CONTRIBUTING TO NURSING KNOWLEDGE The article by the late Joan E. Backscheider (AJPH 64:1138-1146, 1974) is an excellent example of a nursing leader dedicated to the development of a body of nursing knowledge based on a concept of nursing which is most essential to the survival of professional nursing. Dr. Jerome Lysaught, head of the National Commission on Nursing and Nursing Education, spoke at the Public Health Nursing Section luncheon in New Orleans, October, 1974. He emphasized the need for nurses to develop a body of knowledge in order to make its unique contribution to the expansion of the health care delivery system.... What are nursing educators and public health nurses who work with families and groups in the community contributing to the development of nursing knowledge based on a concept of nursing? Perhaps Ms. Backscheider's article has stimulated and challenged public health nurses to also work
toward the growth and development of nursing knowledge. It can be done if we are willing to do it! Caroline Zaweckis, RN, MSN Denver, CO
UNWRITTEN LAWS ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR I have been thinking of writing an article or book on the unwritten laws of human behavior that one encounters in the medical field. Some general laws I've observed, for example, are Murphy's Law-"If anything can go wrong it will." I understand there is a refinement of Murphy's Law-"When things go wrong somewhere, they are apt to go wrong everywhere." And "Good parking places are always on the other side of the street." "Events that never should happen, usually do. When such events occur, there is always someone who knew they would." Finagle's First Law submits "In any operation, if something can go wrong, it will. Moreover, it will go wrong even when it can't."
Here are some laws I have made up related to the specialty of allergy: The Decibel Law states, "The number of cigarettes the asthmatic is still smoking is in inverse proportion to the loudness of his voice when he says 'I've stopped.' " The Law of Rover states that a patient's expression, "Ole' Rover hardly ever comes in the house" really means, "Ole' Rover sleeps on the foot of my bed." The Law of Felix states that the statement, "My cat never comes inside" is an incomplete sentence, the completion of which reads "except when I am home." If you know of any certain laws that establish themselves with physicians, I'd appreciate hearing them. For example, Dr. Irwin S. Eskwith formulated a law, "Patient loyalty is inversely proportionate to physician availability." Can other physicians think of similar laws pertaining to their specialty? If so, I'd appreciate your sending them to me. Claude A. Frazier, MD 4-C Doctors Park Asheville, NC 28801
NOMINATIONS FOR SCHLESINGER AWARD DUE BY MAY 30 Individuals and organizations are invited to submit nominations for the second annual Richard H. Schlesinger Award in Community Health Planning. All nominations for this year's award must be postmarked no later than May 30, and must be submitted on a special form, available from Alana Davidson, at APHA headquarters. The Award, sponsored by Area-Wide and Local Planning for Health Action (ALPHA), the American Association for Comprehensive Health Planning (AACHP), and APHA's Community Health Planning Section, recognizes achievements in health planning having national impact and significance. The Award will be presented during APHA's Annual Meeting this November in Chicago. In naming recipients of the Award, the selection committee will give specific consideration to individuals who have demonstrated achievement and excellence in their early work in the field; organizations which have demonstrated leadership in mobilizing community resources for a common goal; and individuals and/or organizations making significant contributions to the "art and science" of health planning. Last year, the Award was presented to Walter Wenkert, MPH, former director of the Genesee Region Health Planning Council of Rochester, NY, and to the Council itself.
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toward the growth and development of nursing knowledge. It can be done if we are willing to do it! Caroline Zaweckis, RN, MSN Denver, CO
UNWRITTEN LAWS ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR I have been thinking of writing an article or book on the unwritten laws of human behavior that one encounters in the medical field. Some general laws I've observed, for example, are Murphy's Law-"If anything can go wrong it will." I understand there is a refinement of Murphy's Law-"When things go wrong somewhere, they are apt to go wrong everywhere." And "Good parking places are always on the other side of the street." "Events that never should happen, usually do. When such events occur, there is always someone who knew they would." Finagle's First Law submits "In any operation, if something can go wrong, it will. Moreover, it will go wrong even when it can't."
Here are some laws I have made up related to the specialty of allergy: The Decibel Law states, "The number of cigarettes the asthmatic is still smoking is in inverse proportion to the loudness of his voice when he says 'I've stopped.' " The Law of Rover states that a patient's expression, "Ole' Rover hardly ever comes in the house" really means, "Ole' Rover sleeps on the foot of my bed." The Law of Felix states that the statement, "My cat never comes inside" is an incomplete sentence, the completion of which reads "except when I am home." If you know of any certain laws that establish themselves with physicians, I'd appreciate hearing them. For example, Dr. Irwin S. Eskwith formulated a law, "Patient loyalty is inversely proportionate to physician availability." Can other physicians think of similar laws pertaining to their specialty? If so, I'd appreciate your sending them to me. Claude A. Frazier, MD 4-C Doctors Park Asheville, NC 28801
NOMINATIONS FOR SCHLESINGER AWARD DUE BY MAY 30 Individuals and organizations are invited to submit nominations for the second annual Richard H. Schlesinger Award in Community Health Planning. All nominations for this year's award must be postmarked no later than May 30, and must be submitted on a special form, available from Alana Davidson, at APHA headquarters. The Award, sponsored by Area-Wide and Local Planning for Health Action (ALPHA), the American Association for Comprehensive Health Planning (AACHP), and APHA's Community Health Planning Section, recognizes achievements in health planning having national impact and significance. The Award will be presented during APHA's Annual Meeting this November in Chicago. In naming recipients of the Award, the selection committee will give specific consideration to individuals who have demonstrated achievement and excellence in their early work in the field; organizations which have demonstrated leadership in mobilizing community resources for a common goal; and individuals and/or organizations making significant contributions to the "art and science" of health planning. Last year, the Award was presented to Walter Wenkert, MPH, former director of the Genesee Region Health Planning Council of Rochester, NY, and to the Council itself.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
527
