Wouldn't it be amazing if the co-hosts of The View could get through a show without completely offending or alienating a large group of people?
The talk show has had its share of controversy, but its latest drama focuses on an unlikely target: nurses.
On Monday's show, the conversation turned to the previous night's Miss America pageant. Michelle Collins brought up the show's talent portion, during which Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson wore a stethoscope and her nurse's scrubs while giving a monologue about her career as a health worker. Collins found Johnson's bit "hilarious."
"There was a girl who wrote her own monologue, which I was like, 'Turn the volume up, this is going be amazing, let's listen,'" Collins said. "She came out in a nurse's uniform and basically read her emails out loud, and shockingly did not win."
Joy Behar was incredulous, but also made the mistake of asking why Johnson had donned a "doctor's stethoscope."
Collins also added that Johnson "helps patients with Alzheimer's, which I know is not funny, but I swear you had to see it."
Right. Needless to say, the women managed to piss off the nursing community, big time. For starters, they use stethoscopes, too. Nurse Hilary Helkenn was among those standing up for her profession and taking the co-hosts to task for their comments.
"Hey Joy and ladies of The View," she wrote in a Facebook post. "This is my nurse uniform. For the last 20 years, I have put it on and bravely walked into hospitals to care for the ones you love. See my stethoscope? It is a NURSE stethoscope too... I love the physicians I work with, and I have the utmost respect for them, but it is often the NURSE you meet first and the NURSE that is the one responsible for your care. Your comments denigrated our most noble profession. You owe all of the nurses of this world an apology."
Registered nurse Paige Shannon also posted an open letter to the show.
"Despite a continuing decline in both ratings and relevance, I have still somehow managed to come into contact with your show," she wrote. "As a panel comprised of solely women, I didn't expect such a earnest lack of respect towards a traditionally female-dominated career. Next time you attempt to extrapolate a topic that you clearly know nothing about, at least be funny!
"As a nurse myself, it's easy to brush off such a laughably inaccurate statement regarding my career. I didn't endure four years of nursing school, pass a state licensing exam, and complete yearly continuing education to wear scrubs. I sure as hell don't work 12-hour shifts running my butt off to ensure patient safety and comfort to don a 'doctor's' stethoscope. What's truly maddening is how your idiotic quip could actually shape the opinion of members of your audience.
"Just know that if you or a loved one are ever in my care, I will be the face that you see the most. I will be making certain that your blood pressure medication is the right dose. I will be turning your elderly parent every two hours to prevent bed sores. I will be drawing your blood on the first stick, as I hate it just as much you do. I will be holding your hand when you're scared, because I am your nurse.
"I suggest you follow any nurse around for a morning, and then try and make your jokes. And if you ever want to know what job security feels like, I would be more than happy to share my experience."
Clearly, the show hit a nerve. Will an apology be forthcoming, or will Behar and Collins just have super-awkward experiences at their next checkups?
Watch Collins and Behar discuss Miss Colorado, below. (E! News)
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