Saturday, September 19, 2015

Flo is shaking her head #nursesunite


Welcome to That Time of the Month, the monthly link up that I cohost with Holly at HoHo Runs! The purpose of the link up is for all of us normally positive minded bloggers to have a place to let it all out...clear the air...say what needs to be said...and then we can move on. You can find the rules here, and all we ask is that you link back to the hosts and comment on some of the other posts!

And thanks to The View for giving me a topic I can sink my bandage scissors into. I stopped watching this piece of garbage way back when they had Elizabeth Hasselbeck on the show. Ignorant and ill-informed, I couldn't listen to her blather on about nonsense. I don't know how Whoopi could sit there without giving her a can of Whoop-Ass...

Anyways, if you haven't heard, at the past week's Miss America pageant, contestant Miss Colorado performed a monologue for the talent competition. She wore scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck and talked about being a nurse. It was a proud moment for nurses around the country.


The next day on The View, co-hosts and so-called comedians Michelle Collins and Joy Behar took the opportunity to make fun of her.



Now, no matter what you think about using the talent portion of the Miss America pageant as a platform to talk about being a nurse--is nursing a talent?--the ladies of the View were completely out of line with their comments. Especially Joy Behar, who called the scrubs worn by Miss Colorado a "costume" and asked why Miss Colorado was "wearing a doctor's stethoscope" around her neck. Behar has since apologized, but the damage is done. Open mouth, insert foot, and you don't mess with nurses. When will she learn?

First, let's clarify:

This, Joy, is a costume. And a subject for another blog post.
This, Joy, is a uniform. Not a costume.


Now let me tell you what I'd like to do to Joy Behar with my stethoscope. Not that she cares...what is it that they say? Bad publicity is better than no publicity? Or something like that.



Ok then, instead, let me explain a little bit about my role in nursing.

For your information, Joy, I am a nurse practitioner. I have a master's degree in nursing with a post-master's certificate as a pediatric nurse practitioner. I assess, diagnose, and treat babies, children, and young adults up to the age of 21. I work in a large teaching clinic with 11 physicians, residents, and medical students. There is one other nurse practitioner that I work with. I also train nurse practitioner students.  Most days I see 20-30 patients for well-child exams as well as sick visits. We have full responsibility for all the patients we see. And I see all the same types of patients as my physician partners. I have my own license. I make my own decisions regarding patient management. No doctor's stethoscope needed. I actually have my own. Actually, I have 2 stethoscopes--one for babies and one for big kids.

Sometimes I get push back from parents who don't understand my role. They ask me when the doctor is coming in to see their child. I patiently explain about my education and my experience. Usually after the visit, any doubt they might have about seeing an NP is erased from their minds. I was the first NP in my clinic, and after 3 1/2 years, 99% of the patients that I see "get it". I receive new patient referrals from other patients that I see. I also see a lot of the office staff's children. The feedback I receive from my patients overall is that the "nurses always seem to know more than the doctors anyways". While this isn't necessarily true, this tells me that the general public has a very positive image of nurses. I like to think that I bring my expertise and experience as a nurse to the medical management model. Seems like the perfect combination to me!

I was a nurse for about 20 years before I became a nurse practitioner. I practiced in a variety of settings, and yes, I used my own stethoscope. While I didn't diagnose and treat patients like I do now as a NP, I provided assessment information to the physicians to help them make their treatment plans. I worked as part of a team, not as a doctor's handmaiden or assistant. The physicians I have worked with over the years trusted my judgment and knew the value of nurses.


Clearly, Joy, you don't get it.  Joy, I hope you never get sick. But even if you do, know that in spite of what you said on the View, you will receive excellent care from any nurse who crosses your path. Because that's what we do. Even if you are an asshole.

Sure, she apologized. But was she genuine? And what is up with making fun of nurses? 






20 comments :

  1. Honestly I don't know what keeps that vapid show on. It's been awful forever.

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    1. Isn't that the truth? But hey they got ALL this publicity now, while throwing nurses under the bus.

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  2. I love to see people defending their profession ! Go girl ! NPs are a very important part of the medical community, thanks for the reminder on specifics of the profession. Have a great weekend.

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  3. Nurses have the hardest job! I mean, seriously, care taking - although that's not what you really do - it's hard! And then often dealing with distraught loved ones. You have to be special to want to do that.

