Nationwide Nursing Resources: This blog is an extension of Nursefriendly.com, a directory has been assembled, reviewed and approved by Andrew Lopez, RN and his team of Internet Nursing Guides.
Why do I participate in #NursesTakeDC? I do it for my patients! I work in long term care and rehab where patient loads depending on shift and facility can be as many as 60 patients for one nurse! This is beyond stupendous! While I work day shift, and am not burdened with that many patients, I need to support those nurses that do. On day shift, I have had 20+ patients. Actually, when I worked solely long term care, I was expected to care for 30 patients! Nurses in hospitals and Nursing homes need to have mandated a maximum number of patients they can care for. It is a matter of patient safety and quite frankly a matter of patient dignity! That is why I have participated and will continue to participate in #NursesTakeDC! NursesTakeDC 2018 details here: https://4nursing.blogspot.com/2018/01/nursestakedc-safe-staffing-rally-april.html
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Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, RN Nursefriendly National Directories 38 Tattersall Drive West Deptford, New Jersey 08051 856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly http://www.nursefriendly.com
Why Nurses Take DC? As a career coach for nurses, I have my ear to the rails of the nursing profession and the healthcare system at large. There are many pressures and challenges facing 21st-century nursing professionals, and my personal mission is to elevate the profession and provide nurses with the inspiration, self-confidence, and knowledge they need to succeed in a shifting healthcare landscape.
I accept every opportunity to address nurses en masse or individually so that I can offer wisdom that will keep them moving forward in their lives and careers. If we can motivate nurses to be politically active and aware of the forces impacting their careers and their workplaces, we can increase the power of our individual and collective voices.
Nurses are the most trusted professionals in the United States, and we can leverage that trust in terms of exerting our influence on the legislative agenda around the country and in Washington, DC.
Keith Carlson is a holistic career coach for nurses, award-winning nurse blogger, writer, podcaster, speaker, author, and popular career columnist. With two decades of nursing experience, Keith deeply understands the issues faced by 21st-century nurses. Keith’s two podcasts, RNFM Radio and The Nurse Keith Show, offer inspiration and practical support to nurses seeking to create meaningful, satisfying lives and careers. Keith’s message of savvy career management and professional satisfaction reaches tens of thousands of nurses worldwide. Keith can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram---as well as at NurseKeith.com
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Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, RN Nursefriendly National Directories 38 Tattersall Drive West Deptford, New Jersey 08051 856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly http://www.nursefriendly.com
"Nurses Take DC to keep patients safe from harm related to nursing staff being spread too thin, to help reduce medical errors and protect other nurses from burnout. We want to take care of our patients and have the time to provide them with the care that they deserve." Sarah Brennan Mott, RN NursesTakeDC 2018 details here: https://4nursing.blogspot.com/2018/01/nursestakedc-safe-staffing-rally-april.html
Sarah Mott is a Registered Nurse, Inventor of the Koala~Qlip Stethoscope Holder and Founder of Nurse Born Products an online store that carries products developed by Nurses. Sarah is a supporter of SMYS and attended Nurses Take DC in 2017. Sarah and her company Nurse Born Products will have a table at the SMYS Nurse Networking event on April 25 and then on April 26 she will rally at the Capitol with other nurses and concerned citizens from across the country for safe staffing ratios.http://www.NurseBorn.com
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Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, RN Nursefriendly National Directories 38 Tattersall Drive West Deptford, New Jersey 08051 856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly http://www.nursefriendly.com
They say "If you build it, they will come." Well we have built it so you better gather all your friends and neighbors and get to NursesTakeDC. April 25 & 26 2018
"I used to talk to young people who didn’t know what direction they should take in a career. I would always say “Have you ever thought about being a nurse?” Now I don’t want to encourage anyone to go into nursing as I see the discouragement on so many nurses faces now. How can I tell them that it is fulfilling to help people through the healing process when the consistent short staffing doesn’t allow them to care for patients in a safe way. I will now protest, march, contact legislators until we can get safe staffing legislation passed for everyone. I believe we are the ones that have to make this happen. As a strong union activist I have seen how nurses can stand together in solidarity and make it happen. I support the SMYS movement as it is a grassroots movement that has been able to bring nurses together. See you in DC!" NursesTakeDC 2018 details here: https://4nursing.blogspot.com/2018/01/nursestakedc-safe-staffing-rally-april.html
Julie has been in working in healthcare for over 40 years. She actively promotes her Union OPEIU who support nurse patient ratios as the Vice Chair of the OPEIU International Nurses Council and as Chief Steward for Local459 Nurses In Lansing Mi. She also is a member of a Nurses Honor Guard that pays tribute to nurses at the time of their death. Julie Godby-Murray on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/opeiu.local459nurses/ Nurses Honor Guard https://m.facebook.com/nurseshonorguard/
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Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly National Directories
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly http://www.nursefriendly.com
