I was just wondering what other nurses' thoughts are on the show, "Grey's Anatomy". I have been following the show for a while (who can resist Patrick Dempsey?? :) and I have to say, it seems to me that the show portrays nurses in a derogatory way a lot of the time.
For example, every time a doctor or intern needs something, they yell "Nurse!" and then the nurse comes and is ordered to do something. I have never seen them addressed by their name. Or last week, an intern yelled at a nurse like she was a child because his patient had been discharged without orders, and she responded, "I assumed someone else had taken care of the paperwork. We're short staffed". I thought that was kind of ridiculous. As nurses it is our job to be sure the patient has received any necessary teaching/materials before they go home and paperwork and charting is one of the most important components of our job. That is our responsibility. The show made it look like the nurse didn't even care about the discharged patient, and that just looks unprofessional.
Or last night, the nurses were shown going on strike and at one point they were passing along information to one of the doctors about their patients, such as "so and so never takes their pills, etc.". The doctor acted surprised they were doing this and one nurse responded, "They're our patients too, Geroge." I felt upset after hearing this statement because in nursing school we are taught to be the advocates for our patients. That is our professional responsibility and if anything, I would think it'd be the other way around. Nurses are the ones who spend most of their time with the patients, not the doctors and interns- of course they are OUR patients!! Although the show doesn't depict this at all. On the show doctors are seen spending lots of time with the patients in their rooms, moving beds, bringing food trays, transporting patients, etc. I saw a nurse in a room once, but when the doctor walked in he said "Why don't you go get Mrs. Smith's meds together?" as if she were a child or something. Obviously the show overlooked the fact that managing/distributing meds are solely the nurse's responsiblity, not the doctor's.
Finally, on the show there was a syphilis outbreak and of course, the nurse was the one who gave it to one of the interns. She got it from one of the other doctors.
I am not trying to put down the show- it's a good show- but I think that the writers need to take more responsibility for the way they portray the profession of nursing, especially considering what a shortage we have right now. Who will want to go into nursing if they see them portrayed that way? And even if they still are interested, we go through too much during nursing school and work too hard to be brushed off as the doctors' slutty handmaidens with STD's. Am I the only one who feels this way?
I don't watch this show, but... did anyone point out that before health care workers can strike there is a federal law which requires a 10 day notice? And that hospitals either shut down most of the beds, ship people out and stop scheduling surgeries, OR hire a bunch of traveling/agency scabs?
I've been on strike, yes I cared about my patients, but the point is THERE WERE ONLY 8 TO 10 PEOPLE LEFT IN THERE! Nurses do not just walk out on people! :angryfire
I think on last week's show the hospital was given it's notice but I don't remember how long. It seems like they said 10 days, but I may just be thinking that now because you said it! :)
I love the show, but they do need to portray the nurses in a more accurate way. ER wasn't the greatest, but it was much better than Grey's. I also enjoy the show 'House', but they seem to ignore nurses completely. The doctors do all of the bedside care! Now really....
I like the show - haven't missed an episode yet - but after the last couple I've stopped caring. They portray nurses as rude and short-tempered - what about those of us who care for their patients and go out of their way to make them comfortable? I find it quite amusing how much time the residents spend with the patients on the show - only a rare few do so in our hospital. When will they start portraying us in a good light? The light we deserve??
"I for one love Grey's Anatomy. I love my profession also, but I take the TV shows at face value as what they are for....entertainment"~Kristiern1
The nurses yersterday i think were shown in a great way...very realistic in many ways....in regards to how it showed with only doctors, and temps, and any nurses not in the union....the healthcare system doesnt work...how nurses are important too. & george is my hero....& he's a union man...lol...and when they tried tog et george to help the patients...loved it...it tried to show how nurses have to live too....i thought it got a bit ridiculous in the abr
but you ahve to take it as a TV show....
...ever notice how sometiems they put their stethescope's in their ears backwards....im sure they know how...but when your filming a TV SHOW...soemtiems they might just inadvertantly put them in the wrong way...lol....ya...i bet izzie....ya you can hear NOTHING!! lol
I love the show and watch it every chance I get. It is a show about the lives of surgical interns not nurses. personally, i don't really care what they say about nurses even though I am one. I watch the show because I like it, not so that for an hour I can sit there and pick apart every little comment. I also love House, and again it is a show about infectious disease doctors and since it only shows them having one patient at a time, I bet they (doctors) would do alot since there are 4 of them. If you want to see nurses potrayed correctly then watch something on discovery health channel. but I must say the truth isn't always good. some of those nurses scare as well.
I enjoy watching the show. I wish they could just bump up the time because I usually have to work early Monday morning. I have never found myself offended from this show because thats all it is, a TV show. The goal of the show is to entertaine people and I feel it does a good job of this. If people watch a TV show or even a movie for that matter and base their decision on what they should or should not be then I think they need to do a little more research.
While I have always enjoyed watching the show, I have not always agreed with much of what is portrayed in the show. However...the show doesn't present itself as a show based on "a true story", so....
I kind of like laughing my buns off at those interns who are as green as green can get when it comes to "not having a clue" about anything. Nurses know - in real life - that we are the ones running circles around interns. We are the ones taking care of the patients 24/7. We are the ones who have to call the patients doctors when we assess something that shouldn't be, or when the patients need a change in their pain med, etc..
I was hoping the nurses stayed out on strike, so the doctors would have to join in helping with patient care like the temp nurses were doing. Now THAT would have been a show to write about. :rotfl: The temp nurses would be saying, "Gee doc, uh...don't know...not from this hospital..guess you'll have to find it yourself." :rotfl:
I'm another nursing student that was embarrassed by the inaccurate portrayal of nursing students on last night's show. What does "UGH, I'm kind of a nursing student," mean? Even my husband turned to ask me, "Do you ever act like that?" :angryfire: Yes, I clipped him one.
I can bet that nurses are not the only ones upset about unrealistic portrayals. Just imagine what residents and interns are thinking about the show.:chuckle:
I've seen a few of these shows, not a fan. Not only do I not like it because of how it portrays nurses, but the show is basically entirely innaccurate in every other aspect too. I've watched it a few times basically because it is like a train wreck, couldnt look away. I'll tell you one show I love, Scrubs, laugh out loud funny.
I've seen a few of these shows, not a fan. Not only do I not like it because of how it portrays nurses, but the show is basically entirely innaccurate in every other aspect too. I've watched it a few times basically because it is like a train wreck, couldnt look away. I'll tell you one show I love, Scrubs, laugh out loud funny.
LanaBanana
1,007 Posts
I think on last week's show the hospital was given it's notice but I don't remember how long. It seems like they said 10 days, but I may just be thinking that now because you said it! :)