Johnson and Johnson Amazing Nurse Contest–Recognize a Nurse Today

Johnson and Johnson Amazing Nurse –Nominate an Amazing Nurse!

The Chief Blonde’s Mother, Myrna Joy B.  RN

My Mother, an Amazing Nurse

The lovely nurse above is the the Chief Blonde’s mom, Myrna. She attended nursing school at Hurley School of Nursing, in Flint, MI and worked her entire career at Hurley Medical Center, a city hospital. Her area of concentration was first, Pediatrics and then Labor and Delivery.  To say she worked hard is an understatement.  Given that her hospital was a city hospital and a Trauma Center with a Neonatal Unit, they not only saw the  worst medical problems but also the underbelly of society regularly passed through the doors populated by drug dealers, addicts, and prostitutes.  Many under-privileged children, fetal alcohol and drug addicted babies, and repeat under-age pregnancies were tended to under her watch and care.  Through it all, she was just what she needed to be …a brilliant caring nurse.

Who can count the endless hours on your feet, of delivering babies yourself when no doctor arrived, or the sensitive counseling that had to be presented when tough medical decisions had to be made?  Who can understand the fascination of  watching young life be born, the joy of parents surrounded by their new creations, and the thrill of row after row of lovely newborns in a nursery?  My mother was fondly called “The Sergeant” by all who knew her because…well,  she was tiny but she was fierce.  Standing a mere 5′ 2″ in her heeled nurses shoes, she regularly had to fight, cajole and plead to gain the proper medical care for her complicated patients.

Myrna, the Sergeant Nurse

The reason I know my mom was a fantastic nurse is varied.  I know 4 nurses who worked with her (2 of my aunts, my sister-in-law, and a family friend)–they all rave about her skills. Any doctor that I ever went to who had worked with her, LOVED her because they knew that she could handle a medical situation and assist them in any trauma…I always noted their respect.  People would stop my mom in church, in malls, at gas stations..they would grab her hand and say “You were my nurse when I had my baby!”  They’d whip out pictures of their kids and tell my mom all about what their “Babies” were now doing now.  It was obvious patients adored her.  Anytime I was ever sick and afraid, even into adulthood, my mom always took care of me…better that anyone could have.  She even attended the birth of my first child and set in during the Cesarean.  It was a beautiful moment, the Pinnacle of having a nurse for a mom.

Acute Nursing Shortage

Did you know that there is a shortage of nurses in the US?  100,000 nurse vacancies currently exist with that number projected to grow to 800,000 by 2020.  The silver lining? The career outlook is excellent for the nursing field.  Over a ten year period, through the Campaign for Nursing’s Future, Johnson & Johnson has maintained a commitment to supporting the recruitment and retention of nurses nationwide.

Do you know an Amazing Nurse?

Johnson & Johnson has created an awesome opportunity to celebrate amazing nurses everywhere via the Johnson and Johnson Amazing Nurses Contest.  Women over 45 (and any of our younger friends), you can learn more about the contest at www.amazingnurses.com and nominate your favorite nurse on their facebook tab as well http://www.facebook.com/jnjnursingnotes/app_435838129764336.  The winner of the Amazing Nurse Contest will receive a trip to Los Angeles and a feature at the 2012CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute .  (*Eligible Nominees for the Amazing Nurses contest must be a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) who currently administers direct patient care.) Nominations are open until June 29, 2012.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson & Johnson and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”