Honest opinions from nurses please

The Newspaper I write for is having a bit of a problem with an image they are using just as an Icon on what is called the "Nurse Talk" section. I will post a link check the picture of Betty Boop there and please give your opinions/feeling on the subject of this Icon being degrading to nurses, and if you feel it is inappropriate to use?

This was the only picture I could find online the caption Bottoms up does not appear on the newspaper and it is not a coffee cup.

http://us.st5.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/allheart_1799_8945699

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

On a t-shirt, fine, but it would irk me tremendously in the context of a newspaper column that is supposed to represent nursing.

[CCU NRS]

On a t-shirt, fine, but it would irk me tremendously in the context of a newspaper column that is supposed to represent nursing.

I think women are having a much bigger problem with this than men. Any guys out there want to let me know what you think. My personal opinion is that it is a harmless little Icon. The paper is sent to nurses via snail mail and available in hospitals and other places where nurses work. The "Nurse Talk" is usually just a question asking for nurses opinions and they put like four nurses pictures with their reply. A question much like this one.

[mtnaire]

Actually, as a male nursing student, I couldn't agree more with Nurse Ratched. While it's one thing to place this image on personal effects which are selectively worn or displayed, it's another thing to allow an image like this to represent a bulletin that addresses the entire nursing community. This excludes male nurses and only perpetuates the stigma that nursing is a "women's profession," something I hope resolves itself as more men enter the field and images such as this are replaced by those representing both sexes, as professionals. Just my two cents.

[CCU NRS]

Actually, as a male nursing student, I couldn't agree more with Nurse Ratched. While it's one thing to place this image on personal effects which are selectively worn or displayed, it's another thing to allow an image like this to represent a bulletin that addresses the entire nursing community. This excludes male nurses and only perpetuates the stigma that nursing is a "women's profession," something I hope resolves itself as more men enter the field and images such as this are replaced by those representing both sexes, as professionals. Just my two cents.

Very well written and very astute. I never really saw that point of view. What most of the complaints recieved have been are along the lines of this makes nurses look promiscuous, slutty, the short skirt is demeaning etc. to me those things seemed a little ridiculous to assume that a Betty Boop Icon could make people think nurses were all of these things just because it was on a weekly column.

I did write a letter to the editor asking how female nurses would feel if the Icon changed to a picture of a male nurse? How would they feel? Would they feel that a male represented nursing?

[mitchsmom]

Betty Boop is a sexual icon. It is not appropriate for a professional publication.

[All_Smiles_RN]

Here's a bunch of medical icons. There's at least 5 nursing specific ones: http://www.wtv-zone.com/nurse/medgifs.html

...Jennifer...

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

As long as there is a picture beside of Betty Boop of some male stud wearing the nursing cap and Speedo-style underwear, with the red cross on it, and with nothing else on, then i'm all for it.

(I agree with Nurse Ratched)

[Katnip, RN]

Why not try to find or create an icon with both a female and male nurse? Both in scrubs. It would be neutral and a lot less inflammatory.

[Truly_Blessed]

I do have a Betty Boop keychain that says Love a nurse....but it's just a keychain that I personally choose to have because I love Betty Boop. It's not so great in a newspaper. It Gives people the wrong idea. See, like I just showed my male friend the pic in the link you provided and his response was, "mmmm, naughty nurses" Needless to say he is a horses a$$. Nursing is a serious profession with both males and females in the ranks, and they deserve respect. Like everone else said....another icon that represents that might be better suited for the "nurse talk" section.

[CCU NRS]

Here's a bunch of medical icons. There's at least 5 nursing specific ones: http://www.wtv-zone.com/nurse/medgifs.html

...Jennifer...

Do you realize the link you provided has betty Boop as well?

[jschut, BSN, RN]

The website provided may have also shown Betty Boop, but there are many other icons to choose from.

I like Betty Boop, but I don't want my profession to be related with the Betty Boop image.

Maybe we could choose another icon to represent a nurses forum?