Recently, in the Boston Herald (FEBRUARY 12 ISSUE), there was a short news clip about WHDH reporter Sara Edwards who, along with a small group of other reporters was selected to appear on a television episode of ER as an extra. In this story, she expressed her dismay at not being chosen to portray a physician, but instead an RN.
``Ugh, I look like I should be scrubbing floors in that smock,'' said Channel 7's glam gal who, along with a handful of TV reporters, was invited to be an extra on the hit NBC medi-drama. ``I was so jealous that some reporters got to be doctors, the one from L.A. got to be a victim with blood all over her face, and I look like I should be cleaning toilets.'' However, Sara did get to wear a stethoscope. But when she went to check Ming-Na, who plays Dr. Jing-Mei Chen, the "ER" doc had to give her an anatomy lesson!
And if that didn't make Sara feel silly enough, director Charles Haid (he was cop Andy Renko on "Hill Street Blues") had to yell "cut" during Sara's scene at the nurses' station when the RN-for-a- day tripped over a wheelchair! "I was so embarrassed," she said. But off-camera, the 7News gal got to use "the paddles" on Noah Wyle (Dr. John Carter) and told the cute, yet confused, Croatian, Dr. Luka Kovac (Goren Visnjic) he needed to have another affair with a nurse.
Anyhow, I sent a little note to WHDH regarding her disparaging comments about nurses and got this reply:
Dear Lisa
Thank you for your comments regarding Sara Edwards' remarks in the February 12 Boston Herald's Inside Track. Please be assured that absolutely no disrespect was intended to the worthy and critical profession of nursing. Sara was visiting the set of a television program surrounded by actors and actresses; she was not in a real setting observing real medical professionals. Sara was simply making a joke about that contrast and was not referring to a real life situation of any kind. We apologize for any insult you perceive, but no such thing was intended. Again, thank you for your correspondence.
Ro Dooley Webster
Director of Public Relations
7NBC (WHDH-TV)
I FEEL THAT AS A PROFESSIONAL, I AM OBLIGATED TO PRESERVE THE DIGNITY OF MY ROLE AS A CAREGIVER AS WELL AS AN EDUCATED PERSON. THE NURSING PROFESSION HAS TAKEN TOO MANY "KNOCKS" OVER THE DECADES. WE NEED TO SET THE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS STRAIGHT, AND THAT BEGINS WITH THE MEDIA.
If you have any feedback that you would like to send, please forward an email with your thoughts to: [email protected]
I am sure that "Ro" will appreciate your thoughts...
WELL, I FINALLY GOT THE NEWS REPORTER TO APOLOGIZE FOR HER RIDICULOUS COMMENTS!
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Thank you for your comment. I just wanted to make sure you are aware of Sara Edward's apology in the Friday, February 14 issue of the Boston Herald's "Inside Track." I was as follows:
"I just want to assure any nurses who took issue with my comments that I absolutely meant no disrespect to the worthy and critical profession of nursing. I was just trying to make a joke about my own appearance and my experience on 'E.R.' I am truly sorry if anyone felt insulted in any way." ~ 7NEWS Entertainment Reporter, Sara Edwards.
Have any of you seen the movie "Wit"? There is a powerful scene at the end involving a nurse protecting her dying pt from the crazy docs. I highly reccommend that movie just because it's a great movie but the RN role was great.
one can only hope that if & when ms. edwards get sick & is hospitalized that the dear doctors she so idolized will be there with her 24/7 and not just for the 2minutes they seem to spend with each pt. during rounds.
Until we become more positive and have more 'power' and not seen in a caring dare l say submissive and to some people historically sexual way then the media will contiue to portray us as the handmaidens and the battle axes (this is the name of a show talking about the nurses image shown on the ABC (local TV here) about 8 years ago.
it was quite well done talked about the historic infleunces, the strerotypes etc
But l still beleive yes we love our job but HEY we are professionals - in all areas of nursing regardless of who we care for - this can range from the well portrayed ER to the LTC -
I am not trying to be provocative about areas of nursing just confirming that l believe that some areas are seen as far more 'glamourous' than others - this does not help wqith stero typing us.
Boy think this thread hit a nerve
we as nurses need to ensure that everyone we speak to see us the vital link in their care - without nurses there wouldnt be care- the dcotors wouldnt have orders to give to anyone - etc etc etc - and the media wouldnt have 'nurses' to sterotype.
hmmmm, yeah. I feel about as glamorous as one can when they are scrubbing road rash off motorcycle accident victims, delousing homeless guys, assisting with incision and drainage of a pilonidal cyst (p.u.!) dodging the bloody spit aimed at me by psych patients in an acute psychotic state that are being put into leather restraints and wrestled to the ground while I try to administer an I.M. injection to them without getting stuck by a needle. mmm yup, very glamorous.. watch out Liz Taylor... here I come... just wish that people saw what we actually DO. I think the stigmas and misperceptions even exist within our own profession. So, I guess it's difficult for the general public to understand and appreciate what we do when we can't even appreciate or understand each other:eek:
:imbar
mghtraumarn
27 Posts
WELL, I FINALLY GOT THE NEWS REPORTER TO APOLOGIZE FOR HER RIDICULOUS COMMENTS!
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Thank you for your comment. I just wanted to make sure you are aware of Sara Edward's apology in the Friday, February 14 issue of the Boston Herald's "Inside Track." I was as follows:
"I just want to assure any nurses who took issue with my comments that I absolutely meant no disrespect to the worthy and critical profession of nursing. I was just trying to make a joke about my own appearance and my experience on 'E.R.' I am truly sorry if anyone felt insulted in any way." ~ 7NEWS Entertainment Reporter, Sara Edwards.
Again, thank you for your e:mail.
Ro Dooley Webster
Director of Public Relations
7NBC (WHDH-TV):roll
:chuckle 