Nurses heard around world

Nurses unite against being discredited

People in the LBCC nursing community support Johnson standing up for the profession.

On Sept. 13 in Atlantic City, N.J., Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson performed her talent on stage for millions to see. Her talent wasn’t the typical baton twirling, toe tapping, or opera singing number. Johnson took the stage in purple scrubs with a white stethoscope around her neck.

“Our goal as nurses is to make a difference,” said Marcy Shanks, nursing faculty.

She performed a monologue and talked about an Alzheimer's disease patient named Joe, who reminded her of why she became a nurse in the first place.

After the pageant aired, The View co-hosts Joy Behar and Michelle Collins made controversial comments about Johnson’s monologue. Behar and Collins clarified their comments on The View Wednesday, Sept. 16. Collins mocked Johnson, saying “She came out in a nurse’s uniform and basically read her emails out loud, and shockingly did not win.” View co-host Joy Behar added, “Why does she have a doctor’s stethoscope on?”

These comments led to a backlash on social media with a support hashtag #NursesUnite. Nurses called for an apology all over.

Behar and Collins clarified their comments on The View Wednesday, Sept. 16. Collins mocked Johnson, saying “She came out in a nurse’s uniform and basically read her emails out loud, and shockingly did not win.” View co-host Joy Behar added, “Why does she have a doctor’s stethoscope on?”

“I am a nurse and that’s my talent, taking care of people and caring about others,” said Johnson on The Ellen show Sept. 17. “I wanted to give the nurses that don’t have the voice, that voice and that recognition of somebody going up there and just being a little bit different and unique.”

Nursing isn’t just a job. Being a professional nurse means the patients in your care must be able to trust you. It means being up to date with the best practice. It means treating your patients and colleagues with dignity, kindness, respect and compassion.

According to the Gallup.com a survey site, “Nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States, with respondents rating nurses highest for honesty and ethics.”