DAVID LETTERMANS' SHOW

Robin61970 · May 4, 2001

I am so amazed,lol. Something actually happened, woo hoo!!!

nurs4kids · May 4, 2001

As much as I appreciate the publicity for nurses in general, Tina is not a "nurse"..see below a quote taken from the website:

Tina Wesson currently works as a private duty C.N.A. nurse while also working as a full-time mom. Formerly, she worked as a community education director, flight attendant, substitute teacher and a swimming instructor. Wesson obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Tennessee in 1983.

-jt · May 4, 2001

that was nice of him but too bad Tina - a person who is not & never has been a nurse - has become nursings poster child. Shes a fitness trainer who works as a private duty aide. CBS branded her a "nurse" & she let them........

February 2001,

ANA Chastizes 'Survivor' Producers for Misuse of Nurse Title

After receiving numerous complaints from nurses in recent weeks, ANA has written to the producers of the CBS reality show "Survivor" to correct them on their use of the title "nurse" when referring to certified nursing assistant (CNA) Tina Wesson, who is a member of the cast.

February 9, 2001

Dear "Survivor 2" producers,

It has been brought to the attention of the American Nurses Association (ANA) that your television show is portraying "survivor" Tina Wesson as a "nurse," when in reality she is a "certified nursing assistant" (C.N.A.).

To be more specific, Ms. Wesson's biography on your Web page reads that she is a "private-duty C.N.A nurse." This reference is incorrect; the title "nurse" is a legally protected title and should not be used in reference to a CNA.

As you may know, nurses already face an uphill battle in public recognition, with patients and their families often not being able to distinguish between caregivers in hospitals and other health-care settings. For that reason, ANA strives to emphasize the educational differences between a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a CNA, and to get as much positive, accurate coverage of nurses and the nursing profession as possible.

The other reason ANA strives to publicize the distinction between RNs, LPNs, and CNAs has to do with the national nursing shortage, which was caused in part by hospital cutbacks in the early 1990s. During that time frame, many hospitals laid off RNs and LPNs, and replaced them with less expensive, lesser-trained CNAs. This, in turn, led to the public being misinformed as to the lower level of skilled care they were receiving.

Another cause of the national nursing shortage has been the nursing environment itself. Faced with poor working conditions and a lack of respect from management, many RNs and LPNs have either chosen to work part time or have left the profession entirely, another factor that has caused an increase of CNAs in the hospital staffing mix (and again with little knowledge on the part of the general public).

While ANA does not have the time nor the resources to set the record straight concerning every bad or inaccurate media portrayal of the nursing profession, we do listen to our members. And when they start writing or calling us, as they have with the misleading title featured in "Survivor 2," we take action. That is why I am writing to you today, to ask that you delete the term "nurse" from your "Survivor 2" promotional materials and on-air references, and, in the future, simply refer to Ms. Wesson as either a "CNA" or a "nursing assistant."

If you have any questions, you may contact me at 202-651-7038. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response and your action.

Sincerely,

Cindy Price

Senior Public Relations Specialist

American Nurses Association

Individual nurses are encouraged to voice their opinions, as well. To do so, please click on the Feedback link at the bottom of the CBS Survivor Web site. http://survivor.cbs.com/primetime/survivor2/

NurseNelly · May 4, 2001

I have watched the "Survivor" show and I thought Tina (nurse) was a RN or LPN. When she won, I yelled to my husband, "Nurses rule!" But now you say she is a CNA. If so, then CNA's rule! She seemed to be a great person. (Of course, I was partial being from Tennessee and a nurse). CNA's may not have all the crappy education we rn's or lpn's have but they really do the hard, physical, hands on work these days.

natalie · May 4, 2001

hmmmmm. I like it, I like it. Maybe we can play Letterman against Leno. They're competitors for late night TV. Any slip of the tongue from Leno re: nurses and we'll let Dave know about the insult. All's fair in war.

natalie · May 4, 2001

She won. Hey, let's just call her "nurse material."

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/bpihw/20010503/en/wesson_named_final_survivor__1.html

-jt · May 4, 2001

Tina Wesson currently works as a private duty C.N.A. nurse ...>

heres another that describes what that is - from the Washington Post:

Private certified nursing assistants, or "sitters," as they are often called, are being used more and more to supplement nursing care, Trafford writes, "to tend to the more personal needs of patients, and provide some of the TLC services of yesteryear." http://www.ana.org/news/nws01_01.htm

grnvillechick · May 6, 2001

wow..I am so bummed Tina is not an official nurse...but hey, CNA's will have something to be proud about....either way, Letterman loves us...and I still say " Nurses Rule!!!