That Johnson & Johnson commercial!!!!!!!!!!!

Published

So I am sitting in my living room, watching TV and eating lunch when the "Become a Nurse" commercial from J & J comes on.

And I am annoyed by it!.

I changed the channel. But that got me thinking about the content of the ad. While I am happy that the company is doing its part to help ease the shortage, the silly song is a big turn-off to me. "They dare to care" You see nurses briefly talking about nursing.. " I can't have a bad day... " Oh, come on! How realistic is that?. EVERYONE has bad days, no matter what profession you are in. Anyway, that is just part of the reason why it annoys me.

I can recall an ad years ago, that helped in my decision in becoming a nurse..

Its main theme was, "Do you have what it takes to be a nurse?, do you enjoy the challenge of studying anatomy, physics, chemistry...etc... it also showed nurses in high-stress situations "running the show"....

I wonder what happened to that commercial?

I am going to write J & J and offer some (unsolicited) advice. At least change that silly song.

Is anyone else annoyed by the song in the commercial? content?

I have yet to see an ad directed at future doc's with sentimental, mushy music.... the AMA would have none of that .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At first I thought the commercial showed some good diversity within nursing, but when I think about it, it does rather gloss over some of the less terrific points about nursing.

It's that 'calling vs. job' stuff again. For me, nursing is a J-O-B, not a ministry, and I expect to be treated as any professional would, including getting credit for good pickups that are outside the realm of the strict nursing model.

I don't remember the other commercial to which you are referring, but it seems that to make nursing a harder science profession would be a bad thing.

Of course we have bad days, and days when the only thing that keeps us from walking out that door is losing our license for patient abandonmnet. Anything less than that isn't telling the whole truth, but after 4+ years of being in healthcare (1.5 as an RN) I've noticed that I'm just scratching the surface of what healthcare is all about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Hey, guys, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. At least they are trying, which is more than our hospitals are doing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wrote to J&J last year re: the commercial, telling them how unrealistically it porytayed nursing. A couple of my friends also wrote. We all get the same form letter in return saying "We understand your objection to the the portrayal of nursing in our ad..."

Well, if they have a form letter saying that, there must be a lot of nurses writing to them objecting to the ad.

BTW- this is my 3000th post. Woo hoo! :balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey, guys, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. At least they are trying, which is more than our hospitals are doing.

I don't think it's a gift horse. I think it's a falsely positive view of nursing meant to lure the unsuspecting into the field.

Real retention efforts- now that would be a gift horse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't think it's a gift horse. I think it's a falsely positive view of nursing meant to lure the unsuspecting into the field.

Real retention efforts- now that would be a gift horse.

Absolutely agree!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

I wonder how many men will choose nursing because of that glossy campaign... how many younger (traditional) students will choose nursing because of it...

I was a Biology major but switched to nursing after a few trips to the local ED with college friends. What attracted me was the challenge: I saw how hard those nurses were working and I wanted to do it! After nearly 11 years, I still love the challenges, but have found so much more to keep me in the profession.

I'm not completely against the "caring" campaign, but what about creating ads that highlight issues that would attract other parts of the population? (Excitement, hard work, challenge, technology, choices of speciality, etc)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So I am sitting in my living room, watching TV and eating lunch when the "Become a Nurse" commercial from J & J comes on.

I don't object to them trying to help recruit nurses. What I do object to is that if a company is going to put out an ad to help recruit nurses, can't they shell out a few more bucks and HIRE AN RN CONSULTANT? talk to nursing leaders from all over the country to get their opinion(s)? And make a good, intelligent ad?. I don't think they did.

Nursing is a science. It is a challenge. We use our critical thinking skills everyday. I would say it is as tough as going to medical school.

For the time being, I will continue to change the channel ... and so will many others... my friend saw it and she was repelled by it, calling it "dorky" and "annoying".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with most of what everyone is saying, but nursing school is NOT as hard as medical school. Kind of a picky post, but I just had a problem with that comment.

So I am sitting in my living room, watching TV and eating lunch when the "Become a Nurse" commercial from J & J comes on.

I don't object to them trying to help recruit nurses. What I do object to is that if a company is going to put out an ad to help recruit nurses, can't they shell out a few more bucks and HIRE AN RN CONSULTANT? talk to nursing leaders from all over the country to get their opinion(s)? And make a good, intelligent ad?. I don't think they did.

Nursing is a science. It is a challenge. We use our critical thinking skills everyday. I would say it is as tough as going to medical school.

For the time being, I will continue to change the channel ... and so will many others... my friend saw it and she was repelled by it, calling it "dorky" and "annoying".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So I am sitting in my living room, watching TV and eating lunch when the "Become a Nurse" commercial from J & J comes on.

And I am annoyed by it!.

I changed the channel. But that got me thinking about the content of the ad. While I am happy that the company is doing its part to help ease the shortage, the silly song is a big turn-off to me. "They dare to care" You see nurses briefly talking about nursing.. " I can't have a bad day... " Oh, come on! How realistic is that?. EVERYONE has bad days, no matter what profession you are in. Anyway, that is just part of the reason why it annoys me.

I can recall an ad years ago, that helped in my decision in becoming a nurse..

Its main theme was, "Do you have what it takes to be a nurse?, do you enjoy the challenge of studying anatomy, physics, chemistry...etc... it also showed nurses in high-stress situations "running the show"....

I wonder what happened to that commercial?

I am going to write J & J and offer some (unsolicited) advice. At least change that silly song.

Is anyone else annoyed by the song in the commercial? content?

I have yet to see an ad directed at future doc's with sentimental, mushy music.... the AMA would have none of that .

I haven't seen it yet and I already find it annoying...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I wrote to J&J last year re: the commercial, telling them how unrealistically it porytayed nursing. A couple of my friends also wrote. We all get the same form letter in return saying "We understand your objection to the the portrayal of nursing in our ad..."

Well, if they have a form letter saying that, there must be a lot of nurses writing to them objecting to the ad.

BTW- this is my 3000th post. Woo hoo! :balloons:

I'd like to know where to write them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.
I agree with most of what everyone is saying, but nursing school is NOT as hard as medical school. Kind of a picky post, but I just had a problem with that comment.

:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion