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A MAGNET FOR NURSES
The underlying cause for the ongoing nurse vacancies
in our hospitals is the short supply of nurses in Illinois and throughout
the country. [R.L. Nave, “Critical Condition: How Springfield is
handling the nursing shortage,” Sept. 4].
Every hospital I’m familiar with throughout the
state is recruiting for additional nurses to meet the growing demand for
services. However, the number of graduates coming out of nursing programs
is insufficient to meet the increasing demand and to replace the large
numbers of baby boomer nurses who are retiring. Based on projections by the
U.S. Health and Human Services Administration, Illinois will have a
shortage of more than 21,000 registered nurses by the end of the next
decade.
The importance of creating positive work environments
for nurses is well recognized by hospitals across the country and in the
state of Illinois. This is the primary reason for the exploding interest in
achieving Magnet hospital status, a designation Memorial Medical Center
earned in 2006. Magnet status is the highest recognition for nursing
excellence awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the
credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association.
The requirements of the Magnet Hospital Program are
rigorous and scientifically based on more than 100 research studies that
have identified the characteristics of organizations that attract and
retain professional nurses and that are able to achieve optimal patient
outcomes. Memorial and many other Illinois hospitals are putting
significant resources into achieving compliance with Magnet standards,
purchasing technology that will reduce the work burden on our nurses, and
implementing flexible staffing options, shared decision-making processes
and professional development and educational support for our current and
future nursing workforce. These things will draw nurses to our hospitals
and enable them to provide higher quality of care for their patients.
Research has shown that organizations that have
earned Magnet designation have better patient outcomes, lower mortality
rates, increased patient satisfaction, shorter lengths of stay and high
levels of nursing satisfaction. We’re proud to be a Magnet hospital
and we’re committed to continually raising the bar of nursing
excellence.
Marsha Prater, PhD, RN
Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Memorial Medical Center
Springfield
ANGELS OF MERCY
I read with interest the article regarding the
shortage of nurses. It’s no wonder there is a shortage. Their pay is
not that great, hospitals have no retirement, only 401k’s, and they
are worked like dogs. I have the greatest respect for all of them.. The
care they give is from the heart and, believe me, the treatment they
receive is anything but nice most of the time. An incentive of some kind of
reimbursement for student loan debt might help this situation. They are
truly angels of mercy. The nurse gets a lot of gratitude for doing the job
because that’s the career she chose and loves, but things don’t
add up to what they should do for them. I am a person who respects and
admires all that a nurse does for patients.
Name withheld by request
Pawnee
SAVE NEW SALEM
If we don’t do something now about cutbacks in
hours and staff at Lincoln’s New Salem State Park, as well as the
other historical sites of Illinois, who is going to? It is time to stand up
for our communities and our state heritage.
Please sign our online petition at www.x-gen.com.
Click on the Berry Lincoln house picture and sign up now! And if you would,
please forward this information to your family and friends or give them a
call and ask them to sign up.
Illinois has a lot to offer to each resident. We are
fortunate to be a part of an outstanding and caring community. People of
Illinois have worked hard to restore and maintain our heritage; therefore,
I am arming State Rep. Rich Brauer and Sen. Larry Bomke with the already
more than 1,500 names of people backing them on this issue. We need to show
that Illinois stands united. The future of our restaurants, grocery store,
property values, home values, schools, teachers, doctors and the future of
Illinois in general, depends on us.
Margaret
Stier Santos
Petersburg
GAS GOUGING
On the day I’m writing, gas is $4.19 in
Springfield. It is $3.57 in Houston. This is just wrong. Only Alaska and
Hawaii have higher prices than us! Gouging us has become like a sport in
Springfield. It is time for us to stop patronizing Springfield gas stations
(and mini-marts) until they get the message. Our overpaid legislators
won’t do anything. It is time to let these thieves know that we are
on to them, and have as many Springfield gas station “holidays”
as it takes to put an end to this absurdity. How about if we stop buying
gas (and mini-mart items) in Springfield for about two weeks (for
starters), and vote for not a single incumbent in the fall election? A
group of citizens needs to purchase a gas station and run it like a co-op.
These gougers are the worst kind of scum. Please print this. Please let
these scumbags know that we are on to them!
Bill Shaw
Riverton
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CRISIS BEING ENGINEERED
I find distressing an article in the current edition
of The American Conservative magazine. The article, by Philip Giraldi, a former CIA
Officer and fellow at the American Conservative Defense Alliance,
persuasively argues that “an overseas crisis is being engineered or
allowed to explode.” Giraldi cites the buildup of our forces in the
Persian Gulf and Black Sea, recent U.S. incursions into Pakistan, European
media reports of an imminent attack on Iran, and Vice President
Cheney’s visit to Georgia and Ukraine with massive aid to rearm
Tbilisi, suggesting “all of this could have been deferred until after
the election.” Add to this McCain’s harsh criticisms of Russia
and the stage is set for a repeat of the 1980 “October
Surprise” that essentially delayed Iran’s releasing American
hostages until after Reagan defeated “the hapless Jimmy
Carter.” Giraldi suggests, “Few believe that the ethically
challenged Bush administration would hesitate to engineer its own Gulf of
Tonkin to guarantee a GOP victory.”
If McCain buys into this 2008 “Gulf of
Tonkin,” he deserves nothing less than resounding defeat for
President as well as any re-election he may attempt. Such loathsome use of
American military power is morally wrong and suggests the architects of
such actions care nothing for the affected citizenry, but seek only to
preserve their power.
Doug and Dee
Hagan
Springfield
HONEST BIG GOVERNMENT
I’m wondering what we citizens will make of the
growing failures in America’s economic and governmental systems?
Both political parties are being found irresponsible at best, and greedy
and deceptive at worst.
America has the basic value of “individual human
worth” as a foundation principle more authentically than any other
nation. And so the nation still has the potential to be a godly force and
presence in the world. But we seem to have strayed far from honoring it.
No party, candidate or religious movement has any
monopoly on returning to the value of “individual human worth.”
An oppressive and greedy government is not only possible under a communist
or dictatorial government but can happen, and likely has begun to happen,
in a democracy as well. We need to be aware that an oppressive
regime can develop right before our unsuspecting eyes, where national
resources are squandered by greed and where there is a deep failure by
leadership to be honest and responsible to the public. I see the
Bush administration being such in an unprecedented way in American history.
An advanced country like America in today’s world
must have an effective and responsible big government if she is to
survive. This election should be about who can best help America have a
responsible, efficient and transparently honest big government.
Jim Hibbett
Riverton
This article appears in Sep 18-24, 2008.
