Back , Ready, and Needing to Continue

Another new nursing position and new learning curve has postponed my writings-but my thought, research, and work with Health Care Literacy has continued. Thanks to all my colleagues for their encouragement. My goal by the end of the year is to have my thesis written, reviewed, and accepted allowing me to graduate May 2012. My long term goal is to have nurses who are responsible for educating patients and families UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PHYSICIAN, through collaboration with all disciplines and department, using information grounded in theory and best practices accepted as non-traditional educators.


I have not been negligent in my accumulation of "stuff" regarding Health Care Literacy. i have only been bad about updating this blog. As always I have continued to place nurses in the loop as educators for patients and their families.

I had 2 interesting experiences with academia that had me struggling with my goals and purpose as a nurse.
One was positive-the gracious acceptance of my paper By OSU at their Expanding Literacy Studies International conference for Graduate Students spring 2009. Not only did I present but had the dubious experience of being a Panel chair. Thank you to Harvey Graff for smashing the literacy myth beyond the classroom and into real work applications.
the other was actually disappointing. My own Penn State University had a Conference on Non-traditional Adult Learners (I had developed a Power Point grounded in theory and best nursing practices for Nurses that was politely rejected because not "classroom oriented")

Now with changes in the Health Care Community I believe my beliefs have been validated and as a nurse for a nurse and most importantly for the patient and families I am rejuvenated.
So more will come....and I hope it will be useful as nurses continue to provide competent, compassionate, and appropriate care to patients trying to enter into
the important health conversations that affect their lives.