néih góng yìngmán ma?

do you speak english?
neih sìkmsìk góng gwóngdùngwá a?
do you speak cantonese?

racialicious has a post about a texas state rep that makes some pretty ignorant statements in speaking a legislation meeting regarding voting IDs.
i bring this here because similar ignorance exists in the healthcare system as well. my grandmother-in-law, who is chinese, was hospitalized last year. The majority of workers did not even attempt to say her name (or ask how to say her name for that matter.) No privacy was given to her as her family members had to translate everything for her & she was forced to have her son relay private health information. The use of the language line (a over the phone translation service used by hospitals) was not mentioned, i believe because of the cost to the hospital. I wonder what would have happened had there been a domestic violence or elder abuse situation or if she just didn't feel like having her son know all her bodily functions.
we discussed in class this week hipaa and how to ask the family to leave until you have permission to do whatever you're doing, giving meds, asking questions, changing dressings, in front of them. Out of convenience for the healthcare worker hipaa is out the door but bigger then hipaa and regulations and policies is the individual treatment and respect for immigrant patients.

go ahead and go boldly

i like to think i'm keeping my options open and know that i may fall in love with a completely unexpected specialty but what i always thought was awesome and may now have the opportunity to do is to become a nurse practitioner and midwife specializing in ob/gyn care for sexual assault survivors.
having heard the anxiety and horror stories of sa survivors regarding gyn care i can't help but wonder why a specialist would respond with the least sensitivity towards the patients who are most in need of care. STIs at a young age, structural damage and unwanted pregnancies are a few of the complications that sa survivors may be dealing with, unfortunately these women are less likely to seek gyn than non survivors. I aspire to be someone that is trusted to provide service to these women.

RAINN: Speak Out

i'm digging the new RAINN psa. one of the things i'm most anxious about is the discussion of sexual assault in class. hopefully by the time we get to women's health most of the bad eggs will be weeded out but the reality is misconceptions and victim blaming happen with very intelligent and otherwise competent people. also i would hope that sa (sexual assault) comes up before then as it effects so many people and being in any healthcare situation can trigger severe emotions for survivors.

in the beginning...

there are 4 definitions that will guide us in this journey

1. feminist: one who practices the theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.

2. nurse: one who cares for the sick or infirm and promotes health and wellness in all

3. student: who studies or gains knowledge

4. feminist nursing student: one who battles misconceptions, patriarchy and fights for empowerment on a daily basis.


i began a nursing program last month after 8 years as a mental health counselor and more specifically a sexual assault counselor. i am older than some but far from the oldest in the program but as far as i can tell i am the most liberal and progressive. in the short month so far i've had several teachable moments with fellow students and faculty alike, some i've seized others i have just not had the energy to deal with. we'll see where the next 21 months leads us.