Anyone else offended by this radio commercial?

Nurses General Nursing

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There's a radio commercial for a certain school's BSN program. I get the point of the commercial, but they did it the wrong way. It's a lady talking about being a CNA, doing tasks that you don't want to think about and the best part of her day was stocking shelves. She goes on to say that she got her RN and was doing more complex tasks, like writing care plans, but that wasn't enough. Now that she's got her BSN from (insert school name), she's really doing what she loves.

I get the whole idea of the commercial, I really do, but I get so mad when I hear it. How dare the school belittle the importance of CNAs? The best part of their day isn't stocking shelves. And being an ADN isn't worthwhile? It just rubs me the wrong way and I was wondering if it bothered anyone else or if anyone has heard it.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Just like long ago, the insulting commercial that was made that said,"Ask for a nurse, a real nurse, an rn."That commercial was made by an rn nursing organization. That is how my user name came about. I am a "RealNurseAlso/LPN.

On my worst days, I have a T-shirt that I wear that reads "This is what a Real Nurse looks like". If you ever see me all pressed and made up, I haven't clocked in yet. In my case, the after photos look far worse than the before photos. There is not a workday that goes by that I don't shove a bedpan or change a diaper.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I think it's okay for a nurse to want a job that doesn't involve direct care. Such jobs do exist. They're just not typically open to new grads. BSN or not.

Most of those types of jobs are either in consulting or education. Consulting for legal firms, telephone triage, nursing education, jobs like that. By definition, those jobs require the nurse to have had extensive hands on experience.

If this school is implying that a BSN degree is a magic key for it's graduates to bypass actual patient care, then they are misleading their students.

You know, I would probably go for one of those jobs if it were not for the 5-days-a-week, desk confinement, and briefcase-totin' requirement. As soon as I find a 10-6, 3-per-week deal, I'm outta here.

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Well, I have not heard that commercial, but I find the general idea of it offensive. It's fine to say that while you enjoy your job as a CNA, you now want to get your BSN so you can expand the scope of your practice. I think it's offensive to have a radio ad that basically says something along the lines of if you are tired of your nasty CNA job, then come to us and get your BSN and you won't have to do that anymore. Everyone who works in a hospital has to do things they do not necessarily enjoy, but are part of the job. And I mean EVERYONE. You can be the chief of OB-Gyn at the fanciest hospital in America, but are still going to probably get pooed on during a delivery and the fancy pants pediatrician's credentials did not prevent my daughter from puking on her, IN HER HAIR at the office visit. I loved my CNAs in post-partum when I had my kids. They were always personable, friendly, chatty and gave me lots of much appreciated TLC. I felt like I recovered faster b/c I had someone competent who was there to take care of things that might have been considered too "minor" for others to do, but went a long way towards making me just feel better. A fresh bed, fresh gown, fresh water, and having someone comb the rats out of my tangled wet hair b/c I am too sore to do it post C-section made me feel oodles better. It just made me feel better having another mom around who understood what I was going through and was there to help out. I don't think that contribution should be discounted b/c they are "just a CNA". Just my opinion. . and oh, "oodles better" is a very technical medical term btw!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Not for non-clinical staff, not for dialysis nurses, not for those with bad backs, shoulders, other body parts who can find someone to do it for them.

I've actually floated to dialysis, and dialysis nurses still have to do some of the "yucky" stuff. One time, I had to help one of the dialysis nurses digitally remove impacted hard-as-stone stool from a very confused patient's orifice. And on that same day, I had to help clean up an incontinent patient and blood when the cannula became dislodged from a fistula. It looked like a horror scene!

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Specializes in ICU.

Gee... I haven't heard the commercial, but I should have went to that magical school where I would not have to do menial tasks, such as actually taking care of sick people! (sarcasm.)

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

I was a CNA for a year while in my BSN program and every day, while I was cleaning up enormous BMs and covering for some of the most abusive and hurtful 1:1s, I looked to the days when I was an RN and wouldn't have to deal with that. BS. I still deal with all that stuff on top of all the other issues of being a registered nurse. It's even worse when you have CNAs who don't respect you because you're a young RN, were just recently on the same level as them, and feel as though you have no authority - then you're left filling in those gaps. The radio ad was total crap and sort of demeaning to RNs.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm an RN working in home care. I wipe butts, stock supplies, make beds, dress, bathe, undress, call MDs, arrange transportation, and perform lots of other tasks.

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Gee... I haven't heard the commercial, but I should have went to that magical school where I would not have to do menial tasks, such as actually taking care of sick people! (sarcasm.)

Well, you could, but just not in nursing.....:confused:

I swear if you are watching Jerry Springer, you could be a medical assistant and wear scrubs, and that is the most respected profession out there by far! Then get in your car, be stuck in rush hour traffic on your way to your min wage job, and you, too, can be a BSN in NO time!!:sarcastic:

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I haven't heard it, but agree with what your opinion on the matter. When you are a true professional, there are certain things you do not say, in hopes to 'guard the profession'. One no-no is belittling any sector of nursing / health care publicly. CNAs, LPNs, AD RNs, RRTs, phlebotomists, PAs, and onward ALL have value to the patients. We are interconnected and need each other in order to do our own jobs efficiently and effectively. I was a CNA for YEARS and am now a Associates Degree holding RN who is now in pursuit of an advanced nursing degree. NO WAY would I publicly belittle other members of my health care team in any shape or form.

That money-grubbing school and particularly uncouth BSN RN should be ashamed. Not CNAs or ADRNs for heaven's sake!!

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I wonder, why anyone who was a CNA and thought the best part of their day was stocking shelves would go to nursing school?

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Well, you could, but just not in nursing.....:confused:

I swear if you are watching Jerry Springer, you could be a medical assistant and wear scrubs, and that is the most respected profession out there by far! Then get in your car, be stuck in rush hour traffic on your way to your min wage job, and you, too, can be a BSN in NO time!!:sarcastic:

BSN ha! If they are mini anything it is mini P.A. l I couldn't believe the things my daughter did when she worked for a Internal medicine practice as a M.A Good training but it really wasn't fair to her. She is a very bright girl and the doctor really took advantage of her. She had the technical skills for the job but wasn't prepared emotionally for it and got really burned out.

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BSN ha! If they are mini anything it is mini P.A. l I couldn't believe the things my daughter did when she worked for a Internal medicine practice as a M.A Good training but it really wasn't fair to her. She is a very bright girl and the doctor really took advantage of her. She had the technical skills for the job but wasn't prepared emotionally for it and got really burned out.

And this is precisely what these for profit schools are doing.

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