Email from A Michigan Nurse

Our newsletter went out today. We are receiving many offers of support and we appreciate hearing from all of you!
If you didn't receive the newsletter and would like a copy OR if you would like to receive our flyer to post at your work setting OR you would like to help financially, please email teri@nationalnurse.info
We love hearing from you.

This is one of the many emails we received this afternoon.

"Hello from Michigan,

Congratulations on the campaign for a National Nurse Office! We will be successful! On January 18, I presented the RN journal editorial outlining the National Nurse campaign and website. Copies were distributed to all MSN students in our Health Policy course at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. From there, hopefully grassroots advocacy will take hold as several students were taking the information back to their respective health care agencies (some very large health systems). Please send me posters and other information that may be of benefit to promote the campaign. Keep up the great work.... all nurses must ban together to strengthen our voice!"

Instructor Sarcastic

I thought I had to read a lot last semester. Yeesh! Now its nearly 300 pages a week! Seeing as one of my books is 2080 pages, this isn't that unreasonable. I settle down in the library after each class to trudge through the next day's chapters. Next week I have my first 3 tests. Pharmacology, Med-Surg, and the IV checkoff. I'm nervous, but I feel like I'm really going to master the material. My instructor is awesome. She's so sarcastic and impatient, but she makes me laugh.

I tripped over the projector cord today during a break. It shut down the whole computer and Powerpoint, so my teacher started waving her arms. "Heather! Why did you do that! I can't believe this! GAH!" I started pushing buttons and getting the thing rebooted, but she made sure everyone coming back into the room found out what I did. She kept flashing a grin at me to show she wasn't angry, but she took definite pleasure in her ranting and scowling at the crowd. The woman likes to pick on people.

For example, she likes to say things like "Does that arrangement sound good to you? Yes? Guess what if it doesn't. HAHAHA!"

She always implies that she doesn't care what you think. This isn't really the case, she cares very much for her students. But its a game with her, a game that amuses her greatly.

I find myself amused as well. I never thought I'd ever come to like someone so... spunky? Ah! I can't help but admire her! What with that sparkle in her eye, mischevious grin, and mind overflowing with knowledge. I'm glad I picked the hard teacher.

I hope I still feel that way after I take a few tests. ^_~

Oregon Nurse Responds

We definitely concur with the suggestions in this email we received from a nurse in Oregon.

"I'm glad your team is doing some positive lobbying for nursing's image. I firmly believe our nation does not understand all that nursing does and with proper education would request more nursing related services in all areas of health care. I hope your program will emphasize nursing as a whole and it's diverse roles."

"On the other hand, I'm concerned about the ideas of having a variety of nursing folks posting educational messages. Not that I am worried about their expertise in their field, only whether health promotion specialists will be on board divising successful health education/promotion within the messages. Trained health promotion specialists need to be involved to make the messages as successful as possible."

On another subject, we were thrilled to hear just this week from nurse educators teaching in New York, Texas, Connecticutt, Massachusetts, and Nebraska who are integrating the National Nurse proposal into their curriculum. We are happy to provide you with our free poster-simply send an email to teri@nationalnurse.info

Come One, Come All To Massachusetts

On Friday, March 31st, 2006, you are invited to attend a free conference to learn more about the National Nurse proposal. Teri Mills and Alisa Schneider will be keynoting the meeting and will be bringing a powerpoint presentation as well as a "mock" video demonstrating how a broadcast message from the Office of the National Nurse could given to the public.

There will be a time for questions and answers and we also want to hear your feedback. Other speakers are planned for this event as well.

The conference will be held from 10 am to 1 pm at Mt. Wachusett Community College located at 444 Green St in Gardner, Massachusetts.

Please RSVP to teri@nationalnurse.info and let her know the names of attendees and she will be happy to forward this information on to the host. Teri will also let you know of places you might stay if you are traveling from a distance and need overnight lodging.

Email from A Pennsylvania Nurse

"I would like to receive the National Nurse flyer." (Note: this is a picture of our flyer which is downloadable in 8.5 by 11 size paper. Please email teri@nationalnurse.info if you would like this sent to you!)

"I am from UPMC Passavant Hospital/ Cranberry, located north of Pittsburgh, PA. I come from a long line of nurses as my mother, maternal aunt and both sisters were and are nurses. My daughter is currently enrolled in the nursing program at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, PA."

"I feel very strongly that the office of National Nurse is much needed and long overdue. This country has no idea what an impact nurses do, can and will make to educate and promote overall health. You can count on my support and the support of as many of my peers as I can ignite!"

Also, a friendly reminder--be sure to submit your email to receive our next newsletter, which will be arriving in your boxes tomorrow morning. Lots of exciting news to update you on too.

Educating the Public About the National Nurse Proposal

Alisa Schneider and Teri Mills, both members of the National Nurse Team and faculty at Portland Community College (PCC) will be speaking to the PCC Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) on February 1. They will show their powerpoint presentation, including evidence that demonstrates the need and cost effectiveness for a National Nurse, a videotape showing what a "mock" broadcast message from a nurse specialist and a "National Nurse" would look like, and a television interview about the Office of the National Nurse.

If you know of groups that would like to hear their presentation, please email teri@nationalnurse.info

This is a great way for your organization to have input into the proposal.

Ding! I Leveled Up.

Yes, the title is geeky. But you can hardly blame me... I've never hidden the fact that I am a part-time nerd. ^_^

This is my first week of Second Level!

This semester will focus on Med-Surg nursing. My new instructor is a short, spunky lady who is quite possibly one of the bluntest women I've ever met. One of my extremely inquisitive friends has already irritated her with too many questions, so my instructor has decided to limit her to 3 per day. This is of course sarcastic; she'll answer whatever questions need answering. But anytime my friend asks something the teacher finds superfluous, she throws up her hands and says something like "Lord, this is number two! You better be careful how you use you last one!"

What is different from first level sofar? I'll spend two days in the hospital instead of just one. I'm only taking 5 classes instead of 7, but one is Med-Surg theory and the other is Pharmacology. Argh! I've heard this called the "hard level" by many students. I'm not sure if that's because those who failed second level probably should have failed first but barely squeaked by, or because the teachers are harder on you, or if the material is fundamentally more difficult. (I can hardly credit the idea of Med-Surg being harder than critical care. Only time will tell, I'm sure.)

You know my Really Useful Page full of the all the scans and handouts from last semester? I went in to the first level BSN class today and gave all the students that website address. The teachers seemed thrilled about it (maybe I should have announced it to the class when they were still responsible for my grade?) but the students looked a little confused. I can only hope they actually make use of the thing, since it saves each person an average of $7.20, which means with 70 students... that's over $500.
I am only more determined to acquire official school webspace for this project so I can leave something behind for posterity.

So. I'll let you know how things go this next week. All of you who are aspiring nurses or techs or whatever... good luck with your new semester!