Thank You Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)

Pictured: Congresswoman SanchezThank you to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) for her co-sponsorship of HR 4601 The National Nurse Act of 2010. Congresswoman Sanchez proudly serves the 47th District of California. She began her career in November 1996 and is currently concluding her 7th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congresswoman serves as Vice-Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and is a member of the Subcommittees on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology. According to Congresswoman Sanchez's website, she is a firm believer that every American, and particularly every child, should have access to quality medical care. She was a proud supporter of H.R. 2, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill, which was signed into law by President Obama on February 4, 2009. The SCHIP law will preserve healthcare for the 7 million children who are currently covered by SCHIP and extend coverage to an additional 4 million uninsured children who have been eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.The National Nursing Network Organization received this statement from Congresswoman Sanchez:"America has the best health care system in the world, and part of the reason is the quality of our nurses," said Rep. Loretta Sanchez. "The National Nurse Act will help ensure our nurses receive the resources and support they need to continue to provide quality care. Nothing could be more important than recognizing these outstanding men and women."Thank You Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)

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Letter to the Editor Published!

Reprinted from Seacoastonline.com-August 17, 2010"To the Editor:Gallup's annual survey of professions reports nurses are the most trusted profession in America for their honesty and ethical standards. When I want to learn what is happening in health care, I turn to nursing publications and research. I am thus pleased that legislation has been introduced in Congress called The National Nurse Act of 2010, which finally establishes an Office of the National Nurse within the Public Health Service.The National Nurse would provide leadership to strengthen nurses' efforts with a nationwide cultural shift to prevention. The Office of the National Nurse is needed to slow the growing epidemics of preventable chronic diseases, to promote health awareness and increase health knowledge, and to promote health careers and strengthen health infrastructures. As trusted frontline health educators and caregivers, nurses have a long history of expertise in health promotion to improve health outcomes.Nurses know that a healthy population strengthens families and communities in many positive ways. So does Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, as one of the earliest supporters of the The National Nurse Act of 2010. Thank you, Carol, for being a congressional sponsor of this important legislation and continuing to work on behalf of all of us in the 1st District."Laurie McCrayPortsmouth, New HampshireLetter to the Editor Published!

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'Cyberchondriacs' on the Rise?

'Cyberchondriacs' on the Rise?Originally from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NursezonecomNursingNews/~3/Wyy7lfye1Js/Cyberchondriacs-on-the-Rise_34874.aspx

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NSNA Recognizes Leader of Leaders

NSNA Recognizes Leader of LeadersOriginally from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NursezonecomNursingNews/~3/UdlnVRnP_uc/NSNA-Recognizes-Leader-of-Leaders_34842.aspx

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The Campaign for a "National Nurse"

"Reprinted with permission. © 2010 HealthLeaders Media, www.healthleadersmedia.com." Rebecca Hendren, for HealthLeaders Media, August 3, 2010A grassroots campaign is underway to create an Office of the National Nurse. The initiative calls for a national nursing leader, similar in stature to the U.S. Surgeon General, who will serve as a figurehead for nurses around the country, and spearhead health prevention efforts.The movement has received much support, and there is legislation now in the U.S. House.I wondered what a national nurse would do and why supporters felt there should be one, so I spoke with Teri Mills, author of the original New York Times op-ed that first suggested the idea back in 2005.Turns out, America already sort of has a national nurse. There is a chief nurse officer at the U.S. Public Health Service, and Mills' proposal is to create an Office of the National Nurse and elevate this CNO to be officially known as "national nurse.""So few people even know the chief nursing officer exists," says Mills. "Even members of Congress do not know this position exists. We would like Congress to have this position be known as the national nurse."Mills is the president of the National Nursing Network Organization, which was founded to campaign for the national nurse initiative. She says the beauty of the position is that the framework already exists and a little effort could make the position a leader in health prevention, working with organizations such as the American Heart Association and National Kidney Association, to improve Americans' health.The chief nurse position is currently part time. Under the legislation, it would become a full time position, with a redefined focus for the bureaucracy that already exists. Mills understands the political realities she faces. "The country has a huge deficit," she says. "Now is not a time to be asking for new money or new bureaucracy. But we have a position already.""We have an incredible epidemic of chronic preventable conditions," adds Mills. Recent healthcare reform legislation includes "money for health promotion and prevention. But we need leadership. What is missing is the messenger."Mills argues that a National Nurse could provide leadership to the nation's 3.4 million nurses to deliver the message of prevention in multiple languages to every American by partnering and strengthening the work of existing groups, including the Office of the Surgeon General."Health education and promotion is the cornerstone of every nurse's practice," says Mills. "Nurses have a really good record in promoting health literacy. The national nurse could inspire and engage nurses to participate in health prevention."The grassroots campaign has been gathering momentum over the last few years. It does not employ professional lobbyists in Washington. Instead, it relies on support from nurses in the field who are slowly spreading the word and debating whether a national nurse can be a unifying voice for the profession. Mills encourages nurses to visit the website to learn more about what she believes a national nurse could accomplish.In the meantime, although the bill has 17 cosponsors, it will likely need another trip through Congress before it gets close to passing. The National Nursing Network Organization is soliciting input from across the healthcare spectrum to craft a bill with the best chance of success.Rebecca Hendren is an editor with HealthLeaders Media. She can be reached at

