Sometimes it takes an insult to remind us just how important our profession is. As many of you may know, a recent episode of the TV show "The View" included a segment in which the hosts mocked a nurse, Kelly Johnson, who was competing in the Miss America pageant. She wore her scrubs and had a stethoscope around her neck. Johnson had prepared a monologue about being a nurse and how one of her patients taught her that she was more than "just a nurse." One of the hosts wondered why she had a "doctor's stethoscope" and another asked why she was wearing a costume. Well, ladies, nurses use stethoscopes every workday, and scrubs are not a costume, but work clothes.
Such ignorance of a nurse's role is exasperating, but perhaps not surprising. The media rarely depict nurses realistically, and stereotypes about nurses (the physicians' handmaiden, the "sexy nurse," and so on) persist. What each one of us knows, and should be proud of, is that nurses are highly educated, licensed, certified, independent health care practitioners who care for others with skill and compassion. Our profession is shown to be the most ethical, honest, and trusted, year after year.1 And, for that reason, experience shows that most of us are, at some time, approached for advice or care by family members, friends, and coworkers.
You can count on nurses to be on the front lines when tragedy strikes. Whenever there's a disaster, such as an epidemic, earthquake, or hurricane, nurses get right to work. We are responsible for the physical and psychological well-being of our patients and their families. We are decision makers, teachers, advocates, entrepreneurs, and equal partners on health care teams. Currently there are about 3 million nurses in the United States, women and men,2 who work at hospitals, in clinics, in classrooms, and in industry. We work daily in high-tech environments while balancing the "high-touch" needs of our patients.
Although I found the comments on "The View" disheartening, the incident certainly helped raise awareness of the work we do and its professional nature. But we need to continue to educate the public about our work. There are simple things you can do to make a difference. Write letters to your media outlets when you see nursing stereotypes perpetuated. (Thousands of people expressed their displeasure to ABC-TV, home of "The View." A number of sponsors even pulled their advertising from the show to demonstrate their solidarity with nurses.) Consider writing an op-ed for your local newspaper. Write a blog about your nursing experiences. "The Truth about Nursing" Web site lists a number of activities that you can participate in to promote a positive view of the nursing profession.3
I realize I'm preaching to the choir. I'm pretty sure each of you has, at one time or another, been on the receiving end of a rude or ignorant comment about nursing. But we have to put a stop to those antiquated beliefs about our profession. We are proud of our work, so let's continue to use our voices to let the public know how important nursing is for a healthy nation.
Mary Alexander
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