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.
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.
Adri
Maybe she meant because he had already run up a load of debt, with no intention of paying, and medical school to become a doctor would run up more debt than medical school for nursing... if that makes any sense
BTW, I love JJ, watch her for an hour every night.... AND, I've just read on this thread she's got a website.... I'm off to find it
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....
The other day my DD was playing what I thought was "doctor" with my DS. I asked her if she wanted me to be the nurse and help her. She said, "no...I'm the nurse. They touch the patients more." I think she meant spent more time with them, but it was so cute.
Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
A number of posts that went off-topic and into personal attacks have been removed. This thread is being re-opened. Please return to your usually scheduled programming. :)
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
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