"NursesTakeDC2018 is an opportunity for nurses to share successful strategies, tools and messaging to educate federal legislators on the value nurses bring to improving the public's health. Join us in DC April 25 and 26 and be a change agent on the trajectory of healthcare reform by educating legislators that adequate numbers of nurses caring for patients saves lives." Pamela Sue Robbins, MSN, RN, Past President Illinois Nurses Association
Biography source: http://smysofficial.com/about-us/our-leadership/ "Pam graduated from Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1978. She has worked as a staff nurse in the PACU acute care and ambulatory setting for many years. As a member of her professional state nursing organization, Pam served as a collective bargaining unit chair developing contract language. Pam was elected serving on the state professional nursing association Board, eventually elected Illinois Nurses Association President and has been deeply involved in Government Relations, fashioning and lobbying legislation for almost two decades. Pam’s passion is awakening the professional nurse to their political power – enlightening them on the current legislation that will impact their nursing profession and the public’s health – and encourage them to become politically active as a nurse constituent advising their legislators on how to vote on health policy in Springfield. She received her BSN degree from the University of Saint Francis (USF) in 2007, and in 2013 graduated from USF with her Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration. Pam is adjunct professor Millikin University in Decatur teaching graduate nurse anesthetist students Health Policy and Politics. Pam served as an Illinois Healthcare Action Coalition Leadership (IHAC) sub-committee chair developed and presented with nationally recognized speakers the IHAC 2015 two-part series webinar Nurses to the Boardroom! In 2015, Pam was a consultant serving as a thought leader on two of the three workgroups for the national project, Value of Nursing. Three focused workgroups were developed around the key components: a clear definition of the value of nursing that can be shared with the healthcare industry and the public, development of a business case for the utilization of the RN and development of a licensing certification competency crosswalk for the inter-professional team." ****************** Andrew Lopez, RN Nursefriendly National Directories 38 Tattersall Drive West Deptford, New Jersey 08051 856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly http://www.nursefriendly.com
"Nurses. This is our watershed moment. Yet, it’s more than that. It’s a grassroots movement to fight towards a common goal.
You must make a decision. Do you want to be a part of history? Can you afford not to? This is an absolute truth. You have the power. Together we can fight to pass federal legislation to mandate nurse:patient ratios for patient and nurse safety. Remember. It’s your life. And your loved ones."
Doris Carroll BSN, RN-BC, CCRC is an RN from the Midwest, with a background in OB/GYN, NIH clinical trials, Infectious Diseases, and Primary Care for Adults and Children. Doris started her career in Labor and Delivery, and left that position in the early 90’s to pursue a rare opportunity in the clinical research space. Doris says, “I left inpatient nursing in 1992 when I had the opportunity to work on the cutting edge of NIH research with pregnant women with HIV infection. I loved it, but it was very challenging. Many tears shed back then for our patients. Many died due to little treatment options in the early days of HIV infection. However, those women who enrolled in clinical trials were very brave. They took AZT vs. placebo in a double blind study, 5 times/day! Their participation led to nationwide benchmarks for the standard of care for the treatment of HIV infection in women and children.”
About ten years ago, Doris changed career paths again to the outpatient setting. Delivering nursing care between two services, Infectious Disease and Primary Care services for Adults and Children. Doris recounts, “I love the continuity this position provides in caring for my patients,” she says, “and the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.” She now is an Administrative Nurse for those clinics.
Published co-author for several articles, book chapter, and poster presentations throughout her 34 years in the nursing profession, Nurse and Patient advocacy has played a more important role in her career the last 4 years.
“I work nationally with a group of highly dedicated nurses with the same passion for patient safety. Similarly, I am now the Vice President of the Illinois Nurses Association, a Nurses’ Union, and a Vice President Affliate for Illinois AFL-CIO, as well as the Chief Co-Steward at my local hospital of 1200 nurses. I am grateful for the opportunities my nursing career has provided for me. I love what I do. My message to you…Stand up, Speak up, and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”
As a co-organizer for SMYS/Nurses Take DC since 2016, “I share my hopes and dreams with you now. You and I will need to continue the work of passing legislation for Nurse:Patient Ratios at the state and federal level, the only way to protect our patients, our loved ones…and nurses!”
Doris is also a single mother of teenagers. And cats. And one gecko. Enough said."
"I take D.C because until we all have ratios the fight is not over. I am a California nurse and was part of the fight for ratios. I do not take the right to have a safe assignment for granted. I know what It's like to have 10 Med/Surg patients and I know what it's like to have 4 or 5. We are stronger together. We will fight together."
Leslie Silket BSN RN. An advocate and an activist. A Registered Nurse (RN), she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Francisco State University in 1990. For the next 22 years she dedicated herself to improving patient care; both at the bedside and on the state and national level at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California, and in Washington D.C. As a member of the California Nurses Association, Leslie along with fellow nurses throughout California, fought successfully for nurse-to-patient ratios.
