ANA Chastises 'Survivor' Producers for Misuse of Nurse Title

After receiving numerous complaints from nurses, ANA wrote to the producers of the CBS reality show "Survivor" to correct them on their use of the title "nurse" when referring to certified nursing assistant (CNA) Tina Wesson, who is a member of the cast, and the show's ultimate survivor.

February 9, 2001

Dear "Survivor 2" producers,

It has been brought to the attention of the American Nurses Association (ANA) that your television show is portraying "survivor" Tina Wesson as a "nurse," when in reality she is a "certified nursing assistant" (CNA).

To be more specific, Ms. Wesson's biography on your Web page reads that she is a "private-duty CNA nurse." The backgrounds of a CNA and a nurse vary greatly in both education and responsibilities.

As you may know, nurses already face an uphill battle in public recognition, with patients and their families often not being able to distinguish between caregivers in hospitals and other health-care settings. For that reason, ANA strives to emphasize the educational differences between a registered nurse (RN), a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a CNA, and to get as much positive, accurate coverage of nurses and the nursing profession as possible.

The other reason ANA strives to publicize the distinction between RNs, LPNs, and CNAs has to do with the national nursing shortage, which was caused in part by hospital cutbacks in the early 1990s. During that time frame, many hospitals laid off RNs and LPNs, and replaced them with less expensive, lesser-trained CNAs. This, in turn, led to the public being misinformed as to the lower level of practice they were receiving.

Another cause of the national nursing shortage has been the nursing environment itself. Faced with poor working conditions and a lack of respect from management, many RNs and LPNs have either chosen to work part time or have left the profession entirely, another factor that has caused an increase of CNAs in the hospital staffing mix (and again with little knowledge on the part of the general public).

While ANA does not have the time nor the resources to set the record straight concerning every inaccurate media portrayal of the nursing profession, we do listen to our members. And when they start writing or calling us, as they have with the misleading title featured in "Survivor 2," we take action. That is why I am writing to you today, to ask that you delete the term "nurse" from your "Survivor 2" promotional materials and on-air references, and, in the future, simply refer to Ms. Wesson as either a "CNA" or a "nursing assistant."

If you have any questions, you may contact me at 202-651-7038. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response and your action.

Sincerely,

Mary Foley, MS, RN
President
American Nurses Association


Individual nurses are encouraged to voice their opinions, as well. To do so, please click on the Feedback link at the bottom of the CBS Survivor Web site . http://survivor.cbs.com/primetime/survivor2/

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The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.6 million Registered Nurses through its 54 constituent associations. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

2001 press releases

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