First of all, thank you very much for your time concerning this matter.
Every year, Ocean City, NJ has an event similar to "groundhog day" but with a hermit crab named "MARTIN Z. MOLLUSK."
This year, the crab will be "checked out by Dr. Ernest Frankenstein and two nurses."
The following is a Media Advisory sent out (via email) by the city of Ocean City (to local residents and tourists-nationwide) which includes more of the information about the event to take place on May 5th.
As you can see when you read...much of this is "all made up and all in good fun" HOWEVER- do you think it is offensive to nurses and an objectionable portrayal to those in health-care!
MEDIA ADVISORY
WILL MARTIN Z. MOLLUSK SEE HIS SHADOW ON MAY 5?
WHO: Martin Z. Mollusk, Ocean City's relatively famous Hermit Crab
WHAT: Will attempt to see his shadow for the 37th Time
WHEN: Thursday, May 5 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: 9th Street Beach, opposite the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace
WHY: If he sees his shadow summer comes one week early to Ocean City much to the delight of visitors, merchants and the general populace.
DETAILS: (1) Dr. Ernest Frankenstein and two nurses will check out Martin on the beach to make certain that at 111 years of age he is healthy enough to endure the arduous creep (2) The Ocean City High School Band will play Pomp and Circumstance as Martin is carried to the beach (3.) The World's Only Wind Chimes Band of Ocean City will perform "Brother Can You Spare a Chime," now Number One on the International Wind Chimes Charts, (4) Some Enchanted Morning, Martin's theme song will be sung by popular musician Lew London and Suzanne Muldowney aka Underdog before Martin attempts to see his shadow (5) Big Mamma Llama of Bready's Farms in Tuckahoe will shake her head if Martin sees his shadow (6) Copies of Martin's re-issued biography, Rhyme and Punishment, will be given to those in attendance ( 7) Trash Buster, the City's Canned Crusader, will clear the beach of any litter prior to the creep (8.) Arrgh! The Air Circus Pirate will provide security for the event.
Offensive? I don't find the press release offensive at all, I think it's a cute promotion of a perfectly silly and fun community event. If it brings in some tourist dollars to the community, I'm all for it. I would be curious however to see what kinds of costumes the doctor and his two nurses are wearing, if they are totally tasteless I might be a little offended, especially as I would assume this is a family event.
OK...I just actually read this whole thread, and thanks to the probable troll that stated it! It is actually pretty entertaining. The whole event sounds like a great time, and I would love to meet a 111 year old hermit crab! Wonder what that is in dog years? Anyway, did anybody but me find it kind of funny and very sweet that the event organizer actually answered the "truth in nursing" questions seriously and with no trace of sarcasm that I could detect, with full disclosure of their program along with the "nurses" role in it and also agreed to make the fake nurses more proactive [assessing the "patient" so funny!!].
get over yourself. maybe you and the op should go there and hold up your protest signs. maybe even make the crab see his shadow. that will show them and will be a huge victory for the nursing profession. one day we can all look back and see how that change the image of nursing forever.
it is getting pretty repetitive of how everyone needs to be pc in today's society. heaven forbid you should hurt someone's feelings. here is a ingenious idea. ignore it!!!! i'm now more inclined to call and voice my dissatisfaction that they are changing the tradition because a few people are upset. i wouldn't be surprised if the person in charge of this event told the op what he/she wanted to hear as to get him/her off of his case.
i have repeatedly written that this is not an event that represents the worst problem that nursing has to face. however, a family member was recently hospitalized and i had the misfortune of encountering some of the most incompetent nurses i have ever met. and when i or other family members attempted to politely ask questions we were met with an incredible amount of defensiveness and rudeness. luckily our family member did not die, but they actually had a very close call with death and would have died if we were not present and demanded the nursing staff to take action. so i may be a little sensitive when someone says "get over yourself" in regards to protecting the nursing image as perceived by the public! i realize the martin z. mollusk event is in itself quite silly and harmless and is just a pathetic rip-off of paunxsutawney phil! and the video that was taken and posted by the event shows just how pathetic this whole event was: http://oceancity.patch.com/articles/martin-z-mollusk-sees-his-shadow-and-brings-us-an-early-summer#video-5929683 but does our profession really want to be associated with such a pathetic, silly and ultimately, stupid publicity stunt? and i have communicated with sandy summers @truthaboutnursing.org and she wisely commented "[nursing] is dramatic and entertaining. and as long as that's the case, i think we might as well use this natural interest in our work to our advantage..." and i would like to state again, this event, in and of itself, does not threaten the nursing profession. i do not want to damage any attempt by a community to attract tourism. but professional nursing is actually a very important service that all nurses, and not just those with a lot or abbreviations after their name, should take seriously. what we do for a living is very different from anything else that takes place in our communities. in my humble opinion, i think we should be very cautious about allowing our image to associated with anything except those things that nursing should be promoting: be an example of wellness to your community, take good care of yourself, eat good food and not junk, don't overeat, don't be a substance abuser, don't smoke cigarettes, get plenty of exercise and tell your family members how much you love them. if you are a professional nurse, you must realize that you are someone that people in your community look up to! and you should take that seriously!
