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In my day, everyone shared their telephone line with their neighbor. When I was small, my momma would say to me, "if you ever need help, call the operator and stop complaining!" When the kid next door spit at me, I called the operator and she said, "Tell your mother." I guess you had to be there. You gave the number you wanted to call to the operator and she connected you from a central switch board. Those operators got to know everyone and they really cared, whether we liked it or not. Sometimes, I'd pick up the phone and she'd say "Lynnie Ruth, take off your mother's high heels, she's on her way home." And sometimes she'd say, "Lynn Ruth, what are you doing?" Nowadays, it's the FBI that picks up. You have the internet but we had the party line. I shared a party line with my high school Latin teacher, Henryetta Stateker. She was a heavy smoker with a nasty disposition. When I'd pick up the phone and she was breathing heavily, I knew we'd get that sweet subsitute the next day because Ms. Stateker's asthma had kicked in. That party line gave us access to everybody's dirty laundry. I knew Mrs. Berlin was getting a divorce before she did. I knew they were taking bets in the backroom of the meat market and I knew the real reason Laura Hopkins had to spend that nine months out of town. Mr. Berlin knew too. In my day, you could have alot of fun with the telephone. If we did this once, we did it a hundred times. We'd call the drug store and we'd ask "Do you have Prince Albert in a can?" And if he said yes, we'd say, "Why won't you let 'em out?" Ahh, the memories. Nowadays, the operator is gone, the FBI answers the phone and Prince Albert came out of the can. I'm Lynn Ruth Miller with another edition of  In My Day.

More on the decline (evaporation) of mental health services. We are joined by RN and Vice President of  theMassachusetts Nurses Association, Karen Coughlin. Karen works at Taunton State Hospital which is on the chopping block. Closure would mean no place for the 147 patients they now serve, and no short-term mental health facility within a 150 miles for the community. This, unfortunately,  is happening all across the country.

Coming Up ...our farewell to Dan...takes us on a walk down memory lane. Old favorites including the bits we did called "Is Anybody Out There Laughing" and "What Song Best Describes Your Nurse." We share the story about Dan's battle with racoons in his garage and some other silliness. Dan is leaving us to "spend more time with his family." That has a familiar ring to it...but in his case it's true. He is the busy father of three girls, two of whom are under 10 years old. Bravo to you Dan for being such a great dad. More on the decline (evaporation) of mental health services. We are joined by RN and Vice President of  theMassachusetts Nurses Association, Karen Coughlin. Karen works at Taunton State Hospital which is on the chopping block. Closure would mean no place for the 147 patients they now serve, and no short-term mental health facility within a 150 miles for the community. This, unfortunately,  is happening all across the country. AND...The coolest APP we've ever seen or heard about! We all know what triage means, welcome to iTriage. Without giving too much away...simply put, you can download iTriage and use it all over the world. Everyone is familiar with WebMD (a great site), iTriage helps identify symptoms, tells you where the nearest ER or specialist is, what the wait times are in emergency situations---and is so user friendly---I can even use it! Check it out at www.itriagehealth.com. Oh... and one of our favorite guests, RN Marsha Podd, aka the Baby Whisperer, weighs in on the latest controversial  mommy gaffe---chewing food for your baby. Yes? No? Marsha say's "God love moms...it's a tough job!"  

How is it possible that 50% of the Nurse Talk staff is "suffering" from shoulder injuries? Well...let's break that down. It might not be as shocking as it sounds, as there are only four of us to start with (at least in the studio) so realistically there are two professionals down for the count. Dan with bursitis and June---well she says she fell while chasing her cat. Whatever the circumstances, they hurt. Of course, we had to look into this a little further than just the pain, so we found whack job Clarissa Doolittle (on-line) "Body Part" Intuitive. Clarissa brings to the show her advice about what shoulder pain really means. Could it be burden??? She thinks they both need therapy---and not on their shoulders. AND Casey and Dan talk with RN Greg Montes. Greg has been an RN at the Contra Costa County (Northern California) jail for the past five years. He cites an alarming trend. With more and more cuts in mental health services throughout the country—millions of Americans are going untreated. It is commonplace for the severely ill who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to enter the criminal justice system rather than mental health treatment facilities. In fact the number of Americans who receive mental health care in prisons and county jails has surpassed the number of those who receive services in hospitals or clinics. Despite these numbers, government leaders and the mental health systems are doing little to reverse this shameful trend. And later we have a big treat in store for our listeners. How would you like to experience life as an ongoing, creative, unfolding "work of art? It is with great pleasure we introduce Hal Isen. For over 40 years, Hal has been providing programs, courses and life coaching for individuals, groups and organizations in the areas of personal transformation. Hal's Core Wisdom® programs (offered through Hal Isen & Associates) provide fundamental spiritual principles and practices that allow for the release of past limiting conditioning, fears, behaviors, and beliefs, and the discovery and recovery of one's ability to respond naturally and creatively to each moment from one's true nature. AND...if this all seems like a paragraph of "pretty words"...well, listen to the show as Hal simplifies it all. Listen and we promise you will get some great insight. Ever thought of what "expectations" might be taking away from being present to the moment? Check it out. Hal Isen and Core Wisdom at www.corewisdom.com.  

