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.
By the time your own parents have to take you to court you've pretty much hit bottom & stayed there awhile! Non repayment of loans; DUI; unprotected sex --and those are just the undesirable behaviors that were brought out in a single 15 minute portion of a TV show. So how did Mr Wonderful get into Nursing school anyway?? Says a lot for how low the standards for nursing school have dropped. That's the part that freaks me out. No wonder people don't have a beter opinion of nurses. It only takes one high profile scoundrel to make us all look bad.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I saw the episode the OP is talking about. I, too, watch Judge Judy daily. I call it my dose of seeing my mom again! My mother was just like her. Let us not forget that this is a TV program that #1 Entertains and the #2 thing it does is teach us about the law. Probably the #3 thing about it is Judge Judy's personal one which is to embarass those who have behaved wrongly and stupidly. I don't think her comment was meant to belittle nurses or people who have returned to school in general. Read her books. She's indulged her own kids and gotten bitten in the bum in return so she's not totally blind to how dumb people can be, her included. She saw terrible people abusing the legal system while others were struggling to keep their head above water and still follow all the rules. You'll see her acting more compassionately toward some people who appear before her when she knows that information. But, when she's got someone who cheats and tries to use others--look out! She has always been a big advocate of people getting an education. I admire the way she fires questions at defendents and is able to trap them in lies. It's absolute genius! You can't deny that. I think what irks people is that she knows it and flaunts it with statements like, "on your best day you're not as smart as me."
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Can't help it, I love happen love JJ. I loved her books, too. Is this a slight? You decide. If so, write the syndicate that carries her show in your market and tell them so....and write JJ too.
I've earned a BA and was half way thru a Master's degree before I decided to pursue my real passion for nursing, and now that I am, I've never worked so hard in school and learned so much like I do now.
I have ran into those comments where people think Nurses are dumb, the other day I was over my friend's house and she is also going to pursue nursing, her 2 yr. old daughter was playing with a stethescope and I said "oh look - Samantha wants to be a nurse" and she immediately snapped back and said - oh no - she's not going to be a nurse...SHE'S GOING TO BE A DOCTOR...
I don't have kids yet, but i really hope that when i do, i don't want to live through my kids by making these comments....
I saw the episode the OP is talking about. I, too, watch Judge Judy daily. I call it my dose of seeing my mom again! My mother was just like her. Let us not forget that this is a TV program that #1 Entertains and the #2 thing it does is teach us about the law. Probably the #3 thing about it is Judge Judy's personal one which is to embarass those who have behaved wrongly and stupidly. I don't think her comment was meant to belittle nurses or people who have returned to school in general. Read her books. She's indulged her own kids and gotten bitten in the bum in return so she's not totally blind to how dumb people can be, her included. She saw terrible people abusing the legal system while others were struggling to keep their head above water and still follow all the rules. You'll see her acting more compassionately toward some people who appear before her when she knows that information. But, when she's got someone who cheats and tries to use others--look out! She has always been a big advocate of people getting an education. I admire the way she fires questions at defendents and is able to trap them in lies. It's absolute genius! You can't deny that. I think what irks people is that she knows it and flaunts it with statements like, "on your best day you're not as smart as me."
Problem is that even she is not as smart as she seems to think she is. She matches what people say to the truth as it exists in her head. Case in point is the RN/BSN student scenario. She was clearly too full of herself to consider that she may not know everything about everything as we all know it is 100% possible and likely that a person could have been a BSN student yet have years of nursing experience. Sometimes she is just as good at showing her own stupidity as she is at showing that of others. BUT, would you think that she would stand for someone rudely and sarcastically pointing out to everyone just how uninformed she really is?
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.
It would appear that she thought that this person was a total loser - therefore good enough for nursing, but THANK GOD he won't be a DOCTOR!!!! I don't think she really gives a rip about the "shortage".
BTW, for all we know, this person could be in a CNA program and calling it "nursing school".
It would appear that she thought that this person was a total loser. I don't think she gives a rip about the "shortage".
BTW, for all we know, this person could be in a CNA program and calling it "nursing school".
That was my take on it as well. I think he was trying (unsucessfully) to elevate the status of whatever his educational pursuits were. If he said "medical" he meant nursing, so if he said "nursing", I suspect CNA or LPN. Both which are valuable jobs that don't need to be elevated in order to deserve respect.
BTW, for all we know, this person could be in a CNA program and calling it "nursing school".
I've actually seen this before one Judge Judy... a CNA stating that she's a nurse. You know how they show the person's occupation at the bottom of the screen? It will say "Sam Blow, Certified Nursing Assistant" while during testitmony the person will say that they are a "nurse" - not "certified Nurse Assistant" or "nurse's aide." I don't think that JJ is bright enough to know that there's a difference.
No disrespect intended toward CNA's... I am one. :)
Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.
Judge Judy probably steps on toes of all professions. She is very open with her opinions and her lack of tolerance for stupidity. Her comments are directed at the people in her courtroom not the general public. To be tolerated by all at all times would mean you would have to be all GODS. Judge Judy is human like all the rest of us.
Seriously, Judy doesn't care what people do for a living. She has slammed doctos, lawyers, law students, flight attendants and teacheres to name a few. NOT the proffession, but the stupid behavior of the individual. She is pro child mainly which is what I like. She calls parents on their lies and rationalizations. The nice thing about TV is that you can turn it off if you dislike it!:)
I find Judge Mathis way more annoying than Judy by the way. I like Marylin Milian as far as personality the most(but she wears WAY too much makeup).
I don't think she really gives a rip about the "shortage".
teeituptom, BSN, RN
4,283 Posts
I dont understand why they clutter up the air time with shows like this, a total waste. Totally inane.