Has anything changed from 2007 to 2009 in this post? Do You Anticipate Any Change?

See this post of mine from January 2007. http://advocatefornurses.typepad.com/my2cents/2007/01/happy_new_year.html

Here is the cut and paste:

Happy New Year Nursing Colleague!

1. Will this be the year that we will be "recognized" as a profession? If we are not a profession, what are we? A craft, occupation, trade, calling, etc. Does it matter? For me, regardless of whether nursing is ever recognized as a true profession, I am LaTonia Denise Wright, R.N., first and foremost.

2. Will this be a year that we will reach a consensus on the entry level to practice?

3. Is this the year that we as a profession will recognize the importance of nursing standing unified, regardless of education, practice area, or union status?

4. Will this be the year that individual nurses recognize the importance and POWER inherent in employment contracts, agency relationships, independent contractor status, and other viable alternatives to at-will employment?

5. Will this be the year that nurses start supporting our nursing professional associations (by joining and paying membership dues of course) which tirelessly advocate for nursing?

6. Will this be the year that as nurses we start following what happens in the state and federal legislatures like we follow what happens on the local evening news?

7. Will this be the year that we as as a profession stop eating our young and discouraging others from considering nursing as a career choice?

8. Will this be the year that RNs and LPNs (and associations and organizations for each) unite on the national, state, and local levels to pursue common goals and interests?

9. Will this be the year that in addition to being one of the most trusted and respected professions by the public that nursing will also be one of the most trusted and respected professions with _____________?

10. Will this be the year that the Sleeper Will Awaken? The Sleeper Must Awaken! This is a quote from Dune written by Frank Herbert.

Comments

[Nursing Law Bandit]

Thank you, Jack and keep up the good work. We do have a long way to go as far as substance abuse and addiction in nursing. The medical, personal, financial, and social issues presented by addiction and dependency are difficult enough and take on an entirely different meaning for LPNs, RNs, and APRNs who have to deal with the licensure, regulatory, criminal, employment, professional, and/or sometimes civil law ramifications of the disease process.

[Jack Stem]

So far I see very little that will change. In fact, it seems things are becoming worse for nurses dealing with practice impairment resulting from substance abuse and addiction. The prosecutors in the northeastern counties are becoming more punitive and some of the members on Ohio's board of nursing seem to be less than enthusiastic about the alternative to discipline program. Nurses continue to shoot their wounded...I receive phone calls and email from nurses everyday struggling with this disease and the stigma piled on top by the nursing community. How do we change the way addiction is treated when we can't even get it right with our "colleagues"?

I'm reading an excellent book regarding leadership tiled "Tribes" by Seth Godin. I highly recommend it!

Thanks for all you do for nurses and the nursing profession.

Jack