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...
:imbar