Today's Most Popular Video
Dec 2, 2008 6:27 pm US/Central
New Children's Book Promotes Nursing Careers
(WCCO)
-
-
This time, the drawings have a message -- a message which also happens to be the title of the book, "Nursing is Not Just Giving a Shot."
CBS
Stephen Richardson has been a familiar face behind the camera at WCCO-TV for more than 25 years. Now, he is making his talents public as a book illustrator.
"I've been drawing ever since I can remember," said Richardson.
This time, the drawings have a message -- a message which also happens to be the title of the book, "Nursing is Not Just Giving a Shot."
HealthPartners asked Pediatrician Vivian Rider to write the book to help get kids excited about careers in medicine. Dr. Rider said a growing nursing shortage is even more concerning after a recent study found "that children often rule out going into healthcare pretty early, even by going into junior high."
Dr. Rider turned to Richardson, an old friend she had worked with years ago on another children's book, called "The Mouse Yawned."
Rider said her young patients already approve of their latest teamwork.
"I think the kids really responded to the pictures that they saw because they're funny. They're interesting and the people really just show a lot of personality," she said.
Richardson said he found artistic inspiration for the book everywhere. Pointing to a drawing of a happy, elderly man Richardson said, "This is fashioned after my Uncle Bob, who's always been in a wheelchair."
He also pointed out, with a grin, the drawing of his daughter as a child having a check-up, and a sketch based on one of Dr. Rider's nurses.
The nurses he drew reflect our diverse society.
"They come from every background and every gender. Nurses are men, women," Richardson said. "They're from all over the world."
The books will be placed in every Health-Partners pediatric clinic for kids to read.
Dr. Rider and Richardson are already planning the next book in the series.
The author and illustrator are also on the same page about one more thing: both think it will be marvelous if, in their senior years, a nurse caring for them credits their book for inspiring their choice of nursing as a profession.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Intense Tightrope Walk Across PA River
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
