Washington Post Review of Healing
Also...my daughters are going to College Nationals in Ultimate Frisbee
Hi All,
Like so many of you, probably, I’m feeling bereft at the recent school shooting in Texas. We do all need a little healing right now, along with a ban on assault weapons. I do not see that as a political argument, but a common sense approach to preserving the lives of as many schoolchildren as we can. A country that doesn’t strive to keep its children as safe as possible from mass murder has seriously lost its way.
Washington Post Review
On the positive side, the Washington Post published a very nice review of Healing. You can read it here. A few people on Twitter pointed out the oddness, and inaptness, of calling me a “former nurse” in the title of the review. I agree with them, but didn’t take it up with the paper since it reflects a more pervasive problem I have encountered before. Physicians who may not have practiced medicine for years are routinely called “Dr. X” and seen as doctors, with all the deference and respect the title elicits. Most nurses I know consider ourselves nurses for life, and yet nurses who leave the bedside are often not seen as “real nurses.”
KERA Think—Another NPR Show
My interview on “Think” ran on May 16 and you can listen to it here. The interviewer’s daughter is a nurse and she asked fantastic questions about being the “easy” vs. the “difficult” patient. We also talked about how nurses’ and doctors’ training too often embraces the idea of tearing people down in order to build them back up again. That approach works for soldiers (my joke about the Marines aside) because they are taught to kill people and protect themselves from mortal danger. Nurses and doctors, though, are supposed to be learning how to care for others. We need our compassion to be built up along with our clinical skills. Hazing will never produce empathy.
We’re off to Milwaukee for College Nationals!
My daughters, Miranda and Sophia, are playing in College National for Ultimate Frisbee this weekend and Arthur and I are of course going to cheer them on. Miranda was also nominated for this year’s Callahan (MVP) Award. Watch her nomination video here. If you’re interested, follow the team over the weekend on Twitter. The team name is “Danger” and the Twitter handle is @PittUltimateW.
We hit the road for Milwaukee bright and early tomorrow. Wish us no rain and the wind always in Danger’s favor! Also, comments are always welcome—
Hugs to all,
Theresa
I love that picture! Congratulations on the WaPo review--and congratulations to Miranda and Sophia!