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?

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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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States Continue Push For Extension Of Extra Medicaid Funds

States Continue Push For Extension Of Extra Medicaid FundsOriginally from: http://mnt.to/f/3GKh

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Restless Legs Syndrome Appears To Occur Within Families

Restless Legs Syndrome Appears To Occur Within FamiliesOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/15556-restless-legs-syndrome-appears-to-occur-within-families

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CDC Confirms Dengue-Fever in Florida

July 28 - The chief researcher of dengue fever at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the federal agency stands by its statement that upward of 1,000 Key Westers could be infected with the disease.

However, Dr. Harold Margolis, based at the CDC's dengue lab in Puerto Rico, says that doesn't mean that 1,000 people are clinically ill with it.

"When you talk about a dengue case, you talk about someone who is clinically ill. For every case, you may have three or four people who are infected but not ill," he said Tuesday.

He likened it to HIV and AIDS. One can carry the HIV virus yet not have full-blown AIDS.

Symptoms of dengue fever include high fever, aching bones, headaches, pain behind the eyes and a rash. More than 100 million people worldwide have contracted the disease, which is endemic in some tropical areas including Puerto Rico, where Margolis is based, and Central America.

On July 13, in preparation for an Atlanta conference on infectious diseases, the CDC put out a report that said 5 percent of Key Westers could have dengue.

That was an extrapolation of 240 blood samples taken from Old Town residents after an initial outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease last June. Five percent of that group tested positive for dengue or related antibodies.

Five percent of a Key West population estimated at 20,000 people is 1,000 people.

And that has caused all kinds of headaches for tourism officials, since those numbers were reported worldwide.

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"This idea that there's an epidemic here, or that we're on the verge of an epidemic, is just false," said Andy Newman, chief marketing guru for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

But it's not, Margolis said.

Since 2009, 43 Key Westers have been diagnosed with having the actual dengue disease, according to the Monroe County Health Department.

"We've never said there are 1,000 people walking around with dengue," Margolis said. But he also said the 43 cases of those with the actual disease are "by definition ... an epidemic."

"I think we've been very clear from a technical standpoint," he said. "Yes, it has gotten to the public that you've got this large number of people who are ill, which is not the case."

He added, "I understand the message has gotten mixed, but we never said don't travel to this area. We're saying take precautions."

Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Director Ed Fussell is trying to sell his board on raising the agency's annual budget from $9.48 million to $12.16 million; that includes $931,000 to fight the spread of dengue.

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[widget:related_reads_flywheel_1]CDC Confirms Dengue-Fever in FloridaOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/15565-cdc-confirms-dengue-fever-in-florida

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Stimulus Money Funding Medical Training Courses for the Unemployed

Passaic County Community College in New Jersey is offering health care training courses beginning Aug. 2 for the unemployed and entry-level health care workers in an attempt to fill needed positions.

In February, the college received a $4.5 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund the Healthcare Training Initiative at no cost to participants. The first session is a phlebotomy course - training in drawing blood.

Project Director Donna Stankiewicz, assistant dean of health science and nurse education, has built a faculty and staff to develop and run the three-year program.

Six courses will be offered in electronic medical records, medical coding, supervisory/front line management, pharmacy technician, customer service training and phlebotomy.

Stankiewicz said PCCC plans to train 1,150 people, 300 unemployed and the remainder from PCCC's grant partners, including St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson and Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pequannock.

"The goal is to get participants trained now ... so they can get employed," she said. Passaic County's unemployment rate is 11.4 percent.

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A placement coordinator will help participants find jobs after they complete the programs.

Cathy Lynch-Kilic, St. Mary's Hospital vice president of human resources, said PCCC will conduct three training programs at the hospital.

"They're offering courses for cross-cultural understanding, dealing with difficult people and communication listening," she said.

"We always want to maintain a high level of skill, and it's going to bring the hospital to the next level."