    And for most of my life I've actually preferred nurse practioners. You guys usually actually listen to us!

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    1. All the nurses I know (and I know a lot of them) are worthy of respect. Any physician worth his salt knows that!

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  4. I love to hate The View! I DVR it every day... even when little Elisabeth was on because I loved seeing Joy and Whoopi put her in her place. I am really glad Joy is back because she and I have similar political thoughts and she is NOT afraid to say them. That being said, she definitely effed up when they were razzing the Miss America contestant. I don't think anyone can defend her comments but I think something good that can come out of this is that we are talking about it and some stereotypes about nurses can be knocked down.

    A lot of people don't realize how educated nurses are. And if you have never needed hospital care, you may not know just exactly how hard they work. Nurses and doctors have saved my husband's life twice in the ER. I will never, ever, EVER forgot those two nurses that were with me during those two occasions which were hands down the worst nights of our lives. I could never do it. I mean, usually being in the hospital is not a good thing, so they have to deal with people who are dealing with really tragic stuff. How can they go home and just go about their days after a work shift? Can't imagine. It's one of those jobs were we have to be thankful that there are people in the world that actually WANT to do it and are good at it.

    I watched The View Friday while I was doing my puzzle and they dedicated the whole show to nurses. Joy and Michelle gave more thoughtful apologies. Would they have done this if there wasn't backlash? Nope. Because I think they thought the comments they made were just flippant jokes during the hot topics segment. But I think this backlash was an eye opener for them because sure they are comedians and they are allowed to joke about whatever they want, BUT those jokes have consequences!

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    1. Nursing suffers from an identity crisis anyways (see that sexy nurse costume to know what I mean) and that just didn't help at all! I'm glad they apologized and all but next time think before you take down a whole profession!

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  5. I don't like The View, or really any of those talk shows. I thought Miss Colorado's monologue was beautiful. I got all misty-eyed just now! Why does everyone feel the need to take other people down anyway? Any why do we as a society tolerate it as acceptable social interaction or even television? You should be proud and your profession and your education, my friend. I love this group of running women who lift each other up and instead of taking each other out!

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    1. Right there with you Holly! So tired of these so called celebrities making fun of everything!

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  6. Another great post, Wendy! I have SO much respect and admiration for nurses (and teachers) because they do their jobs out of passion, not necessarily income potential (although I know some are actually getting paid better now than in the past). Granted a lot of us work jobs that are stressful, with crazy hours, and not enough time in our shifts to get everything done....but throw in the life-and-death diagnoses healthcare professionals ALSO have on a daily basis and you guys are rock stars. You have an infinite level of toughness (and enormous love) the rest of us cannot comprehend. Thanks for all you do ;-)

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  7. I don't watch the View and would probably rather go get a root canal than be subjected to that. However, it didn't take long for me to hear about this idiocy through social media. Seriously, why would they make fun of someone for trying to do something intelligent during the "talent" portion of a pageant that still rewards female behaviors suggesting we are just decorations to amuse people with singing or playing instruments. Wendy - I fully admire your profession!

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  8. That show is the most ridiculous venue for a bunch of opinionated women to sit around a say what ever pops into their heads with no filter. Don't get why anyone would watch it. You and your fellow nurse colleagues have a very tough and I am sure often times thankless job. Thank you for all that you do everyday to help families in their hardest times.

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    1. You hit the nail on the head. No filter. Say what you want but think before you open you mouth...

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  9. Don't watch the view period. Doesn't surprise me at all what they did or said. I hate it happened but it shed light on wonder people that deserve a big pat on the back. This week along I have seen so many posts thanking the nurses all over. So with something bad also something good came out of it.

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    1. So much good came out of this...nurses really united and hit back at her. I hope the show goes down after this, but I doubt it. There seems to be a never-ending appetite for idiocy...

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  10. Well said!As I nurse I found the comments made were completely disrespectful to the entire profession. Nurses are generally portrayed in media in a negative way way ( see sexy nurses outfit above). I actually wrote an entire paper on the portrayal of nurses in media. I hope that the controversy that has come from this will raise awareness to the public in what it is we actually do and that our profession deserves respect just like any other.

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    1. I bet your paper was great! Nurses on TV are nothing like nurses in real life.

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