The face of PTSD is changing, and changing fast. Once associated with war veterans (I grew up with a father who has had it since returning from VietNam), more attention is now being placed on the silent walking wounded—Nurses. Since my efforts to promote anti nurse retaliation legislation and patient’s rights legislation has taken a rather devastating blow recently, it seems a good time to begin work on writing a grant to gain funding for the healing retreat for nurses I’d like to host each year. I can’t imagine who or what could throw a wrench in that particular goal, but something positive and lasting has to come from injustice, something that even in the smallest way—helps to heal and improve our profession. Focusing my time and skills on introducing something peaceful to the wounded of our profession will also help me to get my mind off of the sad and disgusting things out there that have taken the attention away from the issues I worked so hard to bring attention to in the first place.
I’m determined to make the change I’ve always wanted to see for my colleagues and the younger generation of nurses– I can’t imagine a better way to walk away from nursing. If you or a friend suffers from symptoms of PTSD, or has been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of events occurring in the course of nursing please email me at fyrhoneybsn@yahoo.com. There is a growing, private group of nurses assembled who are providing each other daily support, compassion, and hope. This same group of nurses will also be helping to organize the first of many annual healing retreats for their colleagues. If you would like to offer your expertise or donate your healing services to this special effort please, do email me. If you would like to assist me in writing an effective proposal for grant money—I’d greatly appreciate it! As a special tribute, we will be constructing quilt squares each year to celebrate the unique contributions each nurse has made to their profession and to provide a visual “honor” of what each nurse has given to others. I am currently writing a book about this horrific year, and if I am able to get published all proceeds will go toward the retreat as a way of giving back to my profession.
I never knew that PTSD was an issue for nurses until I went public with the advocacy issue and now that I know this is a growing problem I don’t feel right turning away without doing something to help my brothers and sisters in nursing who now suffer with it in silence. Revisiting the Nurses Code of Ethics (which doesn’t seem to mean that much these days), one can recall “duty to self.” Nurses deserve the same unconditional regard, compassion and support that they provide to complete strangers and it’s time we did something to recognize the very real and personal sacrifices we make in our journey as healthcare providers.
NURSEINTERUPTED 
A Code of Ethics without substantive support is, as you indicate, meaningless PR, an image of ethics serving to replace the reality. If an organization makes demands for which it offers no real support, that is an organization doomed to oblivion.
Hang in there: as the ANA noted, without doing anything useful about it as far as I can tell, doing the right thing makes for a difficult road. There are others who still support you and others like you, the whistle-blowers America needs and allows to languish, only taking a stand when the outcome has already been decided.
Hello Amanda, ok if we post the latest blogposts from your supporters here?
The War Against Amanda Trujillo, April 25, 2012, Mother Jones, RN, Nurse Ratched’s Place:”I still support Amanda Trujillo and some people who have read the allegations against Amanda have questioned my judgment. Frankly, I don’t believe these allegations because I personally know two other nurses who have been reported to their nursing boards by their former employers. One of my friends was reported to the BON after she spoke up about unsafe nursing practices at a shady nursing home, and the other was reported after he chastised hospital administration for placing psychiatric patients and staff in an unsafe environment. Their former employers cooked up all kinds of false allegations against my friends who are both stellar nurses. Their former employers crucified their character, but in the end they were both cleared of any wrongdoing by their respective state nursing boards. There is an escalating pattern of abuse as more unscrupulous employers are using nursing boards as the ultimate scare tactic to keep nurses “in their place. ” Amanda is just another victim of this ploy.”
http://www.nurseratchedsplace.com/2012/04/the-war-against-amanda-trujillo/
yeah andrew, there is an “angels all around page you can post on if you wish
Noticed that, even found a few comments I made way back when 🙂 Need to post that one to http://www.Nurseup.com too 🙂
Thats how these thugs work the splay open your innards to expose your deepest secrets secrets left there by power hungry insecure supervisors aspiring to one day be Az BON members. This is a very dysfunctional corner of the universe where racism hatred and bigotry are disguised as patriotism and dysfunctional power and control is more important that caring and having compassion for others. There are more identified hate groups in this little corner of hell than any where else in the world. I once asked a black female co-worker of mine why there were less black folks living here compared to other metropolitan areas. she replied. “Cause we know better”
Thank you for following Amanda’s case, this is from her blog.
The Moment of Impact: April 21, 2010: by #AmandaTrujillo, MSN, RN, #nurseup #nursefriendly #healthcare:”The day my life collided with something greater than I could ever wrap my head around in this lifetime…..I heard a quote recently that conveys the enormity of the year’s events…its message, perfection, but not in the way I would like to envision life perfected, the way I want it, the way I wanted it, the way I thought I had it…..in any case, I like this quote because it encompasses the past, the present, and the future all at once.”
The day that changed Amanda’s life forever. To follow her case and others, kindly visit http://www.nurseup.com
Thank you for following Amanda’s case, this is from TruthAboutNursing.org
Fired for educating a patient? TruthAboutNursing.org, May 2012:”Phoenix CBS affiliate KPHO-TV ran a short but good item by Peter Busch about veteran local nurse Amanda Trujillo, who said she had been fired by Banner Del Webb Hospital and had a complaint filed against her with the state board of nursing because she had educated a patient about the risks of an upcoming surgery and scheduled a consult about hospice. A hospital spokesman reportedly said that “the doctor, ultimately, is the focal point that directs care for patients” and that “company policy” forbids nurses to order a case management consult. The report does not mention other accounts suggesting that these events were set in motion because the patient’s surgeon was displeased that the patient had decided against the surgery.”
http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/news/2012/may/trujillo.html
For the latest on Amanda’s case, please visit: http://www.nurseup.com/