December 17, 2012

When tragedy moves us

You know you're a nurse when ...

I don't believe there is one person who can hear about the tragedy at Sandy Hook and not be moved. I think many people are moved to a “call for action” in some way — to discuss gun control, the abhorrent mental health system in these United States, etc.?

We hear of violence almost every day but usually not of innocent babies of 6 and 7 years old, and the adults trying to protect them. Not here in our country.

But I think the greatest call to action I personally have seen is the one of prayer. Yes, in nursing we tend to pray wordlessly with our hands every day as we minister to those who need our prayers and loving touch. But this? This level of pain is new to so many of us.

So I ask: Let us pray collectively, in our own words, to our own God but, yes, pray if you are a person to do so.

Or fight for stricter gun control (without losing the right to bear arms, if you are so inclined) and for a better mental health system instead of the “treat them and street them” system we have in our country.

But be moved to action.

Keeping it (too) real,

Nurse Jackie

The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, a 2012 APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real life long-term care nurse who is also the director of clinical affairs for the American Medical Directors Association. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. She has not starred in her own national television series — yet.