‘The View’ got it wrong
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, but no one is entitled to their own facts. The hosts of the daytime TV show “The View” got it wrong when they made fun of the Miss America pageant contestant who talked about her professional role of a nurse as part of the talent competition.
The TV hosts thought nursing as a talent was funny. But a lot of people took exception, including me, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
As a CRNA, I work with a team of talented, highly trained, skilled nurses and other health care practitioners. The incredible work we do each and every day is closely correlated to the arduous path of education and clinical experience. Among the short list of credentials: CRNAs must graduate with a minimum of a master’s degree. The average student nurse anesthetist completes almost 2,500 clinical hours. Two-year re-certifications mean continuous education and training. It all takes talent and dedication to skillfully and expertly caring for patients.
It wasn’t just nurses who thought the hosts’ remarks were insensitive. Some of the show’s advertisers disagreed with the recent comments and have pulled their advertising. Miss Colorado may not have won the pageant, but she deserves an award for raising awareness about the work of nurses everywhere.
Aaron Ostrowski
Canonsburg
The writer is a board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists.