An open letter from a ‘sexy nurse’ to Dr. Oz

For anyone who watches day time TV, surfs the internet or frequents this wonderful website for nurses you probably have heard about the Dr. Oz debacle and the nursing profession. One of our fellow bloggers posted some thoughts on it here (jump on over and read it here of you’re not familiar with the scene).

So a month later Dr. Oz (or should I say Dr. Oz’s ‘people’) releases a formal and public apology with some politically correct and publicly sound words.

As a nurse I wonder why some think this is enough? So I thought I’d write my own ‘letter’ to Dr. Oz (or his people) expressing my and hopefully many other nurses concerns.

Dear Dr. Oz (or his ‘people’)

I’m a registered nurse of 5 years young. I’m a health care professional and a fellow ‘healer’. You’re November 4th episode that lauded the efforts of a weight loss success story was initially inspiring, but eventually quite damaging.

I myself did not watch it. I’m not a fan of day time TV (sorry). I do however support any activities that promote and attempt to improve our overall health and wellness. So for those efforts I thank you. But, the show took a turn for the worse and got quite out of hand in the eyes of your fellow professionals.

Were you aware of the guests’ actions prior to the taping (I’m assuming it’s a live studio audience)? Or were you actually caught off guard? Was this whole routine rehearsed, or was it spontaneous?

Regardless of it’s origin the whole process has angered many of your fellow ‘healers’ including myself. Did you notice I referred to myself as a ‘healer’ and not a subordinate? Did you notice there was no reference of ‘sexy’ anywhere in my description?

As a physician partner I can only assume you have worked with ‘our kind’ prior to your fame. Yes, our kind. We are called nurses. We are trained health care professionals, not a colloquial fantasy, nor a subservient helper.

Somehow during the taping of your TV show you forgot that.

Oh, wait did I mention I’m a male nurse? So the whole ‘sexy’ reference truly hits a chord with me.

You are being chastised by our profession because of what profession you represent. As a physician partner we hold you to a higher standard. We assumed you held these same standards.

During that show, regardless of when you were made aware of the guests actions, you should have stopped it. Stopped it in its tracks before it progressed. You as the heralded professional’s professional should have had the common decency and forth right professionalism to put the brakes on that charade. I’m all about fun, but when it mocking a profession fun?

Our profession continues to battle stereotypes of all kinds. We continue to lose the battle against warped public knowledge, internet fantasy, misguided beliefs, historical falsehoods, and just simple ignorance. But, when we have to wage that battle with a physician it’s both angering and disheartening. Is this how you show the ‘respect’ you speak of?

We expected more from you dear doctor.

Shame on you for not ‘knowing’ the difference.

And the battle continues.