BPI Poster---I need help

[Tanya in NY]

I have the unique opportunity for Nurse's Week in May to make a poster featuring the topic of BPI for our hospital lobby. One of the Nursing Educators asked me to do this (I am a labor/delivery nurse with a ROBPI daughter).

What I would like to hear from all of you (if willing) is this...

what are the most important items YOU would love to see on this poster if you were a person not aware of this injury and saw it in the lobby of a hospital?

There is of course limited space, but I feel that I could do a better job if I had great input from all of the wonderful individuals who have provided me with information over the past 2 years!

Please let me know either on the forum or you may email me directly. I need to get the ball rolling as Nurse's Week is in the second week of May!

Thanks a bunch.

Tanya in NY

[admin]

Tanya,
This is a wonderful opportunity for you. If I were going to read it not knowing what a BPI was I would want a definition first. Include a list of risk factors and putting photos on the poster will bring more attention to the public walking by. Make it colorful too. Let us know how it goes. If you can, take a snapshot of it and then maybe you can show us. Good luck.
~Krista~

[admin]

I would put the risk factors first, with a large DO YOU...or ARE YOU... so that people will first relate, and then hear possible consequences. I think everyone has the "it will never happen to me syndrome" so if they just see the name of an injury they've never heard of, they will dismiss it and keep on walking. However, if you relate to them right of the bat, they are more likely to read the entire poster. I agree with the picture idea. I hate to say this, but the worst one you can find. Like a "look at me" picture where the child can only raise one arm over their head, or a graphic after surgery picture. Something to scare the heck out of people reading it. I think people only really focus in on 1-2 things in a normal advertisement 1-does this relate to me & 2-what are the consequences. I think the more you can drive those messages home the better.

Good luck to you! I would love to have an oppourtunity like that! How GREAT!!
Lauren

[cherie_hohertz]

I agree with Krista. Pictures, Pictures, Pictures! People are always willing to look at pictures of kids, so put some up!

I also think detailed explanations in layman's terms about what BPIs are, how they happen, risk factors, and outcomes.

Let us know how it goes!

Cherie

[admin]

Maybe something like - "Be sure to talk to your doctor about BPI." I knew my baby was measuring big (and I'm very little), and my doctor briefly mentioned that we might discuss c-section at some point, but then my baby came a month early! If I had known about BPI, there would have been no question! This is great that you are doing this! Thanks for all of us and the babies you will (unknowingly) protect. Hmmmm....maybe we should all just start putting awareness posters up in hospitals (even if they don't ask us to!).

[Kath]

Tanya
Thanks for taking this opportunity.
Perhaps a few questions might be eye catching.
Of course, I would have a photo of a pregnant woman asking them.

Did you speak to your doctor about Shoulder Dystocia?
Do you know the risk factors?
Do you know what can happen to your baby?
Do you know that brachial plexus injury can mean a lifetime of treatment and its not just an arm?
Did you ask your doctor what his/her plans are for you should they encounter SD during delivery?
Do you know what you should or should not do in case of shoulder dystocia?

Of course one picture is worth a thousand words but people tend to shy away from some of the more graphic ones. I know I do and I am OBPI....

Many people do not realize that this is a cradle to grave injury and it will require a lifetime of compensation and PT... and the aging process becomes more complicated due to OBPI.

Kath

[claudia]

Tanya:
I think an important part of this would be: to get off your back to birth.

And the risk factors.

claudia

[CyndiAnn]

Tanya -
What a great opportunity for promoting awareness! I agree with Kath about the "Birth to Grave" aspect. Being an older ROBPI, I'd suggest a series of photographs. Such as: 1) a young child trying to play with a toy; 2) an older child trying to swing a baseball bat or golf club, or struggling with a school bag; 3) an adult trying to type or do a job which requires manual dexterity: 4) and finally, an older person with his/her OBPI arm showing obvious discomfort, while the so-called "good arm" is hurting from overuse. None of the pictures have to be particularly graphic, just enough to get the "Lifelong Stages of OBPI" across.
I would love to see what you come up with!
Good Luck!
Cyndi

[admin]

I think you should do a picture of a mom, holding her obviously injured child, with a big quote from the mom above their picture, saying something like, "Both my son's arms were perfect -- until his delivery." or "I wish someone had warned me about BPI" or something like that. Or just a picture of an injured baby, saying above his head, "Both his arms were perfect -- until his delivery." Then a subhed underneath: "What every expectant mother needs to know about BPI."

One compelling picture with one compelling quote would be a great attention-grabber. Then you can list risk factors and other info. I wouldn't overdo on risk factors, though, as this can happen to ANY mom. I think every mom should be aware!

So glad you are doing this! THANK YOU.

[njbirk]

GReat ideas from everyone and what a wonderful opportunity.

Do you want me to send you some extra issues of Outreach? Esp. the one with your protocol in it?

Nancy Birk
UBPN President