Miss America 2016 pageant monologue takes country by surprise
By Megan Murdock Krischke, contributor
Kelley Johnson, RN, BSN, represented the state of Colorado during the Miss America 2016 pageant in September, placing as the second runner-up and earning a $20,000 scholarship. But it is the way she represented her nursing career that still has the country talking.
Johnson first competed in pageants during college as a way to earn scholarships for school and to represent her community. This time, she made waves when, for the talent portion of the Miss America pageant, she chose to do something outside the norm: to deliver a monologue about her experience as a nurse.
Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson, RN, BSN, performs an original monologue about the power of nursing at the Miss America 2016 pageant.
“Growing up, I was interested in playing sports. I was never technically trained in any of the stage talents that are typically performed on the Miss America stage. For me, my monologue was a way to remain authentically Kelley, showing off my talent of nursing, and not being counted out of the job of Miss America simply because I had different talent interests that to some seem atypical,” Johnson reflected.
“I made the decision in high school to become a nurse. I had spent my school years enjoying math and science and always being the type of person to take care of others. I obtained my CNA in 2010 and loved it so much I decided to further my education,” she explained.
Johnson’s spring was full of accomplishments. She completed her BSN from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa in April–she was the valedictorian of her class. In May she passed the NCLEX. These accomplishments were quickly followed by winning the title of Miss Colorado 2015 in June.
Speaking for her patients and other nurses
“Every nurse has a patient who reminds them of why they became a nurse,” Johnson’s monologue began. For Johnson, that patient was Joe, an older gentleman who suffered from Alzheimer’s.
Joe was having a difficult night and Johnson reminded him that Alzheimer’s didn’t define him–that he was still Joe. He responded, “Although you say it all the time, you are not ‘just a nurse,’ you are my nurse and you have changed my life because you have cared about me.”
Johnson said of that experience, “Joe reminded me that day that I am lifesaver, and I’m never going to be’ just a nurse’.”
There has been an outpouring of media attention centered on Johnson’s monologue for the Miss America pageant. It all began when members of the television show “The View” mocked Johnson’s talent and wondered aloud why she was wearing a “doctor’s stethoscope.” Though the comments were quickly followed with apologies, the nursing community responded in force on social media with the hashtag #NursesUnite.
Since the negative response on “The View,” Johnson, and the nursing profession she represents, have been honored with appearances on other television shows, including ”The Doctors,” “Dr. Oz” and “The Ellen Show,” to name a few.
During her interview with Dr. Oz, she expressed that many people don’t realize how educated nurses are and what exactly their job entails. As a result of the controversy and Johnson’s visit to the show, Dr. Oz is now looking for a nurse to serve on the show’s panel of experts.
“I am enjoying seeing the nursing profession utilize this attention in many different ways,” said Johnson. “I am seeing a new enthusiasm ignited within our profession and new demand for the respect of all parts of the health care team. The national attention has been a great reminder to all nurses of their importance and value.”
“I want to tell the nurses of the world that this is about them, not me,” she continued. “It is very important to me for the world to know what nurses really do and why this profession is so rewarding.”
For the time being, Johnson is making the most of the media attention to promote nurses and to educate the public about what a nursing career entails. She plans to eventually return to her career in ICU nursing.
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