Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advocacy. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
Friday, May 11, 2012
the image....
wow...some intense blog posts as of late...this will probably be my last one as i am all thought out for the time being and i really need to de-stress from the "school" studies....
the issue i want to talk about is something that has been bugging me for awhile. it started in first year and has progressed to now. i am sure many other careers have the same issue...it is none other than the image of nursing. a few months back a fellow student posted on facebook: "what do you think nurses do?" one response hit me hard. it was simple really. nothing to get mad about, as this was their perception, but basically the reply was "to follow physician's orders". argh.
it then got me thinking what i thought nursing was when i first went to school. many of my impressions were the "skills" they do, the giving of needles, the operating equipment. i didn't have a good perception of what the hospital was like...i had some ideas of what a nurse was...but it was vastly different to what i ended up studying. obviously i was very ignorant.
with that said rant mark mentioned today that the same things i get frustrated about regarding my career choice is something he has experienced with his.....like i said others are surely feeling the same.
so what can be done to change it?? i think to truly understand something one must educate themselves on the "said" issue. when it comes to working all the jobs i have had, i have gained a vast amount of experience and knowledge on the "said" work. for instance many people will have no idea what it means to live a "whole life" when working with the population that i work with. they may not understand them, while i know how valuable they are to the people and society in general. people need the education and understanding to further grasp what this population needs (and they do need so much yet so little).
with that being said...i hope and wish to see the image of nursing change just a little while i am working. i believe it will happen and i hope i am part of that change! :)
love
the issue i want to talk about is something that has been bugging me for awhile. it started in first year and has progressed to now. i am sure many other careers have the same issue...it is none other than the image of nursing. a few months back a fellow student posted on facebook: "what do you think nurses do?" one response hit me hard. it was simple really. nothing to get mad about, as this was their perception, but basically the reply was "to follow physician's orders". argh.
it then got me thinking what i thought nursing was when i first went to school. many of my impressions were the "skills" they do, the giving of needles, the operating equipment. i didn't have a good perception of what the hospital was like...i had some ideas of what a nurse was...but it was vastly different to what i ended up studying. obviously i was very ignorant.
with that said rant mark mentioned today that the same things i get frustrated about regarding my career choice is something he has experienced with his.....like i said others are surely feeling the same.
so what can be done to change it?? i think to truly understand something one must educate themselves on the "said" issue. when it comes to working all the jobs i have had, i have gained a vast amount of experience and knowledge on the "said" work. for instance many people will have no idea what it means to live a "whole life" when working with the population that i work with. they may not understand them, while i know how valuable they are to the people and society in general. people need the education and understanding to further grasp what this population needs (and they do need so much yet so little).
with that being said...i hope and wish to see the image of nursing change just a little while i am working. i believe it will happen and i hope i am part of that change! :)
love
Sunday, April 22, 2012
my philosophy, my tangents, my message
i found this years theory involved a lot of thinking. what are my views, what are my beliefs, what is my personal philosophy and how do they coincide with what my potential career will be. although sometimes it left me wondering why the heck we were doing the things we were doing...it was valuable.
one particular course that i found fascinating, although didn't know it till i was in the midst of it was philosophy and philosophy with regards to healthcare. 8am was hard to get up to, but i always loved the debates that would occur when listening to how others think and articulate what they value.
AND a particular topic was the right to adequate care. it seems quite obvious, yet i find i can wander off into tangents as really what is adequate care and what is adequate in our society? it seems that as people become used to not having certain things, then it seems to be "adequate" enough to not include them. i remember hiking last year and staying in one town that didn't have drinkable water. the expectation was that everyone was to purchase it. my hiking companions wondered why i was so upset by this. however i don't think it is reasonable to make people purchase for such a necessity. i mean its WATER! :)
it then makes me consider other things as really the people that get this "adequate care" are the people that speak up, make themselves heard. what about those that are not heard. i have worked with one of the most valuable populations. this is a population that contributes so much to people, yet are completely taken for granted. this population cannot really voice their concerns. they do have advocates, and believe me, those people work hard to make sure their concerns are heard, but it is sometimes a hard process. some people do not know the political ropes to write to, protest to, make themselves heard. they fall though the cracks. their right to "adequate care" gets determined yearly, as certain medications are deemed no longer necessary for their ability to function, or certain supports are now extra money. it is disheartening in my eyes.
philosophy has helped me discover my views and my passions. i am going to be a great advocate for the people i care for. i can say this with certainty. i feel i have done things already, not even knowing i was doing it, and i will continue to care. especially for those that are who i truly feel are oppressed and in need of so much more than me. i am such a lucky person to be here, have the opportunity for education not just once but twice, to live in a home full of warmth and love, to be able to be frivolous at times with regards to my spending. i think i have it too good sometimes.
with the election coming tomorrow, i really would love to implore to anyone that may come across this, (whether you have an election or not) to vote (when the opportunity comes to play). it really is important. get involved in politics. it really isn't hard. if you have a complaint OR words of encouragement just right a simple letter to your political representative. it is how we can make change and i really do believe that we can do this! just think of your own philosophy and what you deem as important to yourself and those you love around you, and even those you don't know because everyone deserves "adequate care"
love
one particular course that i found fascinating, although didn't know it till i was in the midst of it was philosophy and philosophy with regards to healthcare. 8am was hard to get up to, but i always loved the debates that would occur when listening to how others think and articulate what they value.