Stankiewicz said about 10 people are registered for the Aug. 2 class.

PCCC President Steve Rose said the program will pay dividends by providing opportunities for those with no or low-paying jobs in a field lacking qualified people.

"I think this is what the stimulus money was meant to do," he said.

"We all know in health care the unemployment rate is much lower than anything else."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care industry has added about 217,000 jobs since last year.

However, Trisha McTigue, director of education at Chilton Memorial Hospital, said she has not noticed a need for health- related workers.

"In the tri-state area we've had so many hospital closures, I don't know if we see the impact of the shortage," she said.

While the hospital may not have an employee shortage, Mctigue said Chilton is looking to enroll its employees in the customer service training and leadership certificate programs.

"Customer service you can't learn enough about," she said. "It's a 24-hour certificate program.

"People are looking for ways to market themselves today. This is an actual certificate program so it also looks nice on a resume."

Fast facts

Who is eligible? Unemployed or entry-level workers at a partner organization. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and take the college's placement test. Passaic County residents receive first priority.

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Average ED Wait Times Increase; Some Facilities Make Improvements

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Alzheimer's Foundation Of America And Second Wind Dreams Forge Strategic Partnership

Alzheimer's Foundation Of America And Second Wind Dreams Forge Strategic PartnershipOriginally from: http://mnt.to/f/3GH3

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Also In Global Health News: NIH And Rare Diseases; Cold Emergency In Peru; U.S.-Russia Emergency Cooperation Pact

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HHS Awards $9 Million To Train Preventive Medicine Physicians

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Improving Studies Of Cardiac Muscle With New Mathematical Model

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New Study Shows That U.S. Nurses Believe They Considerably Influence Patient Health Decisions and Behavior

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Cancer On the Run But Not Conquered

The American Cancer Society recently reported some good news: Cancer is still on the run.

Although men and women continue to get the disease in large numbers, the big change is found in cancer deaths. For men, death rates from cancer fell 21 percent between 1990 and 2006. Death rates for women fell 12.3 percent during that time. In all, some 767,000 deaths from cancer were avoided.

Now the sobering news: An estimated 569,490 people in the U.S. will die from cancer this year.

It's easy to get swept up in conflicting advice on how to avoid cancer. Some of the recommendations you hear are absolutely sound. Some ideas are tomfoolery.

There's at least one cause-and-effect that's plain as day and completely controlled by the individual. As smoking in the U.S. has plunged, so has the rate of lung cancer. Not smoking substantially reduces the chances that you will succumb to one of the greatest threats to public health. The national campaign against smoking has been a resounding success. Thousands of people walking around are living proof.

There are troubling signs, though, that we've hit a roadblock on this. About one in every five U.S. high school students smoke cigarettes, and that number has been stubbornly consistent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Youths aren't getting the message that smoking can kill you. Anyone who has visited an outdoor mall recently can't help but notice how many teens light up. It's painful to watch. Less obvious, but on the rise, is the use of other tobacco products such as snuff, roll-your-own tobacco, small cigars and even hookahs. They're aggressively marketed.

The vast majority of adult smokers got hooked before they reached age 21. Persuading teens not to start remains a critical public- health objective. Cost is a big deterrent for teens.

On Jan. 1, 2008, Illinois imposed a welcome ban on smoking in public places. We're glad to see a Wisconsin law went into effect earlier this month that helps level the competition for taverns and restaurants along the border with Illinois. Kansas adopted new rules on July 1. Michigan did two months before that.

Almost half the states, though, have yet to ban smoking in food and drink establishments, and a few states allow it in private workplaces and public spaces. Want to guess where cancer rates tend to be stubbornly high?

Lung cancer still accounts for more deaths than any other kind of cancer. The numbers are going in the right direction - cancer is indeed on the run. But let's make sure the kids know the story.

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Health Care Industry And Professionals Respond To Seniors' Growing Health Needs

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Face transplant recipient makes first public appearance

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