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Do you ever wonder if life continues on beyond physical death? Does love ever die? Have you heard from your deceased loved one? Hospice nurse and author Elissa Al Chokhachy joins Casey and Dan for a powerful and poignant conversation about life after death. Elissa has written a book called Miraculous Moments: true stories affirming that life goes on after death. Without a doubt--this conversation provides invaluable hope and reassurance for the dying and bereaved. Don't miss it. And later in the show our nurses on duty---aka Casey and Dan---talk with Michigan RNs Katie Oppenheim and Bonnie Nesbit. Katie and Bonnie give us an inside perspective on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's proposed emergency financial law. The law, put forth by Governor Snyder gives emergency financial managers the authority to cancel union contracts and fire current city or municipal workers without cause. Emergency financial managers can be appointed by the sitting governor. How does this affect nurses and patients? Find out...

Casey and Dan—talk with Michigan RNs Katie Oppenheim and Bonnie Nesbit. Katie and Bonnie give us an inside perspective on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s proposed emergency financial law. The law, put forth by Governor Snyder gives emergency financial managers the authority to cancel union contracts and fire current city or municipal workers without cause. Emergency financial managers can be appointed by the sitting governor. How does this affect nurses and patients? Find out…

Casey and Dan have a great discussion with our friend RN Deborah Burger. Deborah is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and shares details of an open letter she wrote for CommonDreams.org. The letter: Want to cut the federal deficit? Restore fair taxes on Corporations and the Wealthy? Why does this affect nurses you say? Find out as Deborah puts forth the details of what is being cut from the budget and why---and why no one is talking about raising revenue--NOT just cutting spending. Yes this does affect nurses and all of the rest of us. To read Deborah's letter go to nationalnursesunited.org.

Guest: RN  Deborah Burger Oh my...seems like we just can't get rid of Gomer Pyle! For some reason Dan continues to channel Gomer and he actually thinks he has been chosen to deliver an important message to the masses. What could Gomer have possibly known that would be so important to the rest of us? Stay tuned. Casey and Dan have a great discussion with our friend RN Deborah Burger. Deborah is one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United and shares details of an open letter she wrote for CommonDreams.Org. The letter: Want to cut the federal deficit? Restore fair taxes on Corporations and the Wealthy? Why does this affect nurses you say? Find out as Deborah puts forth the details of what is being cut from the budget and why---and why no one is talking about raising revenue--NOT just cutting spending. Yes this does affect nurses and all of the rest of us. To read Deborah's letter go to nationalnursesunited.org. And you've heard us say on the show that according to the latest Gallup poll--nurses are (top of the list of) the most trusted professionals. 85% of those polled thought nurses were honest and displayed integrity. OF course our own nurses Casey and Dan are very proud of their profession BUT thought it might be useful to conduct their own Nurse Talk poll. A little less scientific, perhaps---but nonetheless---oh so much fun. Listen as they swing into action with the Nurse Talk "Nurse" poll.

Guests: Raj Rajini and Peggy Dinkel A case of retaliation against nurses by D.C.'s  largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center. In October of 2010 the nurses at the hospital voted to join National Nurses United. Story ends happily ever after? Not yet...this month the RNs staged a one-day strike to protest WHC's unwillingness to negotiate and the systematic retaliation against the hospital's nurses. Casey and Dan talk with WHC RNs Raj Rajini and Peggy Dinkel to find out what is happening now. It is reported the hospital (parent company Medstar) spent $1.5 million dollars a day during the strike and the four day lock out that followed. You can learn more in this open letter to the doctors from National Nurses United (PDF)

