Nurses Encouraged to Contact TV Show "ER" with Opinions

10/20/03

The October 9, 2003, episode of NBC/Warner Brothers' "ER," which focused on nurses, has elicited a broad range of responses from nurses -- both positive and negative. Specifically, the show featured "a bad day for nurse Abby Lockhart." In addition, a nurse walkout was depicted, in which six nurses were summarily fired and a number of other nurses were given 90-day suspensions. (the "replacement nurses" are depicted as Asians, not doing much work as they stand around whispering in little groups together, and many comments by the other characters refer to the fact that "they don't speak English".)

Given the range of reactions to the episodes, ANA encourages you to share your feedback with AOL Time Warner, Warner Brothers, NBC and the producers of the show (e-mail addresses below). In addition, please blind copy [email protected] when you send your comments. We will be posting a sampling of comments on NursingWorld. Thank you.

Richard Parsons, Chairman and CEO, AOL Time Warner

[email protected]

Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros.

[email protected]

Bob Wright, Chairman and CEO, NBC

[email protected]

John Wells, "ER" Executive Producer

[email protected]

R. Scott Gemmill, "ER" Co-Executive Producer

[email protected]

Dee Johnson, "ER" Co-Executive Producer

[email protected]

http://www.nursingworld.org

And if 10/9 episode wasn't bad enough, the 10/30 episode was a total suspension of reality. The new nurse giving a direct IV injection in the neck of a struggling patient, with a huge syringe was a very bad joke of a scene.

Originally posted by caroladybelle

And if 10/9 episode wasn't bad enough, the 10/30 episode was a total suspension of reality. The new nurse giving a direct IV injection in the neck of a struggling patient, with a huge syringe was a very bad joke of a scene.

I'm not a nurse yet, but I've watched this show for years. I don't think this scene or any of the others I've seen were meant to make nurses look bad. I thought it made her look strong and competent, especially since I didn't even know what she was doing lol. Seriously though, I work in law enforcement and see some of the extra drama that police shows throw in that real police couldn't do in a million years. What I look for overall is what is the purpose of it and how does it portray the profession overall? From what I've seen on ER over the years has always had a positive light on those who work in healthcare, even with the liberties they take. Just my 2 cents worth. :)

Originally posted by tmiller027

[it made her look strong and competent[/b]

I was stunned to see something like that on ER. I agree there have been some "over the top" episodes but this took the cake. I've been a nurse for a fair amount of time and have experience working with agitated, psychotic, aggressive patients and I have yet to see someone fling themselves on top of the patient and stab them in the neck with a 10cc (or bigger) syringe! We tend to use a show of force and restrain the patient, then give meds IM. Certainly the portrayal of this nurse in this instance made her look like a "take charge" person, but she put herself and her coworkers at risk. Additionally, later in the same episode, she placates the woman who's been in the ER for 12 hours but does no nursing assessment of her. Isn't that what triage is for? I imagine the general public doesn't notice these things in the detail health care workers do and I know there are nurses who work on the production of ER but what were they thinking during last week's episode? I usually enjoy the show but the nurse stabbing a patient in the neck was really too much.

Originally posted by teece3

I was stunned to see something like that on ER. I agree there have been some "over the top" episodes but this took the cake. I've been a nurse for a fair amount of time and have experience working with agitated, psychotic, aggressive patients and I have yet to see someone fling themselves on top of the patient and stab them in the neck with a 10cc (or bigger) syringe! We tend to use a show of force and restrain the patient, then give meds IM. Certainly the portrayal of this nurse in this instance made her look like a "take charge" person, but she put herself and her coworkers at risk. Additionally, later in the same episode, she placates the woman who's been in the ER for 12 hours but does no nursing assessment of her. Isn't that what triage is for? I imagine the general public doesn't notice these things in the detail health care workers do and I know there are nurses who work on the production of ER but what were they thinking during last week's episode? I usually enjoy the show but the nurse stabbing a patient in the neck was really too much.

Well, I agree with you that most of us who are non-medically trained don't even catch such things. I know the show isn't perfect, and I'm not sure what they think on there sometimes either. But it's the same for shows like CSI or NYPD Blue, when a suspect asks for a lawyer and the cops just keep questioning them and may even smack them around. THat stuff just doesn't happen anymore.

It doesn't happen where you work or that YOU know about! But it does happen!

I used to watch ER and other shows to get a good :chuckle, and nothing more! And I agree, stabbing someone in the neck is a bit much! I wouldn't go anywhere near a pt with a syringe until they were in restraints!!! I have been instructed by an MD to give 1 mg:chuckle of Ativan IM before to a PTSD pt, but I wasn't stupid enough to do it! And when asked by the MD when I was going to give it, I told her "When they tied him down"!!!! No fool here!

I WONDERED about that neck shot...I mean I"VE never seen one done like that. I kept thinking, what if she hits an artery?

Has anyone ever seen anything like that in real life?