"My Dad is my “why.” He died in 2014 after multiple missed opportunities in healthcare. For the first time in my 20+ year nursing career I was embarrassed to be in healthcare. I committed to going back to bedside nursing in the hospital setting and figuring out why so many errors happened to my Dad and I vowed I would make purpose of his pain and fight for change as long as I am physically able!"
Deena Sowa McCollum is an RN in Texas. Deena holds a BSN (1993) degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Her first 8 years as a Registered Nurse, Deena worked in the acute care setting as a bedside nurse/charge nurse on Medical, Surgical and Telemetry units. Deena spent the next 11 years in Leadership/Director roles. In 2014, Deena's Dad died as a result of multiple missed opportunities (errors) in healthcare. After his death, Deena returned to bedside nursing to better understand what had changed over the past 11 years she was in leadership roles. Quickly she realized the expectations placed on the bedside nurse are beyond unrealistic. She knew in order to bring some purpose to her Dad's pain she needed to be part of the change that needed to occur in nursing.
Deena is a contributing writer for Nursecode.com, Sorryworks.com, guest speaker for HealthwatchUSA, Advocacy Heals You, Surviving Healthcare Today and Caregiving SOS. Deena was one of three nurses who were the founders of the Nurses Take DC-Rally for Safe Staffing in May 2016. Guest Speaker at 2017 Rally for Nurse to Patient Ratios And is part of the 2018 Rally planning committee.
"My goal, mission is to give nurses a voice. Provide education so we can advocate for safe staffing and motivate our peers and elected officials to pass a bill. We've had a bill every senate season since 2002!" Kate McLaughlin BSN, RN @NJSafeRatios: Founded NJ Safe Ratios to bring NJ nurses together to fight for patient safety. Safe staffing for Every Patient, Every Time! http://www.NJSafeRatios.com #NursesTakeDC 2018 http://www.NursesTakeDC.comwwwht
Full Rally Details: Nurses Take DC, Safe Staffing Rally, April 25, 26, 2018
Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio, www.GreatNurses.com ran the first nurses march with 35,000 in DC in 1995, and Show Me Your Stethoscope is continuing her work on April 26, 2018.
Why should you go? Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio talks Safe Staffing with NJ Safe Ratios (Kate). If you want safe staffing we need nurses to unite.
Let's get every NJ nurse to unite. Tag your nurse peeps and share! https://youtu.be/4IXT_-90Y9Y
April 25, 2018 @ 4-8pm: Legislative Education Seminar. Hear from our nurse activists on health policy and how to become an effective change agent in healthcare. Walk away equipped with the tools to make change in your community and industry. Limited to first 250 registrants! Details to come!
April 26, 2018 @ 1030 am - 2:30 pm Rally at the U.S. Capitol Building followed by meeting with your legislators and staff! YOU MUST MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENTS, but don’t worry, we will make this as easy as possible! Try to plan appointment time around rally if possible. Details to come!
The purpose of the NursesTakeDC Rally is to support House Bill 2392 & Senate Bill 1063 Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017.
The proposed bills would establish federally mandated requirements for nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in acute care hospitals. This would regulate the maximum number of patients assigned to a nurse during a given shift. Nursing assignments would not exceed the proposed ratios. This legislation inherently has patient and nurse safety at the forefront.
Location: Permit Area 1, Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Main Rally Page: http://www.NursesTakeDC.com/
From the site:"Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Nurses, healthcare providers, and the scientific community understand that unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios contribute to increased morbidity and mortality for patients.
Unsafe staffing also creates unhealthy and unsafe environments for nurses to practice, and contributes to nurse burnout. As a result, our community is working to change the current care environment. #NursesTakeDC is a nurse-driven movement to make safe nurse to patient ratios a reality for all nurses in the United States. This year nurses will gather in Washington, DC for a National Rally to raise public awareness regarding the importance of safe nurse-to-patient ratios and to support pending legislation.
In the Fall of 2016 Medscape Nurses completed a survey that questioned working RN’s on their experiences and safe nurse staffing. The results of this study were recently published by Medscape titled What's Being Done About Nurse Staffing? According to Buppert (2017), “53% of nurse respondents said that at the end of a typical shift, they did not feel satisfied about the care they had provided. And 57% believe that patient care is suffering”. Log in for free to Medscape to read the complete article at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/877838_1
On May 4 & 5 2017 Medscape Nurses traveled to Washington DC to see the outcome of the Rally. To view their perspective of the event, log into Medscape for free at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/880474 The piece titled Nurses Get Political to Address Unsafe Staffing may be viewed."
The issue is "Nurse Patient Ratios Now!" We are backing legislation to make California Style nursing ratios national. Something the American Nurses Association, American Hospital Association is dead set against.
Will be posting updates and activities leading up to the rally, if you'd like to attend or get involved, do contact us or visit:
