"Nurse Quacktitioner."

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?

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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

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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.

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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?

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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.)

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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:

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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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How about a chicken who looks like foghorn Leghorn in a lab coat who's a Farmacist? If you have a nurse quactitioner she sould haves a ducktor or pheasant assistant to collaborate with. How about a MOOsage therapist? Imagine what those clove hooves would feel like! It is a kid thing. Kinda cute. When I saw the name, I thought how awful..but I feel like it's just a cute toy. Maybe they should come out with a farm animal doc who is a donkey. Would AMA have a fit or what? More damaging was the Today or GMA piece about Np's. This is just silly kid stuff. (IMHO)

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How about a sheep farmacist? He could dispense BAAd medicine!

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

All of this - and thousands of other things boil down to the increasing expectations of political correctness. Personally - I think it's all gone too far. Nobody has a sense of humor anymore, people are afraid to say what they think and God (or Allah or whatever you call him (or her) if I have to be politically correct about it) forbid ANYBODY have an opinion!

We teach tolerance - why tolerance? Tolerance is the lowest possible level of acceptance. Tolerance says "I have to put up with you but I don't have to like it". Why not teach ACCEPTANCE? Why not appreciate and value the differences in people? Why all the political correctness in an attempt to homogonize people? Why does everyone have to be the same? That's what Tolerance is about - making people all the same, turning people into robots.

You know - if someone makes a joke about me or something I happen to be affiliated with that's fine - I can laugh right along with them. Getting all puffed up about nothing is just a waste of energy all the way around. Why not put that energy to work in places where it matters and makes a difference?

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It's a play on the fact that this is a DUCK, not a play on the belief that NPs are incompetent. LOL, lighten up people. There are enough things in the world about which to be offended, let's not invent them at every turn.

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Where Can I get One? Is it on EBAY?????

Just Kidding!! It's probably a collectible by now.....HB:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

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