Oh my...the show got away from Casey and Dan (aka the nurses on duty) this week! With comedian Lynn Ruth Miller stopping by it's ALWAYS fun, a bit on the crazy side and hard to distinguish who's saying what and/or why they're saying it at all. Health benefit? Sharpens the mind. Topics this week include a case of retaliation against nurses by D.C.'s largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center. In October of 2010 the nurses at the hospital voted to join National Nurses United. Story ends happily ever after? Not yet...this month the RNs staged a one-day strike to protest WHC's unwillingness to negotiate and the systematic retaliation against the hospital's nurses. Casey and Dan talk with WHC RNs Raj Rajini and Peggy Dinkel to find out what is happening now. It is reported the hospital (parent company Medstar) spent $1.5 million a day on a campaign against the union and the nurses during the strike and the four day lock out that followed. You can learn more in this link to the open letter from National Nurses United (PDF). AND a little lighter conversation with Greg Allen. Travel you say? Sandy beaches, beautiful mountain resorts, tropical islands? You get paid to go? Thats right---how about the life of travel nursing...a new twist and just maybe your next gig. Greg is the CEO of Cirrus Staffing, one of the largest most successful travel nursing companies in the U.S. Aloha STAT! For more information about traveling nurse careers go to www.cirrusmedicalstaffing.com. And of course the Phobia of the Week, The Square Needle Award and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller talking about home remedies. Her views are NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THIS RADIO SHOW....please don't try these at home (or anywhere)!Don't forget to check out Grit TV's new Nurses Station segment and stay healthy! You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am Eastern or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM Pacific on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember "laughter is the best medicine!"

Guest: Donna Smith The "nurses on duty" aka hosts Casey Hobbs and Dan Grady talk with our friend  Donna Smith who is a legislative organizer for CNA/NNU. She talks about all things D.C. and the upcoming Grit TV series that updates us on the families (Donna and her husband Larry being one) that were featured in Michael Moore's movie Sicko. Donna weighs in on collective bargaining and the fight in Wisconsin, single payer heath-care, and much more.

The nurses on duty, a.k.a Casey and Dan, have too much fun with the news...none of which is particularly useful...but good for a laugh  nonetheless. A great chat with our favorite health care activist...CNA/NNU's Donna Smith. As most of you know, Donna is a legislative organizer in Washington D.C., and if you ever need to know anything about what's going on in the nation's capitol, she is the go-to person. Donna weighs in on collective bargaining, the importance of the Wisconsin demonstrations, single payer health care and other topics near and dear to us. And she shares about the new Grit TV series, The Nurses Station, that will be opening with a SiCKO reunion of sorts. The series visits the families that were featured in Michael Moore's film SiCKO about the failure of the U.S. health care system and the toll it takes on American families. Donna and her husband Larry were featured in the film.Here's a clip of Donna's appearance on Grit TV called "What Value Does Private Insurance Add?" And we meet a real hero. Kaiser intensive care nurse Janet DeMers. Although Janet is humble and would never refer to herself as a hero...the family of a Novato, CA man thinks otherwise. It turns out Janet was on her way to work one day last month when she happened to drive by a man on the ground tangled up in his bicycle. At first she thought he had just fallen off, but something didn't seem right so she went back. Her instincts served her well...the man was in cardiac arrest. Tune in and find out what happened next... And coming up in the weeks ahead...Have Nurse Will Travel...let's check out traveling nurses. Pack your stethoscope and your blood pressure cuff and be sure you can get though airport security and you're off! A look at nurses who travel from site to site.A show about Mommies and Blogs? That's right and who better to unveil this new kid on the block, The Mommies, A Musical Blog, than the writer/producer of the mega-hit Menopause, The Musical, Jeanie Linders? Just happens she can't stop writing and creating shows that have perfect demographic pitch and big doses of laughter that bring her audiences to a common place...humanity! Last...Comedian Lynn Ruth Miller kicks off her new Nurse Talk segment "In My Day." You won't want to miss her reflections!You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember "laughter is the best medicine!  

Guest: Congresswoman Jackie Speier What an honor it is to have California Congresswoman Jackie Speier with us. Some of you may have heard her courageous speech on the house floor when she shared a very personal story about having a surgical procedure that resulted in the loss of her baby. She gave the speech in response to a contentious debate about cutting funding for Planned Parenthood.

It finally happened! The Baby Whisperer, RN Marsha Podd, is really on the show this time. Thanks to the genius scheduling of someone who shall remain nameless---we announced that Marsha was going to be on last week. Well, here she comes and as always she is full of great information for moms and dads with babies and toddlers. She answers questions about her new book, Secrets of a Baby Nurse. Check her out on Nurse Talk and at gotosleepbaby.com. And our RN champions from National Nurses United update us on their experience in Madison, Wisconsin. Jean Ross, co-president of NNU and Jeff Breslin, president of the Wisconsin Nurses Association call in and share the importance of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin. See pictures and learn more at http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/solidarity. And what an honor it is to have California Congresswoman Jackie Speier with us. Some of you may have heard her courageous speech on the house floor when she shared a very personal story about having a surgical procedure that resulted in the loss of her baby. She gave the speech in response to a contentious debate about cutting funding for Planned Parenthood. And lots more from Casey and Dan as they twist and turn through the news and sometimes their views, the Square Needle Award, the Phobia of the Week and staying awake while listening to the soothing voice of Marsha Podd. All this and more... You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember "laughter is the best medicine!"  

