[Your Rx For Sanity eNews]

A word from Pat Raymond: Hello troops! It's that time of the year to take a deep breath, to be thankful for all the gifts that have been given us.

I will be taking a breather for this issue, allowing our readers to take voice. They have some great suggestions for a brighter future for our profession. Sit up, take note, and please, add your own two cents worth -- we'll publish you in upcoming issues. How would YOU heal medicine?

** Peace in the Middle East **

"My name is Debbie, I am an Aussie nurse currently working in the Middle East...

If I could change or influence one thing in nursing/medicine, it would be for doctors to see that nurses are not the enemy and vice versa, to encourage team work and for doctors to realize that they are an important part of the team, but not the captain, so to speak. I think nurses and doctors spend so much time blaming each other, that if we had a greater rapport and trust (yes, I know, in an ideal world), then surely it could only benefit not only the patient but also us."

Readers: How about you? Do you feel that you are a member of a medical team, or at times, just a flunkie? Does anyone have suggestions about how to enhance the collegiality of nurses and physicians? We doctors always have too much to do...how can we safely delegate more autonomy to already overloaded, overtaxed nurses? Tell us what has worked in your hospital or unit!

** Pondering Pogo **

Remember that cartoon about, "we have met the enemy and he is us"? As I see it, we are all part of the problem. Nurses are in a unique position to offer some valuable solutions, but as long as: unhealthy life styles are glamorized, government can promise us anything but have others pay the cost of supply and delivery, believing that near immortality without diminished function is almost within our grasp, perfection in practice is demanded, instantaneous gratification for every wish seen as an achievable goad, and jackpot court settlements are seen as the norm for any failure -- well, problems in health care are just a reflection of the problems in society."
~ Tom Qualey

So we're no different than society, according to Tom. Whaddya' think?

** How to be a Gracious Caregiver **

We tend to forget how scary the world of medicine is to the ill. Walk a mile in the flimsy disposable slippers of the sick in Dr. Raymond's Real Life Health Care editorial, "The Skill of Gracious Caregiving" at:
http://www.reallifehealthcare.com/rlh/news/story/7700914p-8640546c.html

** Doctors Against Dangerous Practices **

There is a fascinating series of articles published recently in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about retaliation against doctors who speak out against dangerous practices, the severe price they pay. The series starts with "The Cost of Courage: How the Tables Turn on Doctors at:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03299/234499.stm

Are you aware of any retaliation against doctors or nurses in your hospital for insisting on appropriate patient care? Drop us an (anonymous) line at PLRaymond@RxForSanity.com.

** More on our Strange Society **

Tom told us about unhealthy lifestyles of our society above. Check out this humorous but true photo to see how far we've fallen:

http://www.strangecosmos.com/view.adp?picture_id=8290

** It's Heeeerrrrreeeee! **

For frazzled physicians or noble nurses everywhere! Patricia Raymond's newest publication, "Don't Jettison Medicine: Resuscitate Your Passion For The Career You Loved" is now available to order online at http://www.amazon.com! A great gift idea for yourself or loved ones! Get your very own copies in time for holiday gift giving, just type "Don't Jettison Medicine" into the Amazon search. Sanity is just a click away!

** Robert Frost It Ain't **

My folks sent this (anonymous) bit of literature from the Internet. I hope this holiday season finds all readers lodged firmly in the bosom of their dear ones......

Thought I'd let me doctor check me
'Cause I didn't feel quite right...
All those aches and pains annoyed me
And I couldn't sleep at night.

He could find no real disorder
But he wouldn't let it rest.
What with Medicare and Blue Cross,
We would do a couple tests.

To the hospital he sent me
Though I didn't feel that bad.
He arranged for them to give me
Every test that could be had.

I was flouroscoped and cystoscoped,
My aging frame displayed.
Stripped on an ice cold table,
While my gizzards were x-rayed.

I was checked for worms and parasites,
For fungus and the crud
While they pierced me with long needles
Taking samples of my blood.

Doctors came to check me over,
Probed and pushed and poked around,
And to make sure I was living
They then wired me for sound.

They have finally concluded,
Their results have filled a page,
What I have will someday kill me;
My affliction is OLD AGE...