DENVER (CBS4) - Hosts of ABC's "The View" program have apologized to Miss Colorado after harsh comments by two of the hosts.
During the talent competition at the Miss America pageant Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson performed a monologue about being a nurse. Now nurses across the country are rushing to her defense.
In purple nurse's garb Johnson used her talent time in the pageant to highlight nursing. In the monologue Johnson spoke of a patient with Alzheimer's disease and would later win second runner up in the competition. But it was her monologue two co-hosts of The View didn't necessarily understand.
"She came out in a nurse's uniform and basically read her emails out loud, and shockingly did not win," comedian and co-host Michelle Collins said on the program.
"Why does she have a doctor's stethoscope on?" co-host Joy Behar said.
That's when the backlash began with thousands on social media posting pictures of stethoscopes and using the hashtag "nurses unite."
"We don't wear costumes, we save lives," Terry Buxton with the Colorado Nurses Association said.
Buxton called the comments disturbing.
"It was beyond hurtful. I was very dismayed by the inaccurate and belittling portrayal of nurses," she said.
Representing the 60,000 registered nurses in Colorado, Buxton says the organization would like to thank Johnson for shining a light on nursing and use the controversy as a learning experience to highlight the work that nurses do -- help patients -- mind, body and soul.
"It was a proud moment for all of us because nursing is kind of a secret profession, in that most people, meaning the general public, don't know what nurses do," Buxton said.
The hosts of The View apologized on the show on Wednesday, saying they love nurses and that their comments were misconstrued. Nationally, the American Nurses Association released a statement saying they're pleased with the apology.
Miss Colorado has yet to officially respond.
LINK: Statement From The American Nurses Association
'It Was Beyond Hurtful' Says Nurse About Comments On 'The View' About Miss Colorado
/ CBS Colorado
DENVER (CBS4) - Hosts of ABC's "The View" program have apologized to Miss Colorado after harsh comments by two of the hosts.
During the talent competition at the Miss America pageant Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson performed a monologue about being a nurse. Now nurses across the country are rushing to her defense.
In purple nurse's garb Johnson used her talent time in the pageant to highlight nursing. In the monologue Johnson spoke of a patient with Alzheimer's disease and would later win second runner up in the competition. But it was her monologue two co-hosts of The View didn't necessarily understand.
"She came out in a nurse's uniform and basically read her emails out loud, and shockingly did not win," comedian and co-host Michelle Collins said on the program.
"Why does she have a doctor's stethoscope on?" co-host Joy Behar said.
That's when the backlash began with thousands on social media posting pictures of stethoscopes and using the hashtag "nurses unite."
"We don't wear costumes, we save lives," Terry Buxton with the Colorado Nurses Association said.
Buxton called the comments disturbing.
"It was beyond hurtful. I was very dismayed by the inaccurate and belittling portrayal of nurses," she said.
Representing the 60,000 registered nurses in Colorado, Buxton says the organization would like to thank Johnson for shining a light on nursing and use the controversy as a learning experience to highlight the work that nurses do -- help patients -- mind, body and soul.
"It was a proud moment for all of us because nursing is kind of a secret profession, in that most people, meaning the general public, don't know what nurses do," Buxton said.
The hosts of The View apologized on the show on Wednesday, saying they love nurses and that their comments were misconstrued. Nationally, the American Nurses Association released a statement saying they're pleased with the apology.
Miss Colorado has yet to officially respond.
LINK: Statement From The American Nurses Association
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