[NRSKarenRN]

From The Center for Nursing Advocacy, Inc.

News on Nursing in the Media

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Strangeways, Here We Come: University of Alberta medical students have something important to say about nurses--especially their breasts!


July 8, 2005 -- The Edmonton Journal published a fair piece by Jodie Sinnema on May 19 about the recent controversy surrounding the lyrics of a "Nurses' Song" performed by University of Alberta medical students at their annual "Medshow." It seems that nursing professors, the university provost, and even the medical school dean found something objectionable about the song's assertions that nurses were "wh*res" and "b*tches" whose "incompetence" threatened to "make our patients die." But at least the medical students felt nurses were qualified to "fill up my coffeepot" and "give good head," and the refrain urged nurses to "show me those boobs." The song seems to reflect virulent misogyny, ignorance of nursing, and professional insecurity, a perfect storm of dysfunction that persists in many clinical settings, harming patients and contributing to nursing burnout and the global nursing shortage. To the extent the song and the medical students' apparent non-apology are indicators of their career trajectory, it's bad news for patients and colleagues. But the students' conduct does suggest that the business outlook may be good for local malpractice and personal injury lawyers--and possibly even those who work in the criminal justice system!

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[fergus51]

I'm shocked.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Disgusting!

[NRSKarenRN]

Medshow is about parody, fun N jeers and is a fundraise per the news article.....someone got carried away big time.

I think sending the med students to a weeks worth of ride along with a homecare RN or 3 12 hour shifts on a rehab floor would be just amends.

[Marie_LPN]

Fundraising at the expense of nurses. It's only ok as long as someone permitted them to do it.

(I read about this incident occurance at another website)

[mattsmom81]

Totally disgusting. Who is supervising these events??? I sent my letter and hope ya'll did too.

[markjrn]

Well, I wrote a letter. It pretty much rendered me speechless. I was thinking or relocating there, but that ain't going to happen now. I don't care if it was supposed to be comical. I'd rather have one of my patients beat the crap out of me - it hurts less.

[Judee Smudee]

In the US about 50% of med students are women. Where do the future doctors who happen to be female stand in all this?

[markjrn]

Originally Posted by Judee Smudee

In the US about 50% of med students are women. Where do the future doctors who happen to be female stand in all this?

I was wondering the same thing.

I wonder how these students will feel about seeing my "boobs"?

[Marie_LPN]

Sent a letter via another organization, not NA.