2005 Press Releases
The NurSING Notes a hit at nurses annual dinner ROME – Combining parodies, ventriloquism, humor and Christmas songs, the NurSING Notes, an all-registered nurse barbershop quartet from Syracuse, entertained Rome Memorial Hospital nurses at their fifth annual “Salute to Nurses” dinner program at the hospital on Wednesday, December 8. The hospital’s Medical Staff donated the funds for the program. “We wanted to bring our nursing staff together during this special Holiday season to celebrate their accomplishments and to give them the gift of humor as a way of thanking them for all their hard work,” said Vice President of Nursing Durinda Durr, MS, RN. The NurSING Notes, whose “charge” is to spread health and humor through harmony, parodied topics that are of interest to nurses including staffing shortages, patient safety issues, health problems, nursing jargon and stress. During the show, they changed the lyrics from “Under the Boardwalk” to “Working the ER.” Billy Joel songs such as “River of Dreams” and “The Longest Time” took on a whole new meaning for the audience as the NurSING Notes changed the lyrics to fit the nursing profession. Their blend of do-wop, humor and barbershop singing aptly amused the audience. “I haven’t laughed that much in a long time,” said Director of Education Gale Barone, BS, RN, one of the coordinators of the program. “I really enjoyed the program and appreciated the humor, particularly because we’re in that time of year when it can be stressful. Many of their parodies really hit home for me and the other nurses and we were able to see the humor in our every day tasks and challenges,” she added. Director of Perioperative Services Shirley Cummings, who has been with the hospital over 33 years, at times was bent over laughing from the humor. “The NurSING Notes were hilarious,” she said. “They truly captured the challenges and difficulties we face as nurses and were able to help us see the humor in them.” The NurSING Notes’ ability to relate to their audience isn’t a surprise. Not only are all four members registered nurses, they are married to registered nurses as well. The quartet includes lead singer and founding member Larry Brennan, RN, MS, administrative supervisor of Community General Hospital; Glen Gardner, RN, MSN, administrative officer for Behavioral Health at the Syracuse VA Medical Center; Archie McEvers, RN, MSN, ANP, an adult nurse practitioner in the Open Heart Unit at Upstate Medical University; and Wayne Beach, RN, MSN, a former emergency room nurse who is a data analyst for the Upstate New York VA Healthcare Network. The NurSING Notes quartet has earned ovations throughout the USA and Canada since they made their debut at the New York State Nursing Association’s convention in 1989. They perform extensively during National Nurses Week and list among their credits opening for Sid Caesar at the Humor Project in Saratoga Springs. “Endorphins are released when we laugh,” said Brennan, adding that humor and health go together. “Did you know that the average child laughs 146 times a day and that the average adult laughs only 4 times?” he asked. The quartets’ job, he noted, is to help people learn to laugh and to begin to heal from their losses, challenges and stress. Brennan laughingly added that he is the only NurSINGologist in the world, thus awarding himself (quite preposterously) a PhD* - Professor of harmony Development. One of the highlights of the show was when Durr volunteered to join the NurSING Notes for a bit of Christmas cheer. She donned an elf hat and played the bells as the quartet performed “Jingle Bells.” “This is just what we needed,” said Durr. “It was an opportunity for nurses to be given the special gift of good food, laughter and camaraderie for all the giving they do throughout the year.” |
