Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112156

Geraldine Gorman, PhD, Public Health, Mental Health and Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612, (312)413-9013, ggorman@uic.edu

This paper discusses the author's two public documents on nurses' ethical and professional responsility in war time. The first appeared on the editorial page of a large metropolitan daily newspaper in November, 2004. The second was an invited guest editorial in the January, 2005 issue of the American Journal of Nursing. Both challenged nurses to form a united coalition against the escalation of violence endemic in times of war and to carefully consider the ramifications of budget cuts required to sustain warfare. From the standpoint of a nurse, mother and Quaker, the author urged nurses to assume an advocatory stance on behalf of the American children sent to fight and Iraqi children maimed and killed as a result. The response to both pieces was immediate and widespread. From across the country (as well as from Japan, where the editorial was syndicated) nurses wrote to express their feelings and opinions.While largely supportive in content, some articulated viewpoints in stark opposition to the author's. The tone ranged from emotional affirmation ("I am your sister" ) to angry rebuttal ("then why don't you just leave the country?") The author attempted to respond to each and, in several cases, what began as an adversarial polarization softened to conciliation and understanding through sustained and respectful dialogue. It is the author's contention that the profession benefits from a thorough and comprehensive airing of the issues raised by nursing's participation in, and response to, war. Because of nursing's unique role as recognized advocate of public and individual welfare, we are ethically mandated by that trust to speak out on issues of critical importance to health care. Nurse educators bear particular responsibility to assist their students in honing their individual and professional response to policies which will shape their practice and impact care delivery. Enlarging the discussion from the written page to public dialogue extends the scope of our influence, understanding and connection. We come together united in professional affiliation, in hope that through respectful dialogue and discernment we may better serve those who trust us to speak out on their behalf.

Learning Objectives:

• -Heighten understanding of the link between issues of social justice and public health nursing practice
• -Deepen awareness of nursing's unique ethical responsibility in times of war
• -Apply of principles of health promotion and disease prevention in times of international conlflict
• -Consider ethical responsibility of public health nursing to engage in public dialogue on social justice issues

Keywords: War,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation