From Silence to Voice: Placing Nursing Center Stage

Julianne F. Harp, MSN, RN, CPAN

I recently attended the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) National Conference in Grapevine, Texas. The keynote speaker on the opening day was Suzanne Gordon who is an award winning journalist and author as well as an advocate for nurses. In her presentation, Suzanne encouraged those present to speak up for nursing and encourage others to do so as well.

It was pointed out that the public knows very little about what we do. The days of being vague when asked what we do are over. When asked what nurses do we need to say that nurses “save lives, prevent pain and suffering and save money”.

Nurses have made and continue to make hospitals safe for patients. Because of this, nurses contribute to hospital revenue. By preventing catastrophes nurses keep patients safe and save money for the entire health system. Ms. Gordon further encouraged us to expand current public understanding of nursing by explaining the role nurses play in diagnosis, treatment and prescription.

If you would like to read more about being a nursing advocate, Ms. Gordon has published her research. She spent several months with nurses at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital following three ICU nurses caring for critical patients. Her research can be found in the book Life Support: Three Nurses on the Front Lines. In this book, she points out that the words “hospital”, “medicine” and “health care” immediately bring images of technology to mind. While all the technology is needed and wonderful to have, Ms. Gordon states “the real source of life support lies with the 2 million nurse who staff America’s health care institutions”.

Another publication, From Silence to Voice, won the American Journal of Nursing’s Book of Year Award. In this book Suzanne states that nurses being the largest profession in health care must learn to be more visible, vocal and influential. We need to tell people—our families, friends, patients and public what we do.

Ms. Gordon has written several other books about nursing and health care. I encourage you to read one and learn from Suzanne Gordon how we need to “speak up for nurses”!