Thank you very much for sending a letter to "ER"!

Step One Complete!

Thank you very much for sending an email to five "ER"s sponsors!

Your email has been sent to Mr. Kenneth Chenault (American Express), Mr. Brad Iversen (H&R Block), Mr. Peter Sterling (McDonald's), Mr. Nick Sweers (Sprint) and the Pepsi Board of Directors.

Step Two:

Since most corporations tightly guard the email addresses of their executives, we will need to contact most of them by phone, snail mail or fax. We realize that this takes time but our "ER" campaign is our most important campaign ever.

FAQ: It's too intimidating to call these executives by phone. Where will I get the chutzpah to do that?

A: We do have snail mail and fax options for you below. But reaching decision makers on the telephone is a powerful way to get across your message. Many times, decision makers act based on just 10 phone calls or letters. Be one of those 10. Don't assume others will call or write--we need you. Personal interactions have more power. As nurses, we are first and foremost patient advocates--it drives the rest of our practice. Creating accurate media images of nursing increases public understanding of nursing, which increases funding and staffing for nursing and ultimately improves patient care. We must not let the producers and physicians who write and advise for "ER" continue to paint damaging images of our profession. Our patients are depending on us to build a stronger profession. No one else is going to do it for us--or them. Think of the last patient you had who suffered because nursing was undermined and undervalued, and find the courage we know is in you. We can do it!

What to say when you call or write

How to proceed

Advertiser contact list

What to say when you call (or write):

Give people the basics:

1) You are a nurse, nursing student or nursing supporter;
2) You're upset about "ER"'s portrayal of nursing;
3) Please stop advertising on "ER."

If they seem inclined to listen longer, mention:

Nearly all causes of the nursing shortage can be traced back to public misunderstanding about nursing (driven by "ER"'s believable but inaccurate images). When society doesn't know what nurses do or why it is important, they don't have any reason to fund nursing clinical practice, education or research. Patients die when nurses are understaffed (specifically 31% more when a nurse's workload is doubled) and research also shows that short-staffing drives nurses from the profession. The nursing shortage is already a global health crisis and it's only predicted to worsen over the next two decades. We need "ER" to present accurate images of nursing so the world will begin to understand why nursing needs more public support--real support in terms of actual funding--not lip service.

What does "ER" do that's so inaccurate?

"ER": Physicians hire, fire and manage nurses.
Reality: Nurses hire, fire and manage nurses.

"ER": Physicians defibrillate, triage, give medications, educate patients how to tackle their health problems, provide emotional support and plan patient discharge.
Reality: Nurses defibrillate, triage, give medications, educate patients how to tackle their health problems, provide emotional support and plan patient discharge.

"ER": The show has about 10 major physician characters but only one nurse.
Reality: Level one trauma centers like that on "ER" have as many nurses as physicians.

"ER": Physician training is a huge focus, and nurse training does not exist.
Reality: Highly skilled nursing requires years of training and experience.

"ER": Nurses pursue graduate education only in medicine.
Reality: U.S. nurses are 50 times more likely to pursue graduate education in nursing.

"ER": Physicians provide all significant care and receive all credit for outcomes.
Reality: Nurses save lives and greatly improve patient outcomes.

How to Proceed:

If your last name starts with A-H, please start contacting people at the beginning of the list and work down. If your name starts with J-R, please start with Johnson & Johnson and work down, (then come back and start at the top). If your name starts with S-Z, please start with PhRMA and work down, (then come back and start at the top). This way, if not everyone is able to do the whole list, we will have spread out our impact. When you have finished, please let us know what you have done. And please don't miss steps 3, 4 and 5 below. Thank you!

Advertiser Contact List

Apple (recently advertised ipods, many times)

Mr. Philip W. Schiller
SVP, Worldwide Product Marketing
Apple Computer, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
Apple Public Relations (408) 974-2042 press 2--do not press 3

DaimlerChrysler Corporation (recently had five Jeep and Chrysler advertisements)

Mr. Joe Eberhardt
EVP Global Sales, Marketing and Service, Chrysler Group
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
1000 Chrysler Dr.
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
Fax: 248-576-4742
Web form

Eli Lilly (recently advertised Cialis)

Mr. Steven R. Plump
VP, Global Marketing and Sales
Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly Corporate Center
Indianapolis, IN 46285
Fax: 317-277-6579

Ford Motor Co.

