Greater National Advocates Blog

In this post, I want to talk to you about an important tool that can save your life, tell why it is vitally important to always carry a Medical Identity Card. If you go out alone, having a Medical Identity Card can help someone identify you and...

Hi, thank you for publishing my blog. However, I must raise issue with one of your edits. I believe your edit of this sentence changes my original meaning and just doesn't flow well. I wrote: Until that day, we need to advocate for ourselves and...

Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic it is happening more and more frequently. Doctors and other healthcare providers are retiring. So what happens if you get the notification that your healthcare provider is no longer available? For many...

On the TODAY show recently, a woman in LA shared a story of going to her doctor for stomach pain and severe back pain. She was told there was nothing wrong, not to worry, and that she just needed to lose weight. For four years, she kept going to...

Nurses are smart and observant. They know their worth and that they are desirable, but they also see that they are often not treated in this way. Due to the high demand for nurses, they are often thrust into environments where the workload is...

I was introduced to Rosalie in April 2009 as she was about to embark on her first total knee replacement. Her children recognized that living alone and scheduling a major orthopedic procedure at the age of 86 required forethought and outside...

The Vagus Nerve Life reflects our body’s state; many feel threatened, stuck, and unsatisfied with their health and well-being. Any threat, real or perceived, can elevate inflammation in the body, which is mediated through the vagus nerve. The...

As we age, at some point in our lives, we may experience a downward progression; it could be physical, cognitive, or some combination. And while each individual’s experience will vary, there are some consistent patterns. For some of us, the change...

This is the fifth in a series of blogs written by patient advocacy pioneer and longtime educator, Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA, who has been actively involved in the field of Patient Advocacy since 2002. The goal of the Mercereau Report is to...

Written and submitted by GNA member, Avrom Fox If a person has contributed to Social Security (SS) for at least 10 years and has a debilitating illness such as stroke, ALS, muscular dystrophy or blindness, the individual can simply apply for...

This is the fourth in a series of blogs written by Karen Mercereau, RN, iRNPA. The goal of the Mercereau Report is to communicate information that is pertinent to our expanding practices. This edition of the Mercereau report is a selection of...

By now, many people may have heard that a former nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, RaDonda Vaught, was convicted of negligent homicide in late March, for giving a wrong drug that led to patient death in 2017. This Friday the 13th, she...

Another 3 a.m. I could hear my husband’s slow regular breathing. David had finally fallen asleep in the hospital bed which would be his home for several weeks. I, the sentinel, remained ever alert a few feet away in our bed. Watchful yet...

Anna’s hospital allowed only one vaccinated visitor for non-Covid patients per day and only from 10 am to 5 pm. While both parents had flown in to support their adult daughter, as a family, they decided that her mom would be the designated daily...

Family and friend caregivers play one of the most important but overlooked watchdog roles in the hospital: tracking the many medications dispensed to their loved ones. By being present at bedside, caregivers can become familiar with medications...