It is critical that many more nurses develop media skills to help facilitate media interviews. Here are some ideas for how to get media savvy and training:
For informational purposes, I offer seminars and workshops for nurses
and other healthcare providers on public speaking skills. My public
seminars are offered through Nursing Spectrum. However, I also present them at
hospitals and professional association conferences. Public speaking is a
skill all nurses should develop for a variety of reasons - not the least
of which is the fact that nursing needs more articulate spokespeople
whether in the media, in the community, in the workplace, or in the
boardroom. Toastmasters International is a
great group to get involved with to develop your speaking skills.
I also offer workshops in media training and other ways for nurses to
promote themselves and their profession. I wrote an article for Nursing
Management in 2001 entitled "Nurse, Promote Thyself." You can find a
link to that article on my articles page at www.dcardillo.com/articles.html. Scroll down to "Other Articles
by Donna."
I can personally recommend Karen Friedman for media
training, too. She has very good info on her web site at www.karenfriedman.com
It is also helpful to get involved in media and public relations
committees through your professional associations. It's a good way to
learn, gain experience, and develop good relationships with the media.
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA
"Dear Donna" columnist for Nursing Spectrum
"Your First Year as a Nurse" from Crown Publishing
"Career Alternatives for Nurses"TM multimedia
"The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses"
www.dcardillo.com