Casey and Dan talk with RN Greg Montes. Greg has been an RN at the Contra Costa County (Northern California) jail for the past five years. He cites an alarming trend. With more and more cuts in mental health services throughout the country—millions of Americans are going untreated. It is commonplace for the severely ill who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to enter the criminal justice system rather than mental health treatment facilities. In fact the number of Americans who receive mental health care in prisons and county jails has surpassed the number of those who receive services in hospitals or clinics. Despite these numbers, government leaders and the mental health systems are doing little to reverse this shameful trend.

Nurses keep up the fight for RN to patient ratios…and we should all be very glad they do! We check in with our friends in Massachusetts who are working on safe staffing legislation. Casey and Dan visit with RN and president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Donna Kelly Williams. Donna discusses how critically important nurse staffing legislation has become especially with the increase of for-profit hospitals. It’s “deplorable and patients are at greater risk every single day,” says Williams. “When for profits are looking to increase profits they look for cuts in front line nurses at bedside…It doesn’t make sense for anyone with any sense of morality at all.” Based on scientific studies, the MNA advocates for a ratio 4-5 patients per nurse on medical surgical units. Donna also talks about the MNA’s endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, who supports safe staffing ratios on a national level.  

In my day we didn't spend a lot of money on medications to cure depression. We didn't have Zoloft or Paxil. If we complained my mom pushed us outside and told us to get back on the horse. What she meant was, get over it. Never did find that damn horse. If we started to whine, she would pour herself a glass of red and say, "You kids are driving me to drink. Don't you listen to Bing Crosby? You know, 'You gotta Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with Mr. In-Between.' And, don't get in his car either." We didn't hospitalize people with depression. If someone in the family was acting funny, we locked them in the attic and we waved to them when we backed out of the driveway. And sometimes they even waved back and my mom would say, "See I told you. He's fine." We didn't go to psychiatrists either. No one in his right mind would pay some stranger good money just to complain. We just talked out our troubles to our friends and if they didn't listen, we talked to strangers. Now don't get me wrong, depression is really serious. But if you need a fast cure, get a horse. http://youtu.be/fZUmAbi0Vm4

Dan is on the Island of Bursitis this week so our resident funny lady Lynn Ruth Miller sits in for him. Given our discussion about some pretty serious topics, Lynn Ruth finds a way to bring her compassion and humor to the table. AND she's back. Our friend and D.C. correspondent Donna Smith is with us. No one can articulate the D.C. health care news like Donna. She makes sense where there is no sense to be had. Ever wonder when you might hear about single payer health care again---good , bad or indifferent? How about Social Security and Medicare? Education? Listen this week for an update. Later we talk with Canadian Musician Singer/Songwriter Brian Asselin. When a family member of Brian’s was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s—Brian wanted to make a contribution to help others going through the same thing. He did what he knows best---wrote a song to pay tribute. Listen to I Will Remind You. And we have with us Bill Fisher. Mr. Fisher is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada, since 1987. Like many involved with the Alzheimer's Association, Mr. Fisher has a personal involvement with dementia, having lost both his grandmother and mother-in-law to Alzheimer’s.  

Our friend and D.C. correspondent Donna Smith is with us. No one can articulate the D.C. health care news like Donna. She makes sense where there is no sense to be had. Ever wonder when you might hear about single payer health care again---good , bad or indifferent? How about Social Security and Medicare? Education? Listen this week for an update.

How would you like to experience life as an ongoing, creative, unfolding “work of art? It is with great pleasure we introduce Hal Isen. For over 40 years, Hal has been providing programs, courses and life coaching for individuals, groups and organizations in the areas of personal transformation. Hal’s Core Wisdom® programs (offered through Hal Isen & Associates) provide fundamental spiritual principles and practices that allow for the release of past limiting conditioning, fears, behaviors, and beliefs, and the discovery and recovery of one’s ability to respond naturally and creatively to each moment from one’s true nature. AND…if this all seems like a paragraph of “pretty words”…well, listen to the show as Hal simplifies it all. Listen and we promise you will get some great insight. Ever thought of what “expectations” might be taking away from being present to the moment? Check it out. Hal Isen and Core Wisdom at www.corewisdom.com.

