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Speaking abstract:

Media Portrayals of Nurses Put Us All at Risk. Here's How We Can Improve Them

Speaker: Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH
Founder and Executive Director, The Truth About Nursing

The global nursing shortage is the largest public health crisis of our time. In this provocative multi-media presentation, Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH, founder and executive director of the Truth About Nursing, explores the overlooked roots of the shortage and its effects. Research shows that media products shape and reinforce inaccurate ideas about nursing. The media commonly portrays nurses as the unskilled handmaidens of physicians, sex objects, angels, or battle-axes; advanced practice nurses are often ignored. Such depictions discourage talented people (especially men) from entering the profession and demoralize practicing nurses; legitimize nurse under-staffing and the dilution of nursing care delivery with less-educated technicians; and exacerbate the under-funding of nursing education, research, and clinical practice. Too few decision-makers know that nurses are skilled professionals who save lives and improve outcomes. Sandy Summers will explore diverse, proven strategies to help nurses reach out to the media and build an image that reflects nursing's true value. That will foster more investment in nursing practice, education, research, and residencies. We can empower nurses to improve safety for patients, reduce nurse turnover, and enhance public health. Sandy shows you how.

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Contact Sandy by email ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org

Office phone 410-323-1100

Cell 443-253-3738

 


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Educate the world that nurses save lives!


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