I recently had the privilege of joining Marion Leary and Rebecca Love on their thought-provoking podcast, Love N Leary. Our conversation centered on a topic that’s both urgent and deeply personal to me: the escalating crisis of gun violence in our schools. I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact that the threat of violence has on our students, staff, and communities. This episode provided a platform to delve into the complexities of this issue and explore potential solutions.
Key points we discussed include:
- The alarming increase in school shooting incidents
- Framing gun violence as a critical public health issue
- The vital role of school nurses in creating safe, supportive environments
- Strategies for promoting mental health and resilience in schools
- The importance of community involvement and legislative action
This conversation goes beyond statistics, touching on the emotional and psychological toll these incidents take on our school communities. It’s a call to action for educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community members.
I invite you to listen to the episode and join us in this crucial dialogue about safeguarding our children’s future. Together, we can work towards creating schools where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.
Resources
K-12 School Shooting Database https://k12ssdb.org/
Gun Violence is a Racial Justice Issue Brady United: Gun Violence is a Racial Justice Issue.
Brady United Brady United: This is our lane
US Surgeon General: Firearm Violence in America
Every Town Research: Everytown: Gun Violence in America
Meet Marion Leary (left) and Rebecca Love (right), two prominent nurse innovators and educators who are working to advance the nursing profession:
Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN, is the Director of Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her work uses innovation and design thinking to improve health and healthcare. Marion completed her PhD focused on innovation and design at Penn and master’s degrees in nursing and public health. She contributed to several nursing publications and was previously involved in resuscitation science research.
Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL, is a trailblazer in fostering nurse innovation. As the former Director of Nurse Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Northeastern School of Nursing, she organized the first Nurse Hackathon in 2016, a testament to her commitment to empowering nurses. Her efforts brought together over 200 nurses to discuss healthcare problems and pitch solutions. Love’s influence now extends to Villanova University, where she continues to inspire and lead.
Leary and Love are not just educators and innovators but also fierce advocates for the nursing profession. Together, they co-host the Love n’ Leary podcast, a platform where they discuss issues relevant to nursing and advocate for change. As co-chairs of the Nursing is STEM Coalition, they tirelessly work to have nursing officially recognized as a STEM field by federal agencies. Their passion for empowering nurses to innovate, engage with media and policy, and advance their careers in unconventional ways is a beacon of support for all in the nursing community.
