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Does Nurse Jackie Discourage People From Nursing?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:15:14 -0700

If any buzz is good buzz, then Showtime execs must be mighty pleased right now as nurses react to the new series starring Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie. Falco's lead character is no Florence Nightingale . . . well, unless Nightingale also snorted drugs, had sex on the job, and stole money, just to name a few of Nurse Jackie's proclivities. Some real-life nurses have expressed their anger and dismay:

"I don't know what they wanted from us," said [Barbara] Crane, a nurse in the intensive care unit at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, N.Y., and president of the National Federation of Nurses. "I have no clue what the screening was supposed to be about," she said. "They couldn't think that those of us in the most ethical profession - and we are the most ethical profession - that we could possibly find that entertaining."

The folks at Showtime maintain that it's just entertainment and "negative publicity is publicity." Plus, plenty of nurses are actually praising the show for presenting a nurse character "with such smarts, fierce dedication to her patients and human contradictions." But Tina Gerardi, chief executive officer of the New York State Nurses Association, has concerns that the show will discourage people from joining the nursing profession.

Do you think TV shows are that influential? Will would-be nurses avoid the profession because of Nurse Jackie?

Photo courtesy of Showtime

7 Noteworthy TV Nurses

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:30:08 -0700

As I wrote yesterday, nurses are awfully hot on TV right now, with two nurse-themed shows (Hawthorne on TNT, Nurse Jackie on Showtime) premiering next month and at least one more (Mercy on NBC) premiering next TV season. In honor of them - and of National Nurses Week, which ends today - I've picked out seven eclectic nurses from TV who stand out to me.

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Sante Fe's "Robin Hood" Tax, Rich to Pay For Police Housing?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:16 -0700

If you have a fancy mansion in Santa Fe, NM, you might be asked to foot the bill subsidizing more affordable housing for local public servants like police officers and nurses. The Santa Fe City Council voted this week for a special election next Spring to decide on a one percent fee to be added to house sales that top $650,000. If that sounds like a lot, it's not an uncommon price tag for houses in the area, and it's keeping those who serve the community, from living there.

The mayor says, "More than half of our police force doesn't live in Santa Fe. They can't afford to buy a house in Santa Fe. The thinking is that it's a reasonable fee that helps us meet a very, very important goal in Santa Fe."

The funds raised would help workers make down payments or pay rent. Opponents worry that the extra tax on spendier homes would trickle down to all homeowners later making real estate even more expensive, not to mention that the plan won't generate the revenue the mayor thinks it will. A local realtor says, "We support affordable housing as well as a rich, diverse and sustainable economy."

Is this a great plan to have the wealthiest with the best living conditions directly help those with the opposite problem? Is this Robin Hood run amuck in real estate? Is it important to have local public servants live in the communities they serve?

Source

Taste Worth Dying For?

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:40:01 -0800

The other day FitSugar tipped me off to this new restaurant in Tempe, Arizona. Imagine you head over to your local burger joint and are greeted by a bunch of "hot nurses." Okay, to some this is a dream come true, to others a grotesque degradation to women. If you fall into the latter, they you may want to avoid the Heart Attack Grill in Tempe, Arizona. With a menu that offers the "Quadruple Bypass Burger" and "Flatliner Fries" (deep fried in pure lard), you may find yourself wishing those "nurses" held real nursing credentials.

What do you think, have the folks at Heart Attack Grill gone to far?

Track Your Nursing Schedule on Your iPhone or iPod

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:00:50 -0800

Smartphones are a mother's best friend. From taking notes on the go, keeping track of appointments, or finding the nearest bathroom, there is little our fancy phones can't do for us. They can even keep tabs on baby's feeding habits. The Baby Tracker: Nursing app (available for download on iPhone or iPod for $8) tracks nursing sessions so you don't have to carry a pen and paper and worry about frequency.

The app allows you to record the length of your baby's nursing session and side you nursed on to generate a detailed history and log. You can also record bottle feedings by time (for example milk or formula) and the amount your hungry infant consumed.

Love the idea of using the iPod for parental support? Check out some favorite iPhone applications for parents and mommies-to-be.

Stranger Than Fiction: "Nurse of the Year" Not a Nurse

TresSugar — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Next time you feel underappreciated, just make up an organization and give yourself a fake award! That's what Betty Lichtenstein did. The Connecticut "nurse" spent more than $2,000 for a dinner honoring herself as the Connecticut Nursing Association's "Nurse of the Year." But there were only two problems: First, there's no Connecticut Nursing Association, she made it up. And second, she's not even a nurse!

