Quick! Think of one of the most common tools that nurses always have on them. You probably have a few in mind, and one of them is most likely the stethoscope. A medical tool that has been around since the early 1800’s, the stethoscope is an ever-present tool in almost all healthcare settings, for nurses and doctors alike.
So imagine every nurses’ surprise when two hosts of the view openly mocked Miss Colorado Kelly Johnson’s stirring monologue about not being “just a nurse” in the talent competition of 2015’s Miss America competition. The co-hosts said that Kelley was essentially just reciting emails, and asked “why is she wearing a doctor’s stethoscope?”
The backlash from nurses was strong and swift, and the ripples from it are still being felt across the healthcare field. Almost 700,000 doctors, nurses, and healthcare travelers nationwide joined a Facebook group called “Show Me Your Stethoscope” where they shared stories about nursing and took pictures that very clearly showed that, yes, nurses do in fact use stethoscopes.
What is so fantastic about Kelley Johnson’s inspirational monologue and the support built around her mockery from The View’s co-hosts is the positive feedback from non-nurses. The story spread outside of the Facebook group onto news outlets and Twitter, showing solidarity with the nurses.
We think the movement is an exciting way to remind the public that nurses are the bedrock of our healthcare system. When someone as brave as Miss Colorado recites a monologue about being a nurse, we have to back that up and make sure nurses are recognized for their hard work and dedication. Especially when a lot of the work happens in the background.
Did you know that for 11 straight years, nurses have ranked #1 as the nation’s most trusted profession? That’s because they are there when you need them; providing comfort, healing, and compassion when people need it most. We think the “Show Me Your Stethoscope” movement is the most exciting thing to happen to nursing and social media in a long time.
So have you joined the “Show Me Your Stethoscope” Facebook group? If you have, post it on our Facebook page! We’d love to see how you rally your support for your fellow nurses!