Your invitation to the Emmys is here!

Well, it's not actually from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. It's from us. The Center for Nursing Advocacy invites all who care how global society thinks about nursing to join our first live demonstration! On August 27, 2006 (Sunday afternoon), as the glitterati arrive for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, we'll be there. We'll let those who create Hollywood's most popular and profitable hospital shows know that their work harms nursing, and tell them how they can improve, in the interest of public health.

Worldwide nursing pride

All of the most influential hospital shows--"Grey's Anatomy," "House," "ER," and "Scrubs"--are up for major Emmy awards this year. And those who only occasionally create poor nursing images, such as "The Sopranos" producers, will also be there. That means those most responsible for the poor primetime portrayals of nursing that infest the world's television sets and minds will be at the Shrine Auditorium on August 27. And so will we, on the sidewalk, communicating with the occupants of the limousines slowly advancing--and we understand that advance is slow indeed--toward the red carpet. With polite but firm signs and voices, we'll tell the producers and stars that we hope to see nurses portrayed as the serious professionals they are, not the handmaidens and losers we've come know and not love. We will tell them that we don't mind all the nursing in their shows. We'd just like to see it done by nurse characters, rather than physicians.

Imagine all the nurses...

What events do we have planned? The Emmy Awards ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m. PST on Sunday, August 27, in Los Angeles. Earlier that day, at a nearby hotel, we will host a Pre-Protest Luncheon Presentation at which Center executive director Sandy Summers will discuss the shows up for awards and how they affect public understanding of nursing. Afterwards, we will walk to the Shrine Auditorium. There, with a city demonstration permit, we will assemble on the public sidewalk. As stars and producers arrive, we will speak truth to power. Though our message is in part a critical one, we anticipate a positive event that is empowering, educational, and enjoyable. The evening will be free for participants to explore greater Los Angeles, or to celebrate a constructive interaction with those who shape the nursing image.

Express yourself!

But why do this, o relentless Center? With this event, we can reach an extraordinary concentration of those whose work influences how nurses are seen by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. "Grey's Anatomy" and "House" can reach over 20 million viewers in the U.S. alone with each episode. Sadly, their portrayals of nursing are abysmal. So it is vital that they understand how serious the undervaluation of nursing is today. While our letters are powerful and are having some effect, we can reach only a few decision makers at a time with them. We want to send Hollywood a more direct message now, as it prepares its new season. The industry must learn that its work affects how people think and act toward nursing, as research shows, and that this is a key factor in the crisis that nurses and their patients now face.

The Emmys are broadcast live on NBC, and they get worldwide media coverage. So we hope this demonstration will enable us to bring our concerns to the public--the decision-makers, patients, and career seekers who are ultimately affected by media portrayals.

And there's more! This will also be a chance to get together with other nurses, nursing students, and friends to discuss together how we can work in our local communities to improve the media. Come be a part of the solution!

Get up, stand up!

Nurses can improve their image. We have seen evidence that what we say to the makers of these shows does have an impact, however little they respond to us directly. Speaking even more forcefully to those responsible will bring us closer to a world where the media reflects the true value of nursing--and nurses are treated in accord with that value.

Please note our July 26 deadline to hear from at least 30 of you: Because of the expense involved in sponsoring these events, and the need to have a substantial presence at the Awards in order to have an impact, we must receive confirmation that at least 30 people will join us for the Pre-Protest Luncheon Presentation no later than July 26, 2006, 5:00 p.m. EST. We welcome all to join us for the protest outside the Shrine, which is of course free. And we will accept registrations for the Presentation well after July 26. But because of financial constraints and the fast-approaching event date, we must have a guarantee of at least 30 participants in order to proceed with the protest. Thank you for your understanding.

Join Us for the Pre-Protest Luncheon Presentation!

Time: August 27, 2006 -- 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Location: Radisson Hotel Ballroom, 3540 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA
90007 (map)

Donation: $100 ($50 for students), all but $15 is tax-deductible, which includes:

• A healthful and tasty lunch to prepare you for the demonstration

• Sandy Summers' film-clip presentation of Hollywood's depiction of nursing

• A high-quality Center t-shirt to wear to the protest and to keep

• A sign for you to carry at the demonstration (if you wish)

• A year's membership in the Center for Nursing Advocacy

Presentation Details: Join us for a luncheon and film clip presentation with Sandy Summers, the Center's executive director. Learn about media depictions of nurses, especially this year's Emmy-nominated shows, and how they affect the nursing profession and the global nursing shortage. Find out how we can all improve public understanding of nursing. We hope to be able to offer CEU credit for this presentation, but cannot guarantee it at this time. We will of course keep you posted. After the luncheon ends, we will proceed as a group to the demonstration site near the Shrine.

