ARE NURSES OKAY?
Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during an altercation with ICE agents, anti-ICE activists quickly sought to elevate his status. He was a nurse, they said. He was there to protect a woman who was being pushed. He was just following his training, they claimed. He saved lives!
Yet, let’s remember the AI-enhanced images of Pretti that circulated posthumously, portraying him with a sun-kissed tan, bigger muscles, and a chiseled jawline. It’s almost like the ideal – a rugged man with a firearm, yet possessing progressive values. Quite the contradiction, right?
There’s been plenty of discussion about his actions that day, but I want to focus on the broader implications of being a nurse. Just like the notion surrounding Renee Good being a mother, the sentiment is that Pretti, being a nurse, represents the better side of humanity. But I call that out. It’s not as simple as that. Yes, many nurses genuinely care about their patients. But we can’t ignore that being a nurse doesn’t automatically equate to being a good person.
You might have come across the stereotypes. One is that the “mean girls” from high school often choose nursing as a career path. Some believe that these individuals see nursing as a shortcut to prestige without the extensive education required for becoming a doctor. There’s also commentary on how nursing can attract narcissistic personalities since it’s a role often immune to scrutiny. Quantitative data suggests a higher rate of workplace bullying among nurses compared to workers in other fields.
Another stereotype floating around is that nurses may not be the most faithful partners. According to a survey from Ashley Madison, a website known for extramarital affairs, a significant number of women on the platform are either doctors or nurses. Interestingly, male healthcare professionals tend to cheat more than their female counterparts. Whatever the case, the statistics hint at some troubling trends within the profession.
We could delve into whether these issues stem from the nature of nursing attracting certain personalities or if the profession’s stress pushes individuals to behave poorly. But the crucial takeaway is that wearing scrubs doesn’t inherently make someone a hero.
Recent online antics by some nurses demonstrate my point. A male nurse from the Chicago area was recorded giving drastic advice on how to inflict harm on ICE agents and advocating for the dismissal of healthcare workers who support Trump. Meanwhile, a female nurse in Virginia lost her job after suggesting using medications and even poison ivy to incapacitate agents. Another nurse was arrested for trespassing while holding up a sign expressing hopes for others’ demise.
Reflecting on my high school days, one male nurse shared a controversial TikTok after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, stating he lacked empathy for those showing none. A different male nurse openly criticized Kirk, suggesting he deserved no sympathy. There are also nurses who frequently express the struggle of their jobs yet use social media for personal gain. Like the one setting up a camera to capture a raw moment of distress after Pretti’s death or those doing choreographed dances while patients suffered from COVID.
Let’s not forget how many healthcare professionals have publicly declared that they wouldn’t treat unvaccinated COVID patients.
Reactions to the Pretti shooting vary widely. But let’s be clear: don’t suggest he’s above criticism simply because he was a nurse, especially when many were silent about the brutal murder of a nursing student by an illegal alien whom Pretti and his associates were purportedly protecting.
