1. 6 August 18, 2014 the kansas city nursingnews
On Sept. 6, Dance in the Park will once
again present an evening of fun and excite-
ment with performances by professional
dancers of all kinds from the Kansas City
vicinity on an outdoor stage in Roanoke
Park.
Now in its 16th year, Dance in the Park
reflects the cultural vitality and diversity
of the Kansas City region, and this year the
concert will feature local dance companies
in the genres of modern, contemporary,
tap, hip-hop, tango, American Indian and
Greek dancing. Participating companies
include: City in Motion Dance Theater,
City in Motion Children’s Dance Theater &
Apprentice Company, Kansas City Contem-
porary Dance, Wylliams/Henry Contem-
porary Dance Company, Störling Dance
Theater, Bobby Ray Entertainment, The
Billie Mahoney Dance Troupe, The Delta
Dynamis Dancers and Haskell Indian Na-
tions University.
This family-friendly event is a collab-
oration of neighborhoods, businesses
and performers. It is a unique oppor-
tunity to sample a wide variety of re-
gional professional dance companies in
the tranquil setting of Roanoke Park.
Volunteers from all five neighborhoods
contribute their time and talents to set-
ting up Roanoke Park. Volunteers from
all five neighborhoods contribute their
time and talents to produce the event.
The KCMO Neighborhood Tourist De-
velopment Fund and the Missouri Arts
Council have provided additional fund-
ing.
Arrive early to participate in the free
dance class at 6:30 and to get a good seat.
This year there will be a limited number
of VIP seats for purchase on a first-come/
first-serve basis, or you may bring a blan-
ket or lawn chairs. Bring the whole family
and a picnic dinner. Sorry, no pets allowed.
Source: City in Motion
opinion in brief
T
he gay male nurse
I’m not sure why or where this stereotype came from,
but it annoys the hell out of me. I’m not homophobic, nor
do I dislike homosexuals, but I do have a problem when my pa-
tients automatically assume I’m gay because I’m a nurse. I ad-
mit, I know a few gay male nurses, but most male nurses I’ve
met are straight and married with kids. It isn’t so much that
I’m offended, as it is I’m annoyed. In short, it’s total hogwash.
Nurses are medical school washouts
Out of all the stereotypes, I find this stereotype
the most amusing. Clearly, this stereotype was
created by those who benefit from it, i.e. physi-
cians. If I wanted to spend the time, money, and
effort on medical school, I would. As a nurse, I
heal. Physicians diagnose.
Nurse Ratched
Over the last few years, I’ve met and worked
with a few stern and hateful nurses; in fact, I’ve
met some nurses who resemble Nurse Ratched.
These nurses, for whatever reason, are nasty,
brutish and overall offensive. I’m not going to apologize or
minimize these nurses and their negative effect on our profes-
sion or their patients, but they exist and need to be eradicated
from our profession.
Personally, I’ve filed two written complaints against two
nurses who embody the attributes of Nurse Ratched. Both
nurses were, unfortunately, bullies, prima donnas and his-
trionic. Nevertheless, 99 percent of us aren’t Nurse Ratched.
Most of us will not, under any circumstance, bully a patient.
Nurses toil for physicians
I find this stereotype laughable, as it’s utterly ridiculous. I’m
stopping here. Need I say more?
Nursing is a female profession
Since the inception of modern nursing, most nurses have
been women. Nonetheless, that was 30 years ago. We’ve
entered a new age; an era where it’s unacceptable to link a
profession to a specific sex and/or gender. I, like the gay nurse
stereotype, abhor this stereotype, as it is absolute nonsense.
The naughty nurse
I know a lot of nurses, and most aren’t naughty. Sure, I’ve met
a few nurses who are promiscuous, flirtatious and ooze sexual-
ity, but this isn’t abnormal: it’s human. I don’t know about you,
but I find both men and women who flirt, sleep around and are
hypersexual are everywhere, regardless of their profession.
In the future, opinions will change. Until then, we’re stuck
with these stereotypes. I don’t know about you, but I’m going
to prove them wrong.
Joshua M. Felts, BS, BSN, RN, practices nursing in the Kansas City area.
This story originally appeared in www.mightynurse.com. Joshua M. Felts can
be reached at j.m.felts@gmail.com and www.linkedin.com/in/joshfeltsrn/
Lookingatnurse
stereotypes
Joshua M. Felts
The16thanniversary
performanceofDance
intheParkisSept.6
Submitted photo
On Sept. 6, Dance in the Park will present an evening
of fun with performances by professional dancers of all
kinds from the Kansas City vicinity on an outdoor stage
in Roanoke Park. The event is free to the public.
WHO: City in Motion Dance Theater,
producer, in conjunction with the Volker, Ro-
anoke, Coleman Highlands, West Plaza and
Valentine neighborhood associations.
WHAT: The 16th anniversary performance
of Dance in the Park, a free outdoor dance
concert which showcases the exciting
performances of a variety of the Kansas City
region’s unique dance companies.
WHEN: Sept. 6. Free dance class for
audience members on stage at 6:30 p.m.;
concert begins at 7 p.m. Rain date: Sunday,
Sept. 7, same times.
WHERE: Roanoke Park, 3699 E. Roanoke
Drive