Nurse Talk

In her one woman show (playing at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco), Elaine Magree first takes audiences to January 28, 1986 where as a hospice nurse---she finds herself in the chaotic socio-political center of the AIDS epidemic on the day of the Challenger explosion, confronting the relative value of lives.

While the GOP "replacement" plan failed--don't get complacent! Now is the time to organize, educate and take action to improve and expand Medicare for All. Our current system is not sustainable. Nurse Talk chats with Healthcare Advocate and Activist Donna Smith. Donna is also the Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America.

Many Americans may be surprised to know that California is the only state in the country with mandatory limits on the number of patients a nurse can be assigned at one time. The regulations were enacted in 2004, after nurses with the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United fought for years to achieve them. Now nurses across the country are pushing for national legislation.

Healthcare Advocate and Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America Donna Smith talks about what we know and what we don't know about the ACA replacement from the GOP. What we know--the insurance companies win again. AND--making it clear that Social Security and Medicare ARE solvent and NOT going bankrupt.

Words matter! Casey Hobbs RN & Host of Nurse Talk talks about the distinction between saying she "has cancer" and saying she is cancer free but undergoing Chemo Therapy so that the cancer does not return. "I am not a cancer patient, I am a person receiving Chemo Therapy". Does it make a difference to say that? To me it does"!

RN and Co-Host of Nurse Talk, Casey Hobbs continues her short commentary about the arduous journey of Chemo Therapy and the "mind games" she fights. "It's much different being on the patient side of things. This journey is very humbling".

A few weeks ago R's reached tentative pact, affecting 1,300 RNs, with Kaiser L.A. Medical Center. RN and NNU Co-President Deborah Burger talks about why now more than any time before, this agreement is so critical. In a time when labor unions across the country are being attacked, this was a huge victory for nurses everywhere.

Coming up on Nurse Talk...Casey and Shayne get busy and make up a few Executive Orders of their own. In them--Nurses rule and BIG PHARMA CEO's..not so good! Listen this week as we talk about a thriving Social Security Program and what's happening with "repeal and no replace". Much more on Nurse Talk this week..

Social Security Works and a growing chorus of prominent voices in Congress and elsewhere are calling for the expansion of our Social Security system—people who know that Social Security will not “go broke” and does not add a penny to the national debt. Nancy Altman co-author of "Social Security Works" is with us today.

Healthcare In America's Donna Smith talks about "repeal and no replace". AND constituents are keeping the pressure on elected officials as town hall meetings spread across America. Donna Smith is a long time healthcare for all activist and is Executive Director for Progressive Democrats of America.

This week on Nurse Talk ---Nancy Altman co-author of "Social Security Works" helps bust the MYTH that social security is going bankrupt. NO-- it isn't. AND --Casey & Shayne introduce and sign some executive orders of their own. Healthcare In America Senior Correspondent, Donna Smith talks "repeal and no replace" and more.

Welcome PDA listeners! Listen to highlights of Nurse Talk's "Healthcare In America" with Healthcare Advocate and Activist, Donna Smith. What are the real reasons for repealing Obamacare? NO-- not the ones Republicans are pushing --more like the ones that are always at the core of their "covered wagon" proposals.

A Major Impact On Nursing...... The UN recently declared “the greatest and most urgent global risk.” And it may surprise you to know that threat is antimicrobial resistance. An extraordinary gathering at the United Nations in September of 2016 may have permanently changed how the world deals with antibiotic resistance, which is believed to kill 700,000 people around the world each year. http://www...

Being diagnosed with cancer begins a journey that no one is prepared for, least of all me. I thought I made a bargain with God that if I was a good nurse I would not ever get cancer. Wrong. I also thought that since I accompanied friends with cancer through their treatments and a myriad of patients that I would be prepared for what was to come. Wrong again.

Ever been the target of a workplace bully? Andrew Faas, the author of the new book, "From Bully To Bull's Eye" has first hand experience as a bully and a victim of bullying. It cost him his high profile corporate job and caused serious illness. According to a 2015 Harvard University study, more than 120,000 deaths a year may be due to stress related to bullying---resulting in 5-8% of annual health...

There were 1.7 million new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2016. Prostate cancer was the most common cancer among males (21%), followed by lung (14%) and colorectal (8%) cancers. Among females, breast (29%), lung (13%), and colorectal (8%) cancers were the most common. Two of those cases were personal. Nurse Talk Co-host Casey Hobbs and her sister Vicki talk about their personal journey.

Why did Minnesota's Hennepin Community Medical Center change it's financial projections by a whopping $45.4 million dollars? Apart from calling into question the financial management of this valuable community resource, this $45.4 million decrease demands some answers. AND.. now it looks like lay-offs are being considered? Hmm. The nurses want to know what's up?

Repeal and Replace with?????? Here's the right answer--and the only answer. A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM. With Medicare for ALL-- $494 billion dollars could be saved. To learn more visit https://heal-ca.org/getthefacts/

From the other side of the divide. " I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer stage 2b to 3b on November 8, 2016, otherwise known as Election Day. There were two things I was certain of that day, the first was that Hillary would win the election, the second was that my tumor would be benign. Damn---I was wrong on both accounts"

From the repeal of Obamacare to an unusual horse race --we've got it. Join hosts Casey Hobbs and Shayne Mason for an all new Nurse Talk.

So here we are. The day has come for Republicans to do what they’ve tried to do 60 times before—REPEAL OBAMACARE. Healthcare In America's Senior Correspondent Donna Smith takes us through what this might look like and it isn't pretty!

National Nurses United (the nations largest organization of nurses with over 190,000 members) called on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, as well as the full Senate, to reject the nomination of Rep. Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services. RN and Co-President of National Nurses United Jean Ross joins us this week.

This week on Nurse Talk Radio --How important is public policy and protective legislation for nurses and patients? Life saving is the answer. During the last two years alone nurses represented by California Nurses Association and National Nurses United fought to author and pass state and national legislation that includes “Safe RN-to Patient Staffing Ratio’s, and California’s Ballot Proposition 61...

This week on Nurse Talk and WIN(Workers Independent News) --How important is public policy and protective legislation to nurses and patients? Life saving is the answer. During the last two years alone nurses represented by California Nurses Association and National Nurses United fought to author and pass state and national legislation that includes “Safe RN-to Patient Staffing Ratio’s, and Califor...

Recently National Nurses United launched the Nurses Health & Safety Campaign. This project is a network of nurses and allies, committed to collectively advocating for nurse health and safety. The nurses vow to continue fighting to advance protections for nurses and patients, through direct action and advocacy in the legislative and regulatory arenas. With us to talk about this project is Jane Thom...