I have a daily ritual. I come home from nursing school and before I dive into my homework, I make a sandwich and watch Judge Judy. I've been watching this show for years and I like her no-nonsense style and sense of humor. I have noticed over the years that she has a bias against older adults attending college. She tends to mock them for not having an established career already, but I've overlooked this in the past and just focused on the aspects of the show that I like. Until today....
Today's episode involved a 22 year old guy who was being sued by his parents for non payment of a loan for a motorcycle as well as a loan for getting bailed out of jail for a DUI. As the story unfolds, we learn that he has also recently fathered two children. So it's being established early on that this guy isn't the most responsible of citizens. It was just another typical episode until the following interaction occurred:
Judge Judy: Are you employed?
Guy: Yes, full time. I also go to school full time.
Judge Judy: Where do you go to school?
Guy: Davenport (assume he means Iowa)
Judge Judy: For what?
Guy: Medical
Judge Judy (in an incredulous voice): You're in med school to become a doctor?!?
Guy: No, nursing.
Judge Judy: Oh, well thank God for that.
On the face of it, maybe it's not that offensive. But I really hate this attitude that nurses are just not as smart as doctors and that we chosse nursing because we aren't doctor material. I just felt that her comments meant to convey that he was far too irresponsible (and perhaps dimwitted) to be in medical school, but a perfect match for something so much less resonsible and challenging like nursing. Really chaps my hide.
Well, I'm not too offended, just a smidge. I think she just wanted to be derogatory towards the guy and jumped at any chance she got. I watch her show now and then, and it seems to me that she picks who she will side with about five seconds after the accuser and accused enter the courtroom. After that, she makes it her solemn duty to insult and pick on the person whom she dislikes. Hey, it's television, and that's her job. I understand. However, it would be nice if she would think before she speaks now and again.
I'm a big fan of Judge Judy, but I'll have to say that she definitely is the type that has a big mouth, yet can't listen to any voice but her own.
I watched her "diss" nursing 5-6 years ago. So that's nothing new:
Judge Judy: "What do you do for a living?"
Plaintiff: "I'm a nurse."
Judge Judy: "I thought you said that you were a nursing student earlier, and now you're telling me that you're an actual nurse. Sounds like baloney to me."
Plaintiff: "Your honor, I am a nurse with an asssociates degree. I went back to school for my bachelors degree at the time in question, so yes, I was a student at the time."
Judge Judy: "So how much do you make as a nurse?"
Plaintiff: "$68,000 per year." (This woman lived somewhere in CA during 1999-2000 or so.)
Judge Judy: "So you're trying to tell me that a new nurse fresh out of school makes that kind of money? You've got to be kidding if you think that I'll believe that."
Plaintiff: "Your honor, I've been a nurse for many years, I've been trying to tell you that I went back to school to get my bachelors and that's when I was a student during the time in question...."
Judge Judy: (interrupts) "Oh you're a liar! First you tell me that you're a student nurse, then you try to tell me that you're an actual nurse, and those, madam, are two different things. You're a liar, trying to tell me two different stories."
Wow! She sounds like an angry child who is about to be shown that they're wrong, so she reacts in an angry manner in order to distract people from her previous act of ignorance. Well, it happens to everyone once in a while I suppose. :uhoh21:
I kind of took it as a sarcastic comment. I don't think she was relieve that this person was going to nursing school instead of med school. Kind if a sarcastic way of saying "oh, even better" that a person like that was going to be in healthcare.
I'm a big fan of Judge Judy, but I'll have to say that she definitely is the type that has a big mouth, yet can't listen to any voice but her own.
I watched her "diss" nursing 5-6 years ago. So that's nothing new:
Judge Judy: "What do you do for a living?"
Plaintiff: "I'm a nurse."
Judge Judy: "I thought you said that you were a nursing student earlier, and now you're telling me that you're an actual nurse. Sounds like baloney to me."
Plaintiff: "Your honor, I am a nurse with an asssociates degree. I went back to school for my bachelors degree at the time in question, so yes, I was a student at the time."
Judge Judy: "So how much do you make as a nurse?"
Plaintiff: "$68,000 per year." (This woman lived somewhere in CA during 1999-2000 or so.)
Judge Judy: "So you're trying to tell me that a new nurse fresh out of school makes that kind of money? You've got to be kidding if you think that I'll believe that."
Plaintiff: "Your honor, I've been a nurse for many years, I've been trying to tell you that I went back to school to get my bachelors and that's when I was a student during the time in question...."
Judge Judy: (interrupts) "Oh you're a liar! First you tell me that you're a student nurse, then you try to tell me that you're an actual nurse, and those, madam, are two different things. You're a liar, trying to tell me two different stories."
Some people call themselves nurses and are not.
license calling yourself a
The judge may not be aware of the different RN programs out there; but she knows that in order to be a RN (LPN,LVN) one needs a license.
That is exactly the reason I stopped watching her a year ago. It stopped being entertaining. I found myself getting so mad I would get a headache. I believe in tough love, but it seems that's all she knows.
( And that dude should have said 'nursing' instead of 'medical.)
:yeahthat:
There was a guy on Judge Judy a few years back. He, too, was not the most responsible person on the face of the earth. He didn't pay back a loan and stated that he was very busy with "medical school." My mom and I were watching this and our jaws dropped simultaneously - this guy could not possibly be in medical school. Judge Judy didn't believe it either and probed a little further. He was in school to be an X-ray technician.
I guess he stated that he was in medical school to try to make himself look more important. This was his big moment on TV after all... :)
BTW, this is not meant to be a slam against X-ray techs...
I like Marilyn Milian better. She's a little more sympathetic to mankind, unless you don't deserve it in her eyes. She's really a big fan of children's issues and comes down hard on moms who move in with their bf after 3 days of knowing them. Oh, she's on "The People's Court." She's got a great sense of humor, too.
I'm in the process of reading "Nursing Against the Odds", I find I'm extra sensitive these days to slights against nurses. I may have been reading too much into JJ's typical sarcastic comment. That book will sure put a unique perspective on our profession. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in nursing.
With that said, I am still bothered by the underlying attitude that it's a relief that this dimwit wasn't going to be inflicted on the general public in the capacity of a doctor, but it's par for the course for some dimwit to be a nurse. GRRRRR. I even wrote her a little letter and submitted it on her website. Not that she'll ever read it, not that it will even probably get read at all, but it sure made me feel better! :roll
From what you wrote, I can't tell if JJ was disrespectful or if she was glad someone was becoming a nurse and would be helping to alleviate the shortage. Was there more to what she said? I would like to hear it before I jump on the bandwagon.
BTW, she is a very real judge, with all the very real powers of a judge. Her decrees stand.
I think some of you are reading too much into her comment about
Guy: No, nursing.
Judge Judy: Oh, well thank God for that.
I did not think she meant nurses are not smart. Judge Judy is a reality tv show, so her comments may not reflect her belief. It is just like watching a comedy sometimes. If we are confidence about ourselves, it does not matter about negative comments.
Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP
477 Posts
Well, I'm not too offended, just a smidge. I think she just wanted to be derogatory towards the guy and jumped at any chance she got. I watch her show now and then, and it seems to me that she picks who she will side with about five seconds after the accuser and accused enter the courtroom. After that, she makes it her solemn duty to insult and pick on the person whom she dislikes. Hey, it's television, and that's her job. I understand. However, it would be nice if she would think before she speaks now and again.