AND a particular topic was the right to adequate care. it seems quite obvious, yet i find i can wander off into tangents as really what is adequate care and what is adequate in our society? it seems that as people become used to not having certain things, then it seems to be "adequate" enough to not include them. i remember hiking last year and staying in one town that didn't have drinkable water. the expectation was that everyone was to purchase it. my hiking companions wondered why i was so upset by this. however i don't think it is reasonable to make people purchase for such a necessity. i mean its WATER! :)
it then makes me consider other things as really the people that get this "adequate care" are the people that speak up, make themselves heard. what about those that are not heard. i have worked with one of the most valuable populations. this is a population that contributes so much to people, yet are completely taken for granted. this population cannot really voice their concerns. they do have advocates, and believe me, those people work hard to make sure their concerns are heard, but it is sometimes a hard process. some people do not know the political ropes to write to, protest to, make themselves heard. they fall though the cracks. their right to "adequate care" gets determined yearly, as certain medications are deemed no longer necessary for their ability to function, or certain supports are now extra money. it is disheartening in my eyes.
philosophy has helped me discover my views and my passions. i am going to be a great advocate for the people i care for. i can say this with certainty. i feel i have done things already, not even knowing i was doing it, and i will continue to care. especially for those that are who i truly feel are oppressed and in need of so much more than me. i am such a lucky person to be here, have the opportunity for education not just once but twice, to live in a home full of warmth and love, to be able to be frivolous at times with regards to my spending. i think i have it too good sometimes.
with the election coming tomorrow, i really would love to implore to anyone that may come across this, (whether you have an election or not) to vote (when the opportunity comes to play). it really is important. get involved in politics. it really isn't hard. if you have a complaint OR words of encouragement just right a simple letter to your political representative. it is how we can make change and i really do believe that we can do this! just think of your own philosophy and what you deem as important to yourself and those you love around you, and even those you don't know because everyone deserves "adequate care"
love
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
thanks kony, i have learned many things.
i know you have all heard it. the story is probably as good as dead. with the success of the kony videos, came the truth of the kony videos. then the downfall of a producer. it is all quite sad but i still have some positive thoughts on this whole thing...and now i have the time to say them! it may still be an issue as the upcoming "painting the town red" may still occur (and i will state it now i will not be participating in)
i first came upon it on facebook (like many others). i watched the video. the story didn't seem very original (sadly) as i have heard this kind of thing many times over in many different countries. little was known. but i found the video remarkable, not for its message per say, but how it inspired others. with that i mean, i was impressed so much by the youth backing this cause. going to washington, getting leaders signatures. for people that say that our youth is apathetic and doesn't care, this message seemed to contradict that very thought. this is especially prevalent in the days of a provincial election, when we need the youth so much more! it touched me and i thought whats the harm...so i passed the video on, on my facebook page.
then came the many others who passed on the facebook message. then came the media. then came the onslaught. "it was an old message. more money was being used to promote rather than to do. etc. etc. etc." BUT i think that kony showed us so much more. as previously mentioned: youth care. i know people think that it is wrong for them to care for such a message that is wrapped in american values and looks to be a propaganda piece but they do care. and with this they will learn, become more aware, and advocate with a bit more responsibility in the future. it was like this kony video ignited a spark. i had a similar kind of spark when i was young. i wrote a letter of protest (it really isn't important regarding what it was about). but after that letter i became more informed and i still believe i will make a difference and that i can be a true advocate.
another aspect that i found remarkable was how powerful social media like facebook has become. maybe others knew this, but i for one, did not realize the great power of it. for people trying to change the world, make it better, facebook can be used. videos, pictures. this opened my eyes on how we can captivate audiences in a whole different way. i for one, would love to change the image of nursing, something i believe has many different perceptions to many different people (another blog post, i know). why don't we as collective base unite others like the people in the kony video???
so really this is to say thanks. i know kony isn't what people hoped it would be. some were sorely disappointed. others may become jaded. others may find a passion ignited in what they saw. i for one am grateful to see two very positive things that came out of this very controversial video! :)
love
i first came upon it on facebook (like many others). i watched the video. the story didn't seem very original (sadly) as i have heard this kind of thing many times over in many different countries. little was known. but i found the video remarkable, not for its message per say, but how it inspired others. with that i mean, i was impressed so much by the youth backing this cause. going to washington, getting leaders signatures. for people that say that our youth is apathetic and doesn't care, this message seemed to contradict that very thought. this is especially prevalent in the days of a provincial election, when we need the youth so much more! it touched me and i thought whats the harm...so i passed the video on, on my facebook page.
then came the many others who passed on the facebook message. then came the media. then came the onslaught. "it was an old message. more money was being used to promote rather than to do. etc. etc. etc." BUT i think that kony showed us so much more. as previously mentioned: youth care. i know people think that it is wrong for them to care for such a message that is wrapped in american values and looks to be a propaganda piece but they do care. and with this they will learn, become more aware, and advocate with a bit more responsibility in the future. it was like this kony video ignited a spark. i had a similar kind of spark when i was young. i wrote a letter of protest (it really isn't important regarding what it was about). but after that letter i became more informed and i still believe i will make a difference and that i can be a true advocate.
another aspect that i found remarkable was how powerful social media like facebook has become. maybe others knew this, but i for one, did not realize the great power of it. for people trying to change the world, make it better, facebook can be used. videos, pictures. this opened my eyes on how we can captivate audiences in a whole different way. i for one, would love to change the image of nursing, something i believe has many different perceptions to many different people (another blog post, i know). why don't we as collective base unite others like the people in the kony video???
so really this is to say thanks. i know kony isn't what people hoped it would be. some were sorely disappointed. others may become jaded. others may find a passion ignited in what they saw. i for one am grateful to see two very positive things that came out of this very controversial video! :)
love