Timeless truth

You can observe a lot by just watching. ~ Yogi Berra

We got an e-mail recently saying the Hotel (and Washington and Madison) was becoming a "smoke free campus".

Supposedly, there was a campaign (not run by our crack public affairs officials) about this big news. I found out about it in a meeting earlier this month, and the nurse executive said, "This shouldn't be the first time you are hearing about this."

Sadly, it was. While I don't smoke myself, it does make things challenging for our patients that do.

Miraculously, someone got Ye Old (stress on old and clueless) Public Affairs person(s) to post this information for patients on our website and social media. It starts January 1.

The grumblings are loud and rowdy at the Hotel because our patients did not get a designated smoking area, nor did our employees. The nearest one is in the building next door, which is a long walk.

The best quote on social media, however, was truth.

"The last time I checked, no one could smoke inside Washington or Madison, so how is it that you weren't a 'smoke free campus' already?'

I'll just keep watching...stay tuned.

Dear Social Media Darling

Dear SMD:

It's nice of you to come back to the Hotel after your last momentous visit when you yelled, threw punches and screamed at a large contingent of staff.  It really is hard to expect a Hotel, because after all, we are really a hospital.

Posting your latest set of grievances on social media won't help.

We will be professional and do our jobs, but if you're looking for warm and fuzzy, there are plenty of pets available down the street at the local animal shelter.

Here's hoping this visit is more pleasant than everyone is expecting.

Yours professionally,

RehabRN

Great blog post on nursing

I don't regularly follow NPR, but I came upon this blog post because of a therapist I work with at the Hotel. It speaks volumes.

Don't miss it! BTW see the movie if you get the chance. Kids or no kids, it's a good one.

Happy weekend wherever you are. You deserve it.

What's NOT right with the world

1.  I could not believe this when I read it. Charging a victim of rape for a rape kit? Really? Add insult to injury and a little financial burden, why don't you?

2. Product branding in the age of social media savvy terrorism. No, I don't think I'd change the name of my product.

3. I feel the same way about the weather. When will it really be fall...for two days in November?

That is all. Monday will be over soon enough. Just felt the need to vent....ah!

So social

I know the job of some of our coworkers is to have fun and even have fun with the patients.

However, from the looks of what they are posting on social media, I really don't think they understand the part about HIPAA and privacy.

I don't think our media guru is anywhere as strict as some other folks.

Just my 2 cents...

Nuggets for April 28 - Media edition

Whew! Thankfully, I've got a break today, so here are a few things out on the 'net worth looking at today.

The WSJ blog discusses the WHO Flu Pandemic scale.

Dr. Val talks about Medbloggers as Press: Second Class Citizens or New Media Elite? I have to say as a peon nurse blogger, I found Dr. Val's article very insightful. Some RNs like myself think they just condescend to nurses and not doctors. Read on for more interesting insights from Dr. Val.

Nurse Ratched's Place is the reason I found this article about real nurses from Edward Norton RN's The Last Nurse Standing. I have to say Ed that the biggest compliment I ever got from a PhD was one who told me when I told her I got a rehab job, "That's real nursing."

Kathy Quan has a really good article on Ultimate Nurse called Nurses Position for Yourselves for Future Opportunities

The LA Times had this article with contributions from three RNs about the current state of nursing, and a great title: Only the strong need apply.

Finally, the Gloucester County Times (NJ) has a great article about male nurses called Male nurses praise job, though still minority.

Start typing...

Or writing or whatever you have to do. WARNING: Rant ahead!

Nurse Jackie is loose on Showtime. Thank you MJ and Kim at emergiblog for discussing this.

Yes, the brain trusts of TV has unleashed a new "saint and sinner" portrayal of nurses, and it leaves an odor of the evening ritual of Hotel Rehab...which, to those uninitiated, is sh^t. Thank God I don't have Showtime (or watch much TV).

If you want to see the trailers and promos for yourself, check out the link above.

If you're really perturbed, send your nastygrams in bulk (recruit your friends, etc.--cut, paste and steal these addresses...) to the folks below. They're ultimately responsible for this product...and if that doesn't work, share your anger with the advertisers on the show, by boycotting their products.

Are you listening, Showtime? Hint, hint: pissing off a couple of million (that's right...MILLIONS) nurses is NOT a good thing for you or your network.

Matthew C. Blank,
CEO Showtime Networks Inc.
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

Leslie Moonves
President and Chief Executive Officer
CBS Corporation
51 W. 52nd St.
New York, NY 10019-6188

And while your at it, if you're an ANA member, tell them to get off their duffs and take a stand on this, too.

Rebecca Patton
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Avenue Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
301-628-5000
301-628-5001 (fax)
1-800-274-4ANA (4262)