Please sign up for the Pre-Protest Luncheon Presentation at the regular or student rate.

Support us!

Even if you can't join us for the Luncheon Presentation, or for the later demonstration, you can still provide vital support for our work with a donation today. Thank you!

The Nursing-Related Emmy Nominees

"Grey's Anatomy," "House" and "The Sopranos" (which had some poor nursing portrayals last season) have been nominated for best drama series. "Scrubs" has been nominated for best comedy series. As for the veteran "ER," James Woods was nominated for best guest actor. Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson from "Grey's Anatomy" were nominated for best supporting actress. The Sopranos and "Six Feet Under" (which also had poor nursing portrayals in the past season) were nominated for best direction and other best acting awards.

Joining the Demonstration Is Free!

It is of course free to join the demonstration. Please come protest with us from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. August 27, 2006, at some point along the limousine procession toward the Shrine Auditorium, at 665 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Exact location details will follow as we get them. (map)

If you are not registering for the presentation or ordering a t-shirt or sign (below), please email us to let us know you are coming so we can keep an accurate head count. Thank you.

Suggested Attire

You can wear anything you wish, but we are far more noticeable--and our message is much clearer--if we dress in a similar way. So we strongly urge all to wear the Center's high quality t-shirt, with our slogan "When was the last time the media told you the truth about what nurses do?", and a stethoscope around your neck.

T-shirts

If you would like to buy a Center t-shirt to wear with the other protesters, you may order one through this link for $15. If you order by August 5, you can pick it up at the Radisson Hotel at 1:30 pm on August 27. Or sign up for the Pre-Protest Presentation Luncheon and get one free!

Signs

If you would like us to make a sign for you and have it at the Radisson Hotel for you to pick up at 1:30 pm, you may order one by Aug. 18 for $20. Or sign up for the Pre-Protest Presentation Luncheon and get one free!

March to the Protest

August 27, 1:45 p.m., Radisson Hotel Ballroom -- We will collect our signs and t-shirts, which the Center will have waiting at the hotel for those who have registered, and walk three blocks to our place near the Shrine Auditorium, where the Emmys will begin at 5:00 p.m. PST. The press and participants will arrive during the ensuing three hours.

Hotels and DEADLINE

We have booked a block of rooms at the Radisson Hotel, 3540 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, which is about 3 blocks from the protest area. But we can only hold them until 5:00 p.m. EST, Wednesday July 26, 2006. So please sign up by this time to help our planning. Of course, you can register for the Center's Pre-Protest Luncheon Presentation after July 26, but we cannot guarantee the availability of rooms at this hotel.

Standard rooms are $120 (one king-sized bed) to $130 (2 double beds).

Executive Rooms are $150 (one king-sized bed) to $160 (2 double beds).

Radisson Hotel (map, hotel information) 3540 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90007 (213) 748-4141.

Parking: Guest Self parking is $8.00 Per Day. Guest Valet Parking is $11.00 Per Day.

Other Hotel Options

There are other hotels in the neighborhood. You can see a list on MapQuest , Expedia or Hotels-Rates.com.

Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH
Executive Director
The Center for Nursing Advocacy
203 Churchwardens Rd.
Baltimore, MD USA 21212-2937
office 1-410-323-1100
fax 1-410-510-1790
ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org

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Information from the Radisson on the 2 types of hotels rooms available:

Radisson Hotel Standard Guest Room features:

Complimentary USA Today newspaper Monday through Friday
Complimentary High Speed Internet access
One king or Two double beds
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
Iron and ironing board
In room safe
Two telephones
Refrigerator
In room pay-per-view movies and Nintendo games for additional cost

Radisson Hotel Executive Level Room features:

Radisson's exclusive Sleep Number bed with air chambers allows you to adjust the firmness of the mattress to your exact level of comfort with the touch of a button. To further enhance comfort, you will appreciate our bed's quality linens, down pillows and finished with a premium down-filled comforter nestled in an ultra-soft duvet cover.