance on the Johnny Carson to start you off with some chuckles.

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.

Plus RNs Jean Ross and Karen Higgins on why you should be involved in patient advocacy beyond the bedside and Dr. Christina Purpora discusses horizontal violence among nurses. A message for new grads: It’s systemic. It’s NOT you. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:55 — 74.1MB) | Embed

As we continue to celebrate Nurse Talk’s 4th birthday we, of course, had to drag out yet another blast from the beginning days of Nurse Talk with then co-host Maggie McDermott and one of our favorite callers Muriel. And for those of you who might be concerned about Muriel — we recently contacted her and she has completely recovered from her “chortling” disorder. She is remarried and has started a new career as a minister—a woman of the cloth. Well, it’s always nice to find a happy ending. You can listen to Muriel’s call at the Nurse Talk Comedy Pharm.

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. Read more…

As we continue to celebrate Nurse Talk’s 4th birthday we, of course, had to drag out yet another blast from the beginning days of Nurse Talk with then co-host Maggie McDermott and one of our favorite callers Muriel. And for those of you who might be concerned about Muriel — we recently contacted her and she has completely recovered from her “chortling” disorder. She is remarried and has started a new career as a minister—a woman of the cloth. Well, it’s always nice to find a happy ending. You can listen to Muriel’s call at the Nurse Talk Comedy Pharm.

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. Read more…

“Welcome to Nurse Talk where laughter is the best medicine. I’m Casey Hobbs.”
“I’m Shayne Mason and we are two of the thousands of nurses on duty today.”

Oh lord…on the show this week we have a horrible sound ensemble that includes what is now being touted as “The worst sound EVER”—a knife against a glass bottle, followed by the screeching sound of chalk on a chalkboard, the sound of a ruler on a bottle, and the sound of nails on a chalkboard. If these noises don’t raise the hair on your chin—well—then you must be really Zen or hard of hearing. More fun with this on the show. You can listen here.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:46 — 73.8MB) | Embed

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.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:21 — 4.6MB) | Embed

WOW—take us back to the Ross Perot days! Damn that’s funny. Dana Carvey and the late Phil Hartman on Saturday Night Live.

Asserts Casey, “and Shayne that’s all I’m going to say about PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES! You can say more, but my lips are sealed!”

You have to wonder if Casey can really seal her lips about anything, let alone the debates. Tune in to find out.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:46 — 73.8MB) | Embed

I’m sure our listeners have heard us talk about the Robin Hood Tax—a small change for banks—a big change for people. This idea is global not local. A small transaction fee on the banks would raise billions to provide education, healthcare parity, infrastructure, and yes, even care for our fragile planet. What was once a movement—is now legislation—thanks to Minnesota Representative –Keith Ellison. We’ll have our friend RN Jean Ross from the state of Minnesota tell us why this is so important. The UK-based (they named it) worldwide campaign for the Robin Hood tax was launched on 10 February 10, 2010 and is run by a coalition of over 50 charities and organizations, including Christian Aid, Comic Relief and UNICEF.

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. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:03 — 22.0MB) | Embed

We 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. Read more…