Maryland Lottery Commercial

[hbscott]

As I was getting ready for work this morning I noticed a commercial for the Maryland lottery. In this commercial two persons, one Caucasian male identified as a registered nurse and one African American female play a scratch card for instant cash. The African American female wins some money but the Caucasian male identified as a registered nurse loses.

The narrator then sarcastically says, "it is lucky for your patients that you are here" (implying that this nurse is either dangerous, incompetent and/or unlucky and that would be potentially harmful to patients).

It was obvious that this commercial was designed to get people to laugh but I fail to see the humor. Just like many African Americans who are offended by white entertainers in cosmetic "black face" lampooning their culture I grow weary of the persistent negative portrayal of male nurses in mass media.

Just a thought.

-HBS

[Katnip, RN]

Sure. Nurses know we get of of late shifts and feel ragged at the end of it. The general public doesn't, and that's where they problem lies

The general public sees nurses portrayed in the media as failed physcians, sluts, buffoons, or mindless drones, and that's what the majority are going to believe.

[hbscott]

Originally posted by gwenith

We will be better served to write profuse and profound congratulations to those portraying positive pictures of nurses.

Okay. Can you cite for me a "positive" portrayal of male nurses in any media?

-HBS

[hbscott]

Originally posted by imenid37

The nurse was a real buffoon.

Thanks for the independent confirmation. The commercial caught me by surprise in my morning routine so I didn't get a chance to study it in detail - but I know the impression it left me with.

Very Sad!

-HBS

[hbscott]

This is what I thought initially on reading this post. NOT that it was a slight against the nurse.

guess I would need to see it myself to know what it is supposed to mean....

Okay, but I don't see how:

"The narrator then sarcastically says, "it is lucky for your patients that you are here" (implying that this nurse is either dangerous, incompetent and/or unlucky and that would be potentially harmful to patients). "

can be interpreted a positive thing...

-HBS

[SmilingBluEyes]

well HBS darling instead of rolling your eyes at me, take on an activist stance and write the Lottery/State of Maryland of your feelings. You are not doing much good here, rolling your eyes and arguing with people who have not seen this commercial.

Heck, there is a nurse activism thread area right here at allnurses. GO, get started and DO something about it then, if it's so upsetting. THAT may help you feel better then.

Happy holidays to you.

[hbscott]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

well HBS darling instead of rolling your eyes at me, take on an activist stance

Well Darling, I suspect you know in your gut that I am an activist and the proverbial ball started rolling yesterday morning when I saw the commercial for the first time.

Of course these things take time to reach "critical mass" and I am most effective working behind the scenes so to speak. You can be assured the wheels are turning on this one (and other issues I have noted so persistently).

And as I have said before, with any advocacy initiative there is no middle ground. If you (they, I, we, etc.) are not part of the solution then you (they, I, we, etc.) are part of the problem.

Happy Holidays To You as Well!

-HBS

[CCU NRS]

If you saw it and it portrayed (I, we, Us poorly) I will definately take moment to write a little note of dissatisfaction. I have gone to the official MLSA site and copped the contact us e-dress

[email protected].

I will be writing a short note explaining that I was informed of Male Nurse being portrayed in a negative maner and would like this situation resolved.

I would like to see the commercial if anyone ever finds an actual link to it.

[hbscott]

Thank You CCU NRS for your prompt action on this issue. I have written a formal letter to the Maryland State Lottery Association (I find this a little more effective than e-mail) but I have also learned that it takes many voices working in concert to influence change.

Your support is most appreciated.

-HBS

:)

[CCU NRS]

Originally posted by hbscott

Thank You CCU NRS for your prompt action on this issue. I have written a formal letter to the Maryland State Lottery Association (I find this a little more effective than e-mail) but I have also learned that it takes many voices working in concert to influence change.

Your support is most appreciated.

-HBS

:)

I frequent a nursing Bulletin board forum where a member reported seeing your television spot in which a male nurse does not win and the narrator then states something to the effect that I guess your patients are lucky you are here? Is this to imply that because he was unlucky in a LOTTO scratch that his skills as a nurse really have no bearing on Pt care that if he is unlucky all his Patients will die because of his misfortune. Granted it is television which we all know and understand is just a simple media for the masses which really only serves to demean us all and more frequently to patronize or disregard all of hard working America, however as a male nurse myself I feel that any time I am caring for my patients they are lucky to have my services not vice versa. Nursing is a demanding high stress field in which staffing ratios are reaching a point of critical mass. The people male or female that choose to give their lives to a profession that is already recieving negative attention for such instances as Charles Cullen does not need to be portrayed as oafish by you establishment.

This is the content of my email.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Please everyone I know this is a volatile subject but let us save our strength for our enemies (the media) and not our friends (our colleagues here).

CCU-Nrs I have no problem with anyone doing what you suggested - particularly if you do it in the manner you have described - just as an expression of dissatisfaction. As for nurses being portrayed in a positive manner in the media - go to the Australasian forum there have been a few inquiries into nursing in Australia and I have provided links or go to ABC ONLINE and search the word "nurse". Admittedly we are more unionist here in Aust than you seem to be and our union goes out of it's way to stomp rather hard on negative images. The turn around here started small and still has a way to go but overall we do have a postive image here.

[hbscott]

Originally posted by gwenith

Please everyone I know this is a volatile subject but let us save our strength for our enemies (the media) and not our friends (our colleagues here)

Well said, Gwenith. Nurses sometimes beat up on each other (I am guilty of it as well) because of our frustration with certain system and societal issues that can get the best of us (certainly me).

Maybe I should look in to going to Australia as a post Doctorate fellow. Australia was always a fun place to visit when I was in the Navy.

As they sometimes say Down-Under, "She'll Be Apples!"

:)

-HBS

[BlueKat]

I think you're reading more into than there is.

Let it go ... life is too short!