Mr. Earl Hesterberg
Group VP, North America, Marketing, Sales and Service
Ford Motor Company
1 American Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48126-2798

General Motors (recent advertised Equinox and Malibu)

John F. Smith Jr.
Group VP, North American Vehicle Sales, Service, and Marketing
Mailcode: 482-A39D22
General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48265-3000
Advertising dept. 313-667-2684 Lisa Stern
Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner's Fax: 517-272-3709

GlaxoSmithKline (recently advertised Imitrex and Zantac)

Director of Marketing (unsure of the contact's name)
GlaxoSmithKline
1 Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Toll Free: 888-825-5249 (ask for Customer Service)
Fax: 215-751-3233

Kellogg's (recently had three advertisements)

Ms. Diane Backus
Chief Marketing & Customer Officer
Kellogg USA Inc.
1 Kellogg Square
Battle Creek, MI 49016-3599
Direct Phone to Diane Backus: 269-961-2382

J&J (recently advertised Acuvue, Neutrogena and Stayfree)

J. Andrea Alstrup
VP, Advertising
Johnson & Johnson
410 George St.
New Brunswick NJ 08901
General Phone: 732-524-0400 ask for Andrea Alstrup's office

Honda Motor Co. (recently had three advertisements)

Mr. Tom Peyton
Senior manager Honda national advertising
Honda Motor Co.
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501
Marketing dept. phone 310-783-2000 (PST) Ask for Tom Peyton's office
Fax 310-781-4280

Merck (recently advertised Vytorin (cholesterol lowering agent))

Mr. Christopher Loder
Media Relations
Merck & Co., Inc.
1 Merck Dr.
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100
Christopher Loder's direct Phone: (908) 423-3786

Novartis (recently advertised Triaminic)

Barbara Tombros
Director of Alliance Development
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
1 Health Plaza
East Hanover, NJ 07936-1080
Barbara Tombros phone: 862-778-6491

P&G (recently advertised Crest; Nyquil; Oral B and Tide/Downy)

Mr. R. Kerry Clark
Vice Chairman; President, Global Market Development and Business Operations, and Director
The Procter & Gamble Company
1 Procter & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: 513-983-1100 Ask for Kerry Clark's office
Fax: 513-983-9369

Pfizer (recently advertised Listerine and Zyrtec)

Ms. Kaki Hinton
VP, Advertising Services
Pfizer Inc.
201 Tabor Rd.
North Plains, NJ 07950
Phone: 973-385-2000 Ask for Kaki Hinton's office (pronounced "Kay-kee")

PhRMA (urge them to ask their members to stop advertising)

Ken Johnson
VP Communications
PhRMA
1100 Fifteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Ken Johnson's Phone: 202-835-3402
Assistant: Neda: 202-835-3479

Schering-Plough (recently advertised Nasonex)

Ms. Mary Fran Faraji
Product Global Communications
Schering-Plough Corporation
2000 Galloping Hill Rd.
Kenilworth, NJ 07033-0530
Mary Fran Faraji's direct line 908-298-7109

Toyota (had five recent advertisements)

James Lentz
Group VP, Marketing, Toyota Division
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 S. Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90509
Phone: 310-468-4000 x 6285
Fax: 310-468-7800

Verizon (had three recent advertisements)

Tom Tauke
EVP Public Affairs and Communications
Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-395-2121 ask for Tom Tauke's assistant Pat: (pronounced "taw-key")
Fax: 212-869-3265
Toll Free: 800-621-9900

Wyeth (recently advertised Advil)

Ms. Marily H. Rhudy
SVP, Public Affairs
Wyeth
5 Giralda Farms
Madison, NJ 07940-0874
Phone: 973-660-5000 Leela is Ms. Rhudy's assistant
Fax: 973-660-7026

Victoria's Secret (recently had three advertisements)

Ms. Tracy Appiah
Marketing Manager
Victoria's Secret
3425 Morse Crossing
Columbus, OH 43219
General Phone: 614-337-5000 ask for Tracy Appiah (pronounced "ah-pee-ah")
Fax: 614-337-5075

Step Three:

After you have made your calls and sent your letters, please let us know what you have done so that we can keep track of the impact of your outreach (we will know if you sent the email letter, but nothing else). If no one tells us what she/he did, we will think nothing was done. We need to know how many letters, calls and faxes the campaign generated so we can put that in our next press release. Thank you.

Step Four:

Please ask your colleagues, nursing organizations, listservs, bulletin boards, friends, and family to join our "ER" campaign. We need the widest possible reach on this campaign, so please help us get the word out. Please send your contacts the first two paragraphs of our "ER" sponsors campaign page and its URL <www.truthaboutnursing.org/action/letters/er/er_sponsors_1.html>, which explains what the campaign is and why they should join it.

Step Five:

If you would like to be notified of any tangible results of our campaign, please sign up for our free news alerts. Given our limited resources and technology, we can only contact letter-writers through the news alerts system. Thank you.

Thank you very much for work in creating a more positive image for the nursing profession!!