About The Truth About Nursing
Challenging stereotypes and elevating the nursing profession worldwide since 2001
Global Advocacy Network · 35+ Countries

35+

Countries

12

Languages

150+

Media Reforms

500+

Speaking Events

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The Truth About Nursing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving public understanding of nursing across the globe. The IRS considers contributions to be charitable, and they are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Our Global Mission

The Truth About Nursing seeks to increase public understanding of the central, front-line role nurses play in modern health care across all nations and cultures. Our focus is to promote more accurate, balanced and frequent media portrayals of nurses and increase the media's use of nurses as expert sources worldwide.

The Truth About Nursing's ultimate goal is to foster growth in the size and diversity of the nursing profession at a time of critical global shortage, strengthen nursing practice, teaching and research, and improve the health care system for all people.

The Truth About Nursing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Our History

The Truth About Nursing was founded in April 2001 by its executive director, Sandy Summers, and a group of five fellow graduate students at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. We came together after one member suggested that we form a group to help address the growing nursing shortage, which we felt was caused in part by inadequate understanding of and support for the profession.

Our first project focused on the popular television show ER. In November 2001, members of our group had a one-hour conference call with an ER producer and the show's medical advisor to discuss our concerns.

From there we created a non-profit organization to focus our efforts more broadly on improving the portrayal of nurses in the media globally. In 2009 we persuaded the Lung Cancer Alliance to remove its "Dr. Lung Love" public service announcement. In 2007 we convinced Heineken to digitally alter outfits in a Dos Equis commercial so they no longer resembled nurses.

Our work has won Media Awards from the American Academy of Nursing in 2004 and 2005, and we have been recognized internationally for our advocacy efforts. In December 2008 the Center for Nursing Advocacy decided to close, so our original group of five established The Truth About Nursing, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, through which we continue to pursue our mission globally.

See The Truth About Nursing's original members

Our Global Team

Founder & Executive Director

Sandy Summers

Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH

RN MSN MPH 25+ Years
Keynotes delivered in 15+ countries
Global speaking reach

Advisory Panel — International

Paul Sacco
Paul Sacco
MSW, PhD
Professor, UMD
🇺🇸
MarySue Heilemann
MarySue Heilemann
RN, PhD, FAAN
UCLA
🇺🇸
Tyler Kuhk
Tyler Kuhk
RN, MN, ARNP, CCRN
Pulmonary NP
🇺🇸
Chinelo Ofoma
Chinelo Ofoma
RN, MSN, CPNP-PC
Pediatric NP
🇺🇸
Frances Rieth Maynard
Frances Rieth Maynard
RN, PhD, FNP, MBE
Rutgers
🇺🇸
Mona Shattell
Mona Shattell
PhD, RN, FAAN
UCF
🇺🇸
Diane Reed
Diane Reed
RN, PhD
Nurses Rock! radio
🇺🇸
Stella Fitzgibbons
Stella Fitzgibbons
MD, FACP
Hospitalist
🇺🇸
Shawn Pohlman
Shawn Pohlman
RN, PhD
Maryville Emerita
🇺🇸
Fhaied Alotaibi
Fhaied Alotaibi
RN, PhD
University of Dammam
🇸🇦

In Memoriam

Christine Stainton
Christine Stainton
RN, MSN, BA
Founding Member
Claire Fagin
Claire Fagin
RN, PhD, FAAN
Dean Emerita, UPenn
Barbara Chamberlain
Barbara Chamberlain
RN, PhD, APN, MBA, CCRN, WCC
NJ Hospital Association

Staff

Shahraj Fatima

Shahraj Fatima, BS

Web Operations Growth Specialist

Contact

Adebanjo Joshua Ibukunoluwa

Adebanjo Joshua Ibukunoluwa

Web Developer (PHP & JS) RN, RM, RPHN, BNSc.

Contact

Who Funds Us?

The Truth is supported by three major means:

Press Information

Press releases | Press coverage

Our Movie

Nursing: Isn't That Sweet?!

The new Truth movie has everything... Sexual content! Raw insults! And odd, computer-generated voices! Watch now!

Made using xtranormal software for Halloween 2011, the short video explores some chilling stereotypes that still infect public understanding of nursing.

See the video! Or if you can't access YouTube, click here to see the video on our site.

Governance

Articles of Incorporation

501(c)(3) status letter from the IRS

Tax Returns

A copy of the current financial statement of The Truth About Nursing is available by writing 3330 Chestnut Ave. Baltimore MD 21211 or by calling +1 410-323-1100.

EIN

The Truth About Nursing's employer identification number is 26-3944281

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