"Nurse Quacktitioner."

Nurses Activism

Published

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2005dec/mattel.html

December 2005 -- Mattel, the world's leading toy maker, has just released as part of its Furryville Collections (Series 2) a small doll called the "Nurse Quacktitioner."

Selling a doll called "Nurse Quacktitioner" would seem to reflect little regard for nurses or public health. That's because the name suggests that nurse practitioners (NPs) are "quacks," a term that has long been understood to refer to untrained persons who pretend to be physicians and dispense medical treatment.

What do ya'll think?

URO-RN

451 Posts

nurse_quacktitioner_1.gif
Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Disgusting!

Nurse Ratched, RN

2,149 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

It's a duck lol.

Editorial Team / Admin

sirI, MSN, APRN, NP

17 Articles; 44,729 Posts

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

mrducksmrnotmr2duckscmquackmrducks

i sent an email to mattel today. hope to hear back from them.....

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

There has been a LONG diatribe on another list I am on about this - what came out of it was this -

Lots of puns, lots of jokes, some angry comments, the point that sexy nurse barbie did more damage to the profession than a duck ever will and the eventual determination that there are a lot worse things to get riled up about.

Frankly - Im just happy somebody at Mattel had actually HEARD OF a nurse practitioner! There are Doctors in Dallas who still don't know what they are! LOL

It is funny. However, I totally understand where you are coming from.

But really, the toy was intended to be a play on words, not to be offensive to NPs. And its a toy for kids. They won't make that kind of connection.

ayndim

462 Posts

At first I was offended. Then I thought that I, as an adult, was reading too much into it. It is simply a nurse practioner that is a duck who quacks. How many kids, who would want to play with it, know what the slang "quack" is anyway?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

It's a TOY. I wonder how many real children are going to get offended by this?

It's a DUCK in a white nurse outfit.

(yet another reason why NA is not where i'd turn to for support.)

Balder_LPN, LPN

458 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care.

I really dont see how a Barbie or a Duck can "hurt the profession" its a toy after all. If anyone is really thinks a toy effects how their pt's view/interact with them, then I suggest they should explore some self esteem issues with a qualified therapist. Please, dont anyone take that personal.

I have actually prefered to have a NP for primary care since I was a teenager.

Now, if I show up for an appt and S/He is a DUCK, I'll be outta there, regardless of how my perceptions may or may not have been effected by a toy.

:rotfl:

Specializes in Emergency Room.

oh my goodness!!!!!!

Katnip, RN

2,904 Posts

I have to admit, at first I was offended until I saw that it was a duck. I doubt very much they intended it to insult NPs.

I wonder what other professions they've managed to portray with their little furry thingies. Any guesses?

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