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!
I understand that 60% of the medical class involved is female, and females were involved in the singing of the song. The med students also defend their actions by stating that the song about doctors was just as bad (claims of dropping babies, etc). Still, there was no tact in in this and I'm very surprised that ANYONE would attempt to sing these lyrics in public.
I'm not at all shocked that something like this happened. Things like this make me seriously question my career choice, as I do not want to be subjected to this kind of disrespect. Nurses do not recieve enough credit for their education and intellect.
I actually read the article that was written about this event. Somebody posted (on the news website) that nurses are just a hypersensitive special interest group and that this was only a joke. :angryfire A joke? Even some of the most regressive, sexist men I know would think this was crossing the line.
This is exactly the kind of behavior that alienates nurses and drives the nursing shortage! If everyone (besides nurses) is so deeply concerned about the global nursing shortage, why is this kind of thing still tolerated? This "concern" is ultimately a bunch of lipservice!
If this song were directed towards a racial or religious group, it would be prosecutable!!!
These students only pulled this stunt because they knew they could get away with it. As far as I know, there will be no far-reaching consequences for those involved. (i.e., something going on their academic permanent records, which sounds reasonable if you ask me!) Of course, this only tells future students that while some people may get upset, this type of behavior is really okay, and that they may freely engage in it without worrying about any major consequences.
By the way, the fact that the Dean of Medicine refuses to discipline these students in any meaningful way speaks volumes about him AND the university.
I guess we can thank Arnie the Guvernator for dubbing nurses a 'special interest group'.
The idea that the female student docs took part in this just makes me want to vomit.
I would love to see women's groups picketing this college....any feminists up in those parts up to organizing this?? I might even fly up to take part....
I guess we can thank Arnie the Guvernator for dubbing nurses a 'special interest group'.
The idea that the female student docs took part in this just makes me want to vomit.
I would love to see women's groups picketing this college....any feminists up in those parts up to organizing this?? I might even fly up to take part....
From a Canadian perspective, a little east of Alberta, this issue seems to be meeting with mostly apathy. It bugs me that the RN's that I work with are more concerned about their coffee breaks.
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These students only pulled this stunt because they knew they could get away with it. As far as I know, there will be no far-reaching consequences for those involved. (i.e., something going on their academic permanent records, which sounds reasonable if you ask me!) Of course, this only tells future students that while some people may get upset, this type of behavior is really okay, and that they may freely engage in it without worrying about any major consequences.
By the way, the fact that the Dean of Medicine refuses to discipline these students in any meaningful way speaks volumes about him AND the university.
and there you have it; the crux of a huge problem with the lack of respect for nurses everywhere.
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
Never have gotten one back.