ER the T.V. Show

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

I know most healthcare people are not very fond of E.R., but I ws just wondering if anybody watched the last episode. The lady from "Sex and the Cityy" was a guest star. She played a stroke victim.

I really thought that it showed the difference between the nurse and the doctor during that episode. Even though the doctor spoke to the patient, it was the nurse who seemed to be able to "read" the stroke victim's mind, even though the pateint couldn't say a word.

Would anyone agree with that assesment? (Or do most of you think it was way off base?)

I used to love ER until they killed off dr. green.......THen that was it for me......

i was mad about that too, but i let it go because i read that the actor was getting burned out from so many years on the program and was ready to leave. ER has a hx of taking digs at nurses, however certain episodes portray the nurses in a pretty positive light ( few and far between though) I still love ER, but do wish they would show the nurses making decisions, reading labs etc... oh well

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The reason she recovered so quickly is because the show has to be over by 2200 CST!! :)

Funny.... I wish they would cure all the patients according to a "TV clock".... :p

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I like ER, and accept some of the TVness of it for what it is, TVness. I have watched it from the beginning, some of the story lines were silly, but some had a kernel of truth to them. I like the characters (except the ones they want me to hate, like that red headed intern jerk). I just enjoy the show. I don't worry about what is not "what really happens". It's a TV show. The only time I get ticked is when there's really an insult to nursing--and I have written in to tell them.

I'm an ER addict, and the day they show the final episode, I'll cry, no doubt about it. But until then, Thursday night is Survivor, CSI, and ER. I love it when there are nights like that--3 shows I like, back to back.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
I watched it too and I actually thought it showed how no one really made much of an effort to treat the patient as if she could still hear and think. They mostly talked over her and made little eye contact. I really thought it did a good job of showing how isolated she felt. Maybe the nurse did a little more but for the most part, this poor lady was all alone.

This is why I've learned to really talk to the ICU patients when I'm treating them. Even if they are on paralytics and sedation or can't respond for any other reason, I speak to them as though they could. I always tell them BEFORE I touch them because I put myself in their shoes....I would much rather know when someone is going to put their hands on me than for it to be a suprise. I remember shortly after I was hired working with a nurse who gave 3 enemas in a row without ONCE telling the patient what she was doing. The patient had Guillian-Barre's and was semi-comatose, but that doesn't matter. I'm sure she could still hear and feel. To top it off, she was Asian and they tend to be REALLY private people. To being doing something like an enema and never once warn her....well, after the second one, I finally leaned over and explained briefly what we were doing and why to the patient.

I never let myself forget that I'm treating a human being and when I'm helping another nurse with turns or baths, I try to keep things professional. It's hard sometimes because there are those nurses who like to joke and gossip while wiping someone's bottom, but I try to steer the conversation so it's focused on the patient we are helping.

I never watched ER until last year....ROFL. But I love it now. I don't like how Abby wasn't content to continue as a nurse because it seems like shows portray nursing as a stepping stone to an MD. What's wrong with being a really good nurse?? I'm waiting for Sam to head off to med school.......

Melanie :p

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
I noticed that comment too. But that probably also hit the nail on the head in that many patients probably under-appreciate the role of nurses in the healthcare setting. A lot of people probably do think, "she's just a nurse."

I love that show though. Been watching it since high school. Actually made me want to be a nurse in the first place (think Nurse Hathaway).

carol was a witch. anywho, when dr. green died i stopped watching regularly.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
This is why I've learned to really talk to the ICU patients when I'm treating them. Even if they are on paralytics and sedation or can't respond for any other reason, I speak to them as though they could. I always tell them BEFORE I touch them because I put myself in their shoes....I would much rather know when someone is going to put their hands on me than for it to be a suprise. I remember shortly after I was hired working with a nurse who gave 3 enemas in a row without ONCE telling the patient what she was doing. The patient had Guillian-Barre's and was semi-comatose, but that doesn't matter. I'm sure she could still hear and feel. To top it off, she was Asian and they tend to be REALLY private people. To being doing something like an enema and never once warn her....well, after the second one, I finally leaned over and explained briefly what we were doing and why to the patient.

I never let myself forget that I'm treating a human being and when I'm helping another nurse with turns or baths, I try to keep things professional. It's hard sometimes because there are those nurses who like to joke and gossip while wiping someone's bottom, but I try to steer the conversation so it's focused on the patient we are helping.

I never watched ER until last year....ROFL. But I love it now. I don't like how Abby wasn't content to continue as a nurse because it seems like shows portray nursing as a stepping stone to an MD. What's wrong with being a really good nurse?? I'm waiting for Sam to head off to med school.......

Melanie :p

why didn't she just become an NP? i would have been happier with that.. the show seemed to make it like nurses were less than docs and all ambitious (sp?) nurses go to med school.

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Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

I love ER. You have to remember, it's a drama, not a reality show. If you want reality, turn on the Discovery Channel - they have some great documentaries on nursing as well as an actual ER.

On a different note, has anyone been watching House? I don't really care for it because 99.9999% of the time, whatever the real cause of the condition - it's impossible to figure out. Somehow though, I keep watching it hoping one day I'll understand what they are talking about half the time.

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

I love ER. and i agree, it has not been the same since Mark Green died. However, i do watch it fo what it is, a TV show. my family laughs at me cuz i yell at them when they do something thats not quite right {where are your gloves, stupid) but i do enjoy the drama of it all.

Discovery Channels shows are definitely more correct, and i enjoy thme when i have time to watch. usually its with a textbook on my lap.....

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I used to love it when Dr. Carter was a surgical med student....Dr. Ross and Dr. Benton. also Nurse Hathaway. Lots of good stuff back then. Do you remember the episode where omar epps (med student) killed himself.....The patient goes into the ER and they page omar and the patients pager goes off and they realize its him.....Awesome episode....Dr. Benton was so tough on his med students. Now its to much like a soap opera set in the ER. Everyone doing everyone, dr's have breakdowns, killing patients, going overseas, and lada dada da..........Back then the story line was much different.....I guess thats why it was a top 5 show back then.......

Getting rid of dr. green was the end.....Ive probably seen 3 episodes since his departure, but almost all of them with him in it.

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I think anyone who works in a hospital should watch that..I work in a ccu. and i have caught CNA's hanging out in pt rooms that are vented. They tell m e they cannot hear me :angryfire :banghead:

some day i feel like a baby sitter

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I agree with jenn. this is a drama and that is what i watch it for. if i want reality that is what discovery health channel is for. i have watched every episode since it started. plus i watch the reruns on TNT in the am often. i have seen every episode many times. With regards to Abby and the whole nurse/MD question. this was actually addressed in an episode last season. she is having a conversation with Sam. Sam asked her why she went to the dark side. Abby says that going to med school was always the plan. she only went into nursing to put her husband through med school and then when he was done he was going to put her through med school but they got divorced. in their agreement he was supposed to pay her tution but he didn't so she had to quit for awhile.

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