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Top Of The List For Dropping Out Of High School - ADHD, Conduct Disorder And Smoking

Top Of The List For Dropping Out Of High School - ADHD, Conduct Disorder And SmokingOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/15647-top-of-the-list-for-dropping-out-of-high-school---adhd-conduct-disorder-and-smoking

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A Man's Desperate Quest for a Kidney Hits Cyberspace

July 29 - A South Tamaqua man in desperate need of a kidney donor continues to network his plea through newspapers, television and just recently the Internet.

John Nakata, 37, says he is too young to die and he wants to be around to raise his five-year-old son. But as each hour and day passes, he feels the likelihood of that happening decreases.

Nakata and his family appeared on YouTube in a video dated July 8 of this year.

The three-and-a-half-minute video shows John, his wife, Sherry, and his sister, Tina Nakata, pleading to anyone who is between the ages of 21 and 60 and in good health with type "O" blood to agree to be tested by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia as a potential donor.

John has diabetes, coronary heart disease and failing kidneys. He receives hemodialysis three times a week and he has been on the donor list for years. But he feels time is running out and he believes he may have only two years to live.

Doctors at the hospital suggested that he get the word out for a stranger to step forward and donate a kidney.

"Each day about 19 people die waiting for a kidney donor. There are 80,000 people who need kidneys," Sherry said. She and her husband want to make people aware of the need for kidney and other organ donors.

Nakata's rare blood type presents another problem for donors but he and his family have been encouraged by the fact that they've heard from people in California, Cincinnati and other sections of the country.

"Four people have been tested and more are responding," Sherry said. "We're getting a lot of feedback and it's just amazing how strangers will offer to donate their kidney, but so far we haven't found a match."

The family has used just about every form of the media to get their message out for a kidney donor.

A man who identified himself as Jeremy White e-mailed the Standard-Speaker on July 22 asking for an area code number from a story published in the Standard-Speaker in June.

White said in the e-mail that he is a healthy, 37-year-old man with type "O" blood and stated he is willing to donate his kidney.

White sent a follow-up e-mail explaining his plans to contact a nephrologist to find out what else he needs to do to help Nakata. A nephrologist is a physician specializing in kidneys.

The newspaper forwarded White's e-mail to the Nakata family so they might contact him.

White wrote that he can't save everybody but it would be great to save one person.

John Nakata is hoping along with his family for just such a stranger to get tested at the University of Pennsylvania and to have a matching kidney that can be transplanted in time to save his life.

In addition to receiving hemodialysis, Nakata must take insulin and 46 pills daily.

He hopes that a donor will be found soon so he can celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary and continue to be able to spend time with his son.

To contact the Nakatas, call 570-436-5114 or e-mail them at donate2john@gmail.com.

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Kick-Start Your Nursing Career:
[widget:related_reads_flywheel_1]A Man's Desperate Quest for a Kidney Hits CyberspaceOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/15600-a-mans-desperate-quest-for-a-kidney-hits-cyberspace

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