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A Tribute to RNs on the Front Lines

Nurse Talk — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:17:33 +0000

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.

Donna Smith with a DC Update, Singer/Songwriter Brian Asselin and Bill Fisher with the Alzheimer’s Association | March 17, 2012 | Show 440

Nurse Talk — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:55:42 +0000

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

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

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

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

Donna Smith on D.C. Health Care News | National Nurses United Sponsored Segment | March 17, 2012 | Show 440

Nurse Talk — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:53:01 +0000

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. Read more...

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

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

Lynn Ruth Co-hosts this week

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

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

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

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

Here are some quick facts about Alzheimer’s:

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

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

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

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

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

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

NNU’s Donna Smith and Funny Lady Lynn Ruth Miller | Sept. 17-18, 2011| Show 422

Nurse Talk — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:24:28 +0000

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.

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. Read more...

Legislative Update | Donna Smith Segment | Show 422

Nurse Talk — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:23:14 +0000

Donna Smith chats with us from Austin, Texas–you know, the home of one of the largest bat caves around…and its 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. Read more...

Which Promises Will Be Kept? YOU tell Congress, NO cuts to Medicare and Social Security

Nurse Talk — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:14:36 +0000

We’ve made some new friends over on Facebook, Americans for Healthcare. They posted this video this morning. Let’s remain vigilant.

Please sign every petition, send emails and make phone calls to Congress-Tell them to NOT make cuts to social security, Medicare and Medicaid. Instead, close tax loopholes and stop Bush tax cuts. Here’s how to find your representatives: www.contactingthecongress.org.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!”

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid belong to you. Say “NO” to cuts.

Nurse Talk — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:53:07 +0000

Tell Congress: No Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid
Call Your Senators – National Call-In Days: July 14-15

As part of the negotiations to raise the national debt ceiling, Wall Street-funded politicians in Congress and the White House are proposing significant cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They want to:

Cut Social Security’s COLA – even though Social Security does not contribute one penny to the national deficit, and is financially secure for decades.

Raise the eligibility age of Medicare from 65 to 67 – threatening the health and lives of tens of millions of seniors and people with disabilities who are dependent on Medicare for health coverage.

Implement deep cuts in Medicaid funding, assisting the efforts of governors who have targeted Medicaid for state cuts and endangering tens of millions of Americans who count on Medicaid.

CALL YOUR SENATORS
1-866-251-4044 (toll free)

Tell them:

No cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. No cuts to Social Security’s COLA.No Social Security payroll tax holiday.

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid belong to you – you pay for them in every paycheck. Don’t let them cut it or raid it.

What’s behind this attack?

The refusal of leaders of both parties to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans and Wall Street – despite a huge decline in tax revenues from the top 1 percent of taxpayers and the majority of big corporations that evade taxes.Efforts to privatize Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and raid these benefits for Wall Street banks, investment houses, and insurance companies. Those who created the economic crisis don’t need more handouts.

NNU has proposed an alternative. Tax Wall Street speculation to rebuild America. We need jobs, healthcare for all, education, and housing for our communities, not more tax breaks for Wall Street, or cuts to our most basic services.

Learn more about NNU’s Main Street Contract for the American People – a new direction that puts Main Street first and asks Wall Street to pay their fair share. We’re collecting stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary economic challenges – share your story, find us on Facebook, take the Main Street pledge, endorse the contract, and know that you and your family are not alone in these difficult times.

National Nurses United
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 1100
Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.NationalNursesUnited.org

Save Social Security and Medicare, Fair Taxes on Wall Street | Donna Smith Segment | Show 413

Nurse Talk — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:56:08 +0000

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. Read more...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can 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.”

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t Let Congress and the White House Cut Social Security and Medicare!

Pattie Lockard — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:21:34 +0000

Tell Congress: Don’t Cut OUR Social Security and Medicare!Call your U.S. Senator today!Our friends at National Nurses United, the California Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Nurses Association ask us all to please remember to call Congress and the White House on Tuesday, November 30 to protect Social Security and Medicare.The co-chairs of a presidential commission are promoting a plan to cut the deficit at the expense of working people, seniors, widows, orphans, and people with disabilities. Don’t let them.Before the full commission even gets a chance to vote on the deal on Dec. 1, please join us in calling Congress and the White House.This plan would raise the retirement age, reduce benefits for middle-class workers, and cut COLAs after retirement – dramatically reducing benefits for the oldest retirees. It would also reduce Medicare to a voucher program. Don’t be mislead, these programs are currently on sound financial footing and are never allowed to contribute to the deficit.RNs can’t wait longer to retire when they are already overworked and are lifting an average of 1.8 tons a day. We can’t take any benefit cuts when employers continually try to reduce hard-earned pension benefits.”The proposal from the two chairmen of the ‘catfood commission’ makes no sense on its own terms,” says NNU Co-president Deborah Burger, RN. “Congresswoman Schakowsky’s proposal strengthens Social Security, taxes the wealthy, and invests in jobs.” Please make your voice heard now.What you can do:Join in Nov. 30, National Call-in Day to Congress. We want to flood Capitol Hill with thousands of calls, so please join, and call your senators and representative in Congress, 866-529-7630.Call the White House, 202-456-1414.Write a letter to your local newspaper. Follow this link to an online tool, which enables you in just a few clicks to locate and email your local newspapers. There are 10 sample letters that you are able to choose from, all of which can be customized.Tell them:* Protect Social Security. No cuts in benefits for RNs and other working people.* Strengthen Social Security. Raise the income ceiling on payroll taxes for a more equitable system.* No extension of the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans.Download Call-in Day flyer Download FAQ Flyer