Polio survivors: "We're still here"
I want to thank you for your article, "Unraveling the Mystery of Post-polio Syndrome" (February 2011).* As a nurse and a polio survivor, I know how difficult it is to find a healthcare provider who knows how to manage the late effects of polio. The author made a couple of points that I want to emphasize: Adequate rest periods and energy conservation strategies are absolutely essential. My mantra is to lie instead of sit, sit instead of stand, and stand instead of walk.
Encourage survivors who are ambulatory to use wheelchairs or scooters when at shopping malls, airports, or other large places. Like me, many survivors don't like to admit they need help with their mobility. But I know that I'll feel better at the end of the day if I take even minor steps to conserve my energy.
Because most polio survivors are age 60 or older, expect to see more of us in hospitals and clinics as we continue to age. Remember the polio survivor slogan: "We're still here!!"
-BARBARA MAYER, BSN, RN-BC, CMSRN
Clermont, Ga.
Looking for a job? Be a ham
Having read advice about finding a job in your supplement, Lippincott's 2011 Nursing Career Directory,* I'd like to add another tip for nurses. Every nurse applicant should have a ham radio operator's license.
Yes, you read that correctly. I'm advocating that nurses everywhere get their ham radio operator's license ASAP. I got my license in 2000 following a free 6-week course that met once a week.
"Hams" can play a major role in disaster response; for example, we can get messages out after tornadoes have destroyed cell phone towers. We can operate on batteries when the power is lost. Best of all, we work for free.
The nurse who has a ham radio license just might stand out from the crowd of job seekers. Every little thing a nurse can do to get a competitive edge helps!!
-EUNICE WARSH, RN
Mobile, Ala.
Caring all around
Cheryl Ledesma's article, "Relationship-Based Care: A New Approach" (Professional Growth, February 2011)* just hits a whole lot of nails right on the head. Supporters of the "nursing as caring" philosophy have advocated such an approach for years: Care for self, care for others. Everybody wins. My compliments to Ms. Ledesma for sharing this with the nursing community.
-GEORGE COPELAND, MSN, NP-C
West Palm Beach, Fla.
* Individual subscribers can access articles free online at http://www.nursing2011.com, where everyone can access Lippincott's 2011 Career Directory. [Context Link]