Lichtenstein, 56, is now being charged with reckless endangerment and criminal impersonation after a patient complained about her. She faces five years in prison for pretending to be a nurse. Maybe she'll award herself the "Fraud of the Year" award!

Would You Cross-Nurse?

babysugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0700

You run out for an errand, leaving your friend in charge of watching your baby. While you're grabbing some sundry items, your tot throws a monstrous hunger fit. In a pinch, your friend decides to nurse your child, which instantly soothes him and restores harmony to the house.

What would your reaction be? Watch this video and see how this mom responded to that exact scenario. Then tell me, would you nurse your friend's child or allow her to breastfeed yours?

Bringing Sexy Back: Elle Macpherson Nursing Bras

babysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:00:36 -0700

Any new mom will tell you dealing with the logistics of feeding your baby are more important than how your breasts are costumed, but that doesn't solve the great nursing bra dilemma. You still have to worry about leaking, accessibility, comfort and adjusting to life as a lactating woman. Usually, all that criterion leaves little space for style or sexiness.

Luckily, we mothers have former supermodel and mommy Elle Macpherson on our side. Her nursing bras, which retail for about $62, aim to be "as sleek and sexy as your pre-maternity bras." The cups are made of delicate lace with a cotton lining.

Elle Macpherson Intimates Maternelle Maternity Bra, Light Pink - $55.00	Elle Macpherson Intimates La Mere Maternity Bra, Black - $62.00
Elle Macpherson Intimates La Mere Maternity Bra, Nude - $62.00	Elle Macpherson Intimates 'E71135 Maternelle' Soft Cup Nursing Bra - $55.00
Elle Macpherson Intimates "Maternelle" Nursing Bra - $55.00	Elle Macpherson Intimates 'La Mere E71196' Nursing Bra - $62.00
Elle Macpherson Intimates Maternelle Maternity Bra, Black - $55.00

Helpful Tips For Buying a First Nursing Bra

LilSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:00:53 -0700

Shopping for a nursing bra should be as thrilling as a trip to Victoria's Secret! The "uniboob" contraptions of the past have been replaced by comfortable, cute and easy-to-use undergarments that are as fashionable as they are functional making the task of choosing a bra easier than ever. We recently sat down with some experienced sales help at Destination Maternity to discuss what expectant mamas should look for in a nursing bra. While the experts recommend getting fitted in person, there are a few simple steps that can be taken at home if you choose to place your orders online. Before packing your hospital bag, check out these tips.

Don't wait until the last minute. Get fitted for a nursing bra approximately two weeks before your due date. This alleviates the need to send a clueless relative to the store to guess what size and style bra you need.
Support is key. Look for bras with enough support to keep your girls from bouncing around too much.
Avoid the bulge. Breasts should not bulge out of the top or sides of the bra, even at their largest, most engorged state.
Make room for the pad. The bra should have enough room to hold your breast and a nursing pad comfortably.

To see the rest of the tips, and a step-by-step video guide to getting the proper measurements, read more.

Go up a size. Purchase a bra one cup size larger than your pre-delivery measurements say. This will leave the proper amount of space for your breast once your milk comes in.
There's a three bra minimum. Having three nursing bras in your possession will allow for one to be in the wash, one to be on you and one to be ready to go.
Buy good nursing bras. There is a reason some bras cost more than others – they last and wear longer, meaning less stretch, fewer clasp breaks and more elasticity.
Sleep on it. Sleep bras keep breast pads in place and help alleviate some pressure from the back during the overnight hours.

The Case For "Privacy Rooms" in Nursing Homes

TresSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:49 -0700

If you fear growing old, here's one more thing to worry about: it's almost impossible to have sex in a nursing home.

An op-ed in the LA Times this week explains why "privacy rooms" - places where residents can do anything they want - are necessary if the elderly are to retain their right to sex. See, basic privacy is elusive in most residences. It's practically impossible to masturbate in your own room without a nosy nurse or aide walking in! Without a realistic expectation of privacy, no one will even think about getting busy.

Of course there are progressive exceptions to the rule, such as the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York. The Hebrew Home was the first nursing home to develop a policy that protects the sexual rights of residents. The staff there is trained to respect a person's right to express their sexuality, while learning how to respond when a person makes sexual advances toward someone with a disability such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

I wonder if the aging baby boomers will bring a full-on sexual revolution to nursing homes?

Source: Flickr User J.C. Rojas