In my day no matter what ailed me, my father fixed it up with blackberry brandy. If I ate too much for dinner, and I swore I would explode, Daddy would give me a hefty shot of blackberry brandy. If  I suffered from the trots, out came the bottle of  brandy and I downed it in one gulp. If I complained of a sore throat, he insisted I gargle with it and the best part was I got to swallow. In moments I was singing like a canary, or so I thought. He also used the brandy as a preventative. If we were all going out caroling or to a community sing we would all drink a Warsaw cocktail before we left the house: vodka, vermouth, blackberry brandy and lemon juice. You can't beat that for numbing the throat, or the whole body for that matter. Now you'd never do that because you'd be charged with child abuse. Ah, but the malady it cured best was insomnia. Before bedtime Daddy would mix up a Purple People Eater, raspberry and almond liquer, cherry and blackberry brandy, vodka, orange, pineapple and grapefruit juice, and within seconds we were so sound asleep, we often didn't wake up until dinner time the next day, much to my mother's delight. Today, I wonder if the vodka had something to do with it, but my father swore it was the magic of the blackberry brandy that put us out like a light. In my day, we actually thought brandy could cure cancer and reduce tumors. It murdered our colds and kept us from murdering each other. We've come a long way from my day and sometimes I wonder how any of us lived to talk about it. But I certainly did, and everyone at the meetings loves that story.

Casey and Dan talk with the distinguished Doug Connor. Doug grew up in a conservative Republican family. He is a nurse, a veteran of the Iraq War, a union member, and a passionate supporter of the Occupy movement. Doug returned from the war in 2006, disillusioned by the unnecessary deaths and organizations profiting on the destruction that surrounded him as a nurse treating victims of war. Upon his return, he was looking for change. He supported Barack Obama because, he says, “…just saying the word ‘change’ was enough for me. That’s what I (was) looking for; change, hope.” But by 2011, failures to improve the economy and involvement with his nurses union took him down a different path. Connor came face to face with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Casey and Dan talk with the distinguished Doug Connor. Doug grew up in a conservative Republican family. He is a nurse, a veteran of the Iraq War, a union member, and a passionate supporter of the Occupy movement. Doug returned from the war in 2006, disillusioned by the unnecessary deaths and organizations profiting on the destruction that surrounded him as a nurse treating victims of war. Upon his return, he was looking for change. He supported Barack Obama because, he says, “…just saying the word ‘change’ was enough for me. That’s what I (was) looking for; change, hope.” But by 2011, failures to improve the economy and involvement with his nurses union took him down a different path. Connor came face to face with the Occupy Wall Street movement. AND LATER…Craig Preston from the California Clean Money Campaign. A few weeks ago we talked with California One Care’s Executive Director Andrew McGuire. Cal One Care is committed to single payer health care for all Californians. Craig Preston from California Clean Money Campaign also supports a single payer healthcare system but says we have to get the money out of politics first. AND LYNN RUTH MILLER IS BACK with “In My Day” stories, remedies and reflections from the past. For more information on this and many more hot topics go to the Nurse Talk Blog.

In my day my mother said baking soda did everything. She sprinkled it all over the bathroom because she said it absorbed odors. I guess it worked because our toilet seat was so gritty I always went next door. Whenever I took a bath, I looked frosted. That's probably why I love cake. My mom polished her silverware with baking soda and cleaned out our baby bottles. That made the silver look like ivory and I still hate the taste of milk. My mother didn't spend money on caustic cleaners. She used baking soda to polish plastic, porcelain and glass. And when she felt a storm coming on, she ran outside and put baking soda on the car's windshield. She said it repels rain if you wipe the windows inside and out and it keeps lightning from striking the car. When I asked her why she didn't just pull the car into the garage, she washed my mouth out with baking soda. I think that's why I'm afraid of thunder. She made us gargle with baking soda, and when we got sweaty, she rubbed it under our arms. She made us drink baking soda and water if we had indigestion and she smeared it on us for measles, chickenpox and insect bites. But when my vagina itched, she just said, "Serves you right." My mother would have murdered me if I ever called a plumber. She saved money by keeping our drains clear with a baking soda solution and a plunger. Until my cousin Alvin got his plumbing license. Then she called him over when the toilet backed up and she handed him a box of baking soda and a plunger. I guess you had to be there. That woman used baking soda to dissolve grease, clean the coffee pot, polish rusty pans and clean up my language. Yessir, my mom swore by baking soda. She said it would do anything but make him love you. That takes  chemistry and a little perfume.

This week on our lovely "sheeew"---we talk about a customer service practice that is now being used in the healthcare field. It’s called scripting and rounding. In the corporate world scripting and rounding has been part of the customer service model for giants like Disney, major fast food chains and many five star hotels. Now---healthcare? What’s scripting and rounding all about? RN DeAnn McEwen gives us a "spirited" overview! Stay tuned for this story---you won’t want to miss Phyllis Katz. Like any skilled improviser, when longtime performer and director with the famed Groundlings comedy troupe was faced with her insurance company being unwilling to pay six figures to fix her two hips, she improvised. Good-bye, Los Angeles. Hello New Delhi. Phyllis is here to talk with us about her wonderful new book Hipwrecked, My Health Insurance Sucked so I Went to India for Surgery. And if you haven't heard the our new segment "In My Day" with comedian Lynn Ruth Miller--you need to. This week Lynn Ruth talks about a favorite all-purpose remedy her mother used: baking soda. Told only as Lynn Ruth could---it definitely harkens memories from the old days!