Guests: Jean Ross and Jill Fullier with Peter B. Collins Direct from Madison, Wisconsin...our nurse friends Jean Ross and Jill Fullier chat with our correspondent Peter B. Collins about why they are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there. Over 100,000 people were present and accounted for at last Saturday's rally.

Direct from Madison, Wisconsin...our nurse friends Jean Ross and Jill Fullier chat with our correspondent Peter B. Collins about why they are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there.Over 100,000 people were present and accounted for at last Saturday's rally. Later In the show, Casey and Dan have a fascinating conversation with investigative reporter Joshua Kors. Joshua talks about his three part series, The Veterans Benefit Scandal. Kors' report exposes the Army's systematic cover up of over 25,000 false diagnoses of pre-existing personality disorders.According to a report on armytimes.com, "service members receiving administrative discharges for those disorders have no opportunity to get disability compensation or medical benefits...many service members separated for pre-existing personality disorder had served in combat and displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress."Shameful. You won't want to miss this. To say this is a scandal of epic proportions is an understatement.And in the coming weeks...The Baby Whisperer, RN Marsha Podd takes your questions, and an exclusive interview with Congresswoman Jackie Spiers. Also...what everyone should know about Oakland's Children's Hospital.You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember "laughter is the best medicine!"  

RN Rita Batchley talks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a Southern California public sector hospital. Rita has written a book called Labor Pains, an inspirational book for all nurses about authentic power and finding your true purpose. A very interesting perspective on connecting with your "inner nurse," health care reform and social change.

Here comes...THE BABY WHISPERER, RN Marsha Podd! She is taking your questions to answer on the show taping this weekend to air March 5/6. Call 800.977.1863 or email pattie@nursetalksite.com for everything you ever wanted to know about babies but were afraid someone might think you inadequate.And...WHAT IS SCRIPTING AND ROUNDING? Find out...next week.WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OSHA? There is increasing concern as a number of proposed rules that were designed to protect workers' health and safety have been withdrawn by the Obama administration...What does this mean for you and all workers in this country? Answers to this question and many more are coming up on Nurse Talk.COMING UP this week for our BOSTON listeners---a great encore with a delightful woman named Judith Stark Frost. Judith was a second grade school teacher for over 30 years. She loved teaching her kids how to read but even more than that she loved the humorous things they said. She wrote a very funny book called Priceless Proverbs From the Tongue of the Young. How about these: "A penny saved is...not much" and "He who marries for money...better be nice to his wife." We all know how funny kids can be without even knowing it! And later in the show RN Rita Batchley talks about her career as a labor and delivery nurse in a Southern California public sector hospital. Rita has written a book called Labor Pains, an inspirational book for all nurses about authentic power and finding your true purpose. A very interesting perspective on connecting with your "inner nurse," health care reform and social change.This week in SAN FRANCISCO...the show you were expecting last week...but got men in polyester shorts instead. Some of you may have noticed that from time to time you can't find us in our usual slot on Green 960 AM San Francisco. Well, it's only temporary. Seems that basketball is occasionally more pressing than cutting edge health care discussions. But never fear, because this week you WILL hear about Heart Health Month. We will talk about the American Heart Association's GoRed Campaign with heart health expert Dr. Joanne Dames. Did you know that heart attacks are the leading killer of women? That's shocking! Don't miss it!You can listen in the Boston area on station WWZN 1510AM every Saturday at 11 am EST or live stream at www.revolutionboston.com and in the San Francisco Bay area Sundays at 2PM PST on Green 960AM or live stream at www.green960.com. You can also download and listen anytime at NurseTalkSite.com and TheRadioFactory.com or on iTunes. Like us on Facebook, and you can listen there too. Remember "laughter is the best medicine!"  

Guests: Karen Coughlin and Linda Condon Boston RNs Karen Coughlin and Linda Condon will talk about workplace violence as it relates to RNs and health care workers. Did you know nurses are on par with police officers and prison guards in to be victims of workplace violence and assault? Originally broadcast August 22, 2010.