ER the T.V. Show

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2005

THEY KILLED OFF DR GREEN??!! I knew there was a reason I quit watching. Glad I missed that episode!

It's too bad you missed it! The two episodes involving his death were some of the best ER has ever aired. First "The Letter" in which the staff finds out that he has passed away (recurrent brain tumor) and the second "On the Beach" that shows the days leading up to his death. Cried like a baby.

beckabeckahi · Mar 4, 2005

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.
I love ER. I've watched it since the beginning. I don't watch it for med errors though - I like the storylines.
I too miss Dr. Green . . . . . .
steph

I totally agree with you. I thought it was a wonderful portrayal of how helpless and trapped a patient could feel who suffered a stroke and lost ability to communicate.

bgh68 · Mar 4, 2005

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 thought that episode was great! I have the wonderful distinction of having worked at a hospital that was closed in a "blending" of local facilities and we used to have a friday morning er quiz, informal and fun but really in every episode, there was something we could find to research a little or at least discuss and have fun with. This episode showed to me, how I hope I always treated patients, like the nurse did there. Luka spoke to the patient the way I have seen docs do or maybe better!! I enjoyed it.

PennyC · Mar 4, 2005

I love ER, its one of few medical drama's, in my opinion, to inject a note on realism into it (like not defib'g a pt when in asystole). I do wish that they would have more storylines involving their nurses, rather than one at a time & only then if that nurse's storyline correlates with an MD. I'd also like to see the nurse's doing more of an assessment on their pts. prior to the MD's arrival.

chickdude1 · Mar 4, 2005

Thank you Sunnyjohn!!! I am currently in the Nurse Doctorate program (well, now being transitioned to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program--long story), and by the time I finish, I will probably have 11 or 12 YEARS of college education behind me, while most doctors have 8 (my original bachelor's degree was in computer science).

I'm trying to prep myself for those times when I receive that same comment--"You're just a nurse." I'm comforted by the fact that there are those out there who know we are more than that.

Smiles!!

Chickdude1

That may be how people see it. Think about it. Our society is set up to respect doctors. Such a big deal is made out of the fact that the doctor studies for so long that people forget that there are other health care professionals who train as hard and are just as dedicated.
(Not taking anything away from doctors... I think they are great people)
Anyway, remember that the other doctor in that scene (Abby) was a nurse at one point. It was former "Nurse Lockhart" in comparison with "Dr. Lockhart" that drew the greatest level of contrast for me.
I think the point was to show the way in which different healthcare professionals approach patient care.
No, she is not, "just a nurse".....
Agape

myoshii · Mar 4, 2005

I am hooked on House. I really like it. but then I watch it for what it is.....ENTERTAINMENT. I understand that some people are offended by the things on the show. but in my opinion there are more important causes for me to devote some of my time too. but that is my opinion. if you feel differently, I totally respect your opinions!
Kris

I have not heard of House. Let me know what network it is on and time.

I am hooked on ER since the show began. Sounds like I would probably like HOUSE.

ldkrn · Mar 4, 2005

I just wish we spent less time talking about doctors in these forums. Do you think they spend one tenth of the energy thinking about us as we do thinking about them?? They're coworkers and colleagues is all, just like the PTs and social workers. I have also found over the years that most of them, if you act professionally and know what you're talking about, are very respectful and easy to work with. Some fo them are real jerks but surprise, surprise, so are some of us.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 4, 2005

HOUSE is on Fox, Tuesdays at 9 ET/PT. Hugh Laurie (who played the dad in Stuart Little) is Dr. House, a grumpy, gnarly doctor who says all the sarcatic things most of us think but would never have the nerve to say out loud. He has chronic pain syndrome, which he believes makes it alright for him to disrespect everyone in his sphere of influence, including his patients and their families. In fact he goes out of his way to avoid having contact with patients. He butts heads with the hospital chief of staff over his bedside manner and behavior all the time. He has a team of young newly-fledged doctors (Omar Epps as a neurologist, Jennifer Morrison as an immunologist and Jesse Spencer as an intensivist) whose sole purpose appears to be to follow his bidding and prove his esoteric theories. (None of his patients has any common ailments, they all have rare and complex syndromes.) There are NO NURSES in their world. These young doctors do everything themselves, from drawing labs to giving meds to doing dressings to making beds, manning the defibrillator and putting in foleys. They even do all the diagnostic lab work themselves. Where do they find the time?

Daye · Mar 4, 2005

I love to watch ER but do not have time b/c i am always either studying for the next test, writing a care plan or preparing for my clinical rotation. I am not complaining though, when this is all behind me I will watch ER then. : )

NurseFirst · Mar 4, 2005

I remember the fall of 1994, when ER started as a series. I had worked in an ER for 4 1/2 years doing admitting, and about a year as a paramedic about 20 years previously. I have admired Michael Crighton, although Jurassic Park doesn't do much for me--but Andromeda Strain did, and still does, impress me. That book is as timely today as it was when he wrote it...how many years ago? Somewhere in the decades.

I liked Nurse Hathaway, although I understand she was originally supposed to be killed off in the first episode. I do find it a tad hard to believe that someone --especially 11 years ago when mental health issues were not talked about nearly as openly as they are now--who attempted suicide would be allowed to be charge when she recovered!!!

Loved Mark Green. Did get tired of the partner swapping. Was really upset when, after a long time away, I turned on ER to find the opening scene (the teaser) being two people under covers in bed...ai yi yi! I like John Carter, too, who will now be leaving the show. There were some great moments when Green was helping Carter deal with the realities of his chosen profession, and how to deal with some of the emotional parts.

Ah well. But then, I liked "Strong Medicine", too. All this is in the past tense, though. I haven't had a working tv in my house in years. Occasionally I miss it, like I would have loved to see the episode that this thread was initially about. When I worked as a paramedic I can remember a stroke victim I brought into a busy ER. I took her into a bay where she was to be left by me, without immediate attention from the ER staff. She was soooo frightened; she begged me not to leave her. I didn't blame her, and did what I could, tried to make her a bit more comfortable before I had to leave.

Eimear · Mar 5, 2005

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

I must agree. Dr. Green was my favourate too!!!:)

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2005

I must agree. Dr. Green was my favourate too!!!

Wow! They carry "ER" in IRELAND??!!