On today’s episode of The Confluence:
Effects of U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion ripple across the region
(0:00 - 7:41)
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision Roe v. Wade. The five-to-four decision returned the regulation of abortion access to states, and on the day the decision was handed down, several states across the country immediately started the process of restricting access to the procedure.
Abortions are still accessible in Pennsylvania up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, which means patients from other states might travel to the commonwealth seeking health care.
“We have always been seeing patients from other surrounding states due to their abortion restrictions, and so we're preparing to see more,” says Sydney Etheredge, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.
Etheredge says the organization has already received hundreds of calls over the weekend from patients across state lines, including in Ohio where abortion services are banned after six weeks of pregnancy. She says Planned Parenthood has also spent time reminding and educating patients in the state that their access to abortion and services are still in place.
The state and local programs are seeking to address nursing shortages
(7:55 - 14:50)
A survey by the Hospital Health Association of Pennsylvania shows that 27% of registered nurse positions went unfilled last year.
Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation that amends the Professional Nursing Law. The change permits individuals from foreign countries who have graduated from a nursing program or dietetics-nutrition program, but have not received a license in the foreign country, to take the Pennsylvania examination for licensure as a professional nurse or dietetics-nutritionist if the educational program completed in the foreign country was equal to the educational requirements in the commonwealth.
Mary Ellen Glasgow, dean of the School of Nursing at Duquesne University, says there need to be concurrent strategies to train, hire and retain nurses.
“The one that I think is really important is to really look at increasing the number of nursing students we have in the pipeline, particularly second degree students. These are individuals that are highly intelligent. They already have degrees, and they can complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in a year to 16 months,” says Glasgow. “Having funds for those people, I believe, is critical.”
This month, Duquesne’s School of Nursing received a $2.5 million gift which will support scholarships for students enrolled in its second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The program is intended for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree, but are shifting their career to nursing.
Heinz History Center returns excavate ancient campsite after nearly 50 years
(15:04 - 22:30)
Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the oldest site of human habitation in North America, hosted a new archaeological excavation that was open to the public for viewing.
It was the first dig at the site in three years and was led by archaeologist James Adovasio, who led the original excavation in 1973. The artifacts found during the first excavation belonged to aboriginal inhabitants from as far back as 19,000 year ago.
“These are anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens. So, they have the full range of vocalizations and capabilities as we do, and they have the same sorts of problems, technology aside, that we have,” says Adovasio. “We're dealing with early versions of ourselves. Therefore, we should be able to identify more closely with them.”
The Heinz History Center owns the site. In addition to finding new items, archeologists worked to repair cracks forming on the rock’s surface at the site.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