First of all, linearthinker you have 20+ years experience as a professional nurse, and your nursing specialty includes FNP-C, CCRN-CMC, CEN, and the best you can do is put a "yawn" face as a response on the allnurses.com forum? How eloquent! Specifically, why did you even waste your time with such an inane response if you have any opinion at all! Do you live in Ocean City, NJ? Are you related to or a friend of Mark Soifer? Mark Soifer is the person who organized Martin Z. Mollusk day in Ocean City, NJ. Mark Soifer has commented that the "hair nets, [were] supplied by my daughter who has been an operating room nurse 25 years." And we all realize how important those hair nets are! But if you want to see what is really pathetic about this whole thing, watch the following video of this pathetic event and you tell me if something like this could actually attract tourists:
In my humble opinion, this event was a total wasted of time! For me, a "yawn" face does not address the issue. Why would anyone, especially anyone associated with the nursing profession, want to be associated with a pathetically useless event that only promotes Mark Soifer and not Ocean City, NJ!? How does Mr. Soifer expect that a lame promotion like this will ever bring more tourists to Ocean City, NJ! I did not see much of a crowd at this event and the cheesy crab costume probably cost quite a bit of money too! They would have been much better off hiring a professional tourist promotion agency to design a campaign that would feature the real attractions that Ocean City, NJ offers. Ocean City, NJ has some of the most beautiful beaches at the Jersey Shore! I have been to Ocean City, NJ many times and have posted videos and photos of the sunrise and beach there! It is a very quiet family oriented community. It also has a very low crime rate. If I had an opportunity to live in Ocean City, NJ or vacation there, I would do so in a heartbeat! But I would definitely skip the Martin Z. Mollusk Day events!
This event: much ado about nothing. There are bigger fish to fry; no need to get all crabby about it. Oh, and that is my professional opinion. By day, I am a mild-mannered journalist with more than 10 years in the field.
Yes, there are negative or inaccurate portrayals of nursing in the media. There are also inaccurate portrayals of pretty much any group in the media - ever seen "Army Wives"? Speaking from years of experience, it's nothing like that. There is a segment of the population that believes everything the Big All-Knowing Screen tells them, but I'm betting that's not the group whose respect you're trying to get.
Running around demanding R-E-S-P-E-C-T from every little darn event and group doesn't get respect or admiration. Do you see doctors all up in arms about shows like ER, House, Grey's Anatomy or Scrubs? Those shows portray real-life doctors no better than nurses. If we really want respect, we need to focus on more serious issues, like administration policies about staffing, rather than getting upset over every. little. thing. that is just meant in fun.
I can appreciate the attempt to get the image of nursing corrected. But I don't think this event in NJ is going to rock the healthcare world. Now, if you could get House to work with a snarky but brilliant NP, that would be something!
This NJ thing isn't my hill to die on. Sorry, I just can't find the outrage. Maybe next time.
i have repeatedly written that this is not an event that represents the worst problem that nursing has to face. however, a family member was recently hospitalized and i had the misfortune of encountering some of the most incompetent nurses i have ever met. and when i or other family members attempted to politely ask questions we were met with an incredible amount of defensiveness and rudeness. luckily our family member did not die, but they actually had a very close call with death and would have died if we were not present and demanded the nursing staff to take action. so i may be a little sensitive when someone says "get over yourself" in regards to protecting the nursing image as perceived by the public!
may i be so bold as to suggest that incompetent nurses represent a much greater threat to our "image" with the public than "nurses" attending to martin z. mollusk???? maybe the nursing community (not to mention the general public!) would be better served by addressing that issue than worrying about cheesy publicity/tourism events.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
I understand that this event is not the most damaging thing that can happen to the nursing profession! There are a lot of other issues that are far more important to worry about! But why can't they have someone pretending to be a lawyer to see if the crab's rights have been infringed upon? And why can't they have someone pretending to be a policeman to see if the crab has a permit to see his shadow? And why can't they have someone pretending to be one of the crab's elementary school teachers who testifies that the crab is a good crab? And why can't they have someone pretending to be a priest so he can give the crab his blessings? And is the mayor of Ocean City NJ going to present the crab with the Keys To The City?
You've just given the event organizer perfect marketing scheme for next years promotion.
As 99% posters feel least inoffensive portrayal and "bigger fish to fry", closing thread as run it's course.
Oh, and that is my professional opinion. By day, I am a mild-mannered journalist with more than 10 years in the field.
kbrn2002, ADN, RN
3,969 Posts
Offensive? I don't find the press release offensive at all, I think it's a cute promotion of a perfectly silly and fun community event. If it brings in some tourist dollars to the community, I'm all for it. I would be curious however to see what kinds of costumes the doctor and his two nurses are wearing, if they are totally tasteless I might be a little offended, especially as I would assume this is a family event.