Nursesfindtheirnicheintoday’sworld
By DEBORAH A. MILES neonatalintensivecareorinfection isacareerwithinacareer,
At2.9millionstrong,nursesrepresent control.Nursesaredrawntowherethey andanobleprofession.We
thelargestgroupofhealthcareworkersin candotheirbest,”Dodsonsaid. dealwithperfectstrangers
America.PEFrepresentsnearly10,000 atatimewhentheyare
nursesinNewYorkstateservices. Helpingothers mostvulnerable.Thatis
Nomatteriftheyworkinanemergency PEFmembersKunnelVarughese and whenwemustshowour
roomoraschool-basedclinic,nursesare JesseJoshyfoundtheir compassionandearnthe
traditionallyrecognizedforaweek nursingnichesat patient’strust,”shesaid.
beginningwithNationalNursesDayMay CreedmorePsychiatric
6,andendingMay12,thebirthdayof Center. Rewardingtimes
FlorenceNightengale,thefounderof Bothpsychiatricnurses
modernnursing. saidateameffortwith
“Theroleofthetoday’snursehas doctors,othernursesand JOSHY
Sometimes,the
strangerswhoenterthe
livesofanursegive
expandedthroughoutthecenturies,”said therapistsiswhathelpsa somethingback.
DeeDodson,PEFRegion12coordinator patienttoimproveor BrendaPhillips,anurseformorethan
andchairofthePEFNursesCommittee. recover. 25yearswhoworksatHelenHayes
“Individualsaredrawntothis
VARUGHESE
Buttheyeachhave Hospital,saidtwoverydisabledpatients
professionbecauseofthecompassionand theirownspecialwayof inspiredher.
dedicationtheyfeeltowardpeople.In nursing. “Thesewomen,bothquadriplegics,are
thesetimes,theyneedthatspecial “Sometimes,thebest verymotivatedtoliveanormallife,
commitmentknowingtheirprofession waytohelpapatientisjusttolisten.You despitetheirdisabilities,”Phillipssaid.
maybeevenmorevitalduringtimesof cantellwhensomeoneisinpain,” “Oneofthewomenjustkeepsfighting,
pandemicdiseaseordisasters,”Dodson Varughesesaid.“Listeningtopatients eventhoughherdiseasekeeps
said. givesthemasensethatsomeonecares progressing.Iadmireher.Insteadof
“Nursestodayarecommittedtoquality andisconcerned.Itmakesthemhappy gettingdownorfeelingsorryforherself,
patientcareasevidencedthroughour andtakesawaythebadfeelingsintheir shefightstolive.Andshefightsinsurance
continuingeducationefforts,andour minds.” companies.Sheistryingtohaveanormal
determinationtoimprovehealthcare, Joshysaid,“Observationisalsoa life.Shehasbeenaverypositive
suchasourstruggletogetthemandatory criticalpartofthepatient’scare.It’sthe influence.”
overtimelawpassedinourstate. littlethingswenoticeandrelatethatcan Phillipsalsosaidnursingisnotonlya
“Nursingtodayalsooffersopportunities makeadifference. rewardingprofession,butonewithmany
tospecializeinseveralareasthatare “Therearealotofsacrificesinthis opportunitiestofindyourniche.
importanttoanindividual,whetheritbe profession,butitispersonallyfulfilling.It
MURPHYLABORWALK—CDALF
President/PEFVicePresidentJoeFox
ralliesunionmemberstogodoor-to-
doortohelpelectcongressional
candidateScottMurphy,aDemocrat.
MurphyattendedtheeventattheExit
8ParkandRidelotinCliftonPark
March28withhiswifeandfamily.
MurphywasrunningagainstAssembly
MinorityLeaderJimTediscoina
specialelectionforthe20th
CongressionalDistrict.Theseatwas
vacantsinceJanuarywhenKirsten
GillibrandwasappointedbyGov.
DavidPatersontotheU.S.Senate.The
electionwasMarch31.However,in
mid-AprilasTheCommunicatorgoes
topress,absenteeballotsarestill
beingrecounted. Murphyisaheadby
273votes.
—PhotobyPrairieWells
Page16—TheCommunicatorMay2009 PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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