TB Notes Newsletter
This is an archived document. The links
and content are no longer being updated.
No. 4, 2006
Nursing Updates
The Red Snappers of NTNC
At this year’s annual meeting of the National
Tuberculosis Nurses Coalition (NTNC), there was
excitement in the air. Several of the members wanted to
highlight the importance of TB control and share the
camaraderie they enjoy at these annual meetings. They
decided to organize their own section of the “Red Hat
Society” (a national organization with many state
chapters; members are women “of a certain age” who meet
and go out together—in red hats—to celebrate life and
friendship). The group’s section will be entitled “The
Red Snappers of NTNC.” Their Queen Mother will be Lorena
Jeske, and her royal court will consist of Ellen Murray,
past-president of NTNC; Jane Moore, NTNC current
President; Jo-Ann Arnold, President-Elect; and Kathy
Kolaski, Secretary. Other members include Judy Gibson
and “Pink Snapper” (meaning not yet “of a certain age”)
Toni Johns.
For those readers not familiar with the term “Red
Snapper,” it is a reference to the red-stained acid-fast
bacillus that is seen under the microscope in the sputum
of infectious TB patients. For the Red Snappers of NTNC,
it becomes a term for TB control nurses finding new ways
to discuss TB in a creative way.
When
you see these red-hatted ladies (and yes, they are
trying to get men involved as well) out and about, they
will be talking about TB and some of the challenges that
nurses and other health care workers face every day.
Tuberculosis is an age-old problem that often has a new
face. As the disease declines, we are faced with more
and more challenges to keep our awareness on the
forefront. Here’s one more way!
The Red Snappers of NTNC will soon be official
members of the Red Hat Society. Call them, join them…and
enjoy the fun!
—Submitted by Lorena Jeske
National Tuberculosis Nurses Coalition
PITCA Workshop for TB Nurses
Staff of CDC, the Australian Respiratory Council
(ARC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
worked together to develop a training workshop for six
northern Pacific island countries. The workshop was held
in Hawaii during the week commencing November 27, 2006,
as part of the annual Pacific Island TB Controllers
Association (PITCA) meeting. It focused on providing
training for nurses working in TB control in the Pacific
Islands. The workshop also aimed to raise awareness
among all health care workers involved in TB control
about the importance of quality data collection and
utilization. Dr. Phil Lobue, Phil Talboy, and Andy
Heetdeerks from DTBE and Subroto Banerji with the Global
AIDS Program facilitated the workshop.
—Submitted by Vivian Siler
Div of TB Elimination |
