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?
Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
I watched parts Grey's Anatomy a few times, and while it's entertaining I also think that it portrays nursing very badly. This is why I no longer watch the show. Before I went to nursing school, I used to buy into a lot of the negative media stereotypes. This is why I didn't major in nursing at college the first time around, because I thought that it wasn't a respectable choice. I probably realize more than a lot of people how much damage can be caused when we allow the "just a nurse" attitude to persist.
After my first semester in the nursing program, I joined the Center for Nursing Advocacy. Membership is inexpensive, and I think that this organization is doing good work to push for more positive media portrayals of nurses.
I had to go to nursing school myself to realize that I was wrong, but for most people it is up to the media and us as individuals to change their minds.
Personally I love the show. It makes me laugh, cry, think and relate in some ways. I am completely addicted and will support the show in anyway I can. The media never has given me a negative view of nursing that didn't happen until I got my first job as a nurse. I definately agree with whoever said the problem in nursing is not the media it is the in fighting in the profession its self. The media, in my oppinion, doesn't give nursing a bad rap nurses do. Bell nurse 7yrs in
I agree with you. I also think the media helps out a great deal with the unrealistic position they put nurses in, in the movies, with the help of a medical board.
I like watching the show too, but it's pretty ridiculous. I don't think they portray anyone in a good manner nurses, doctors, students.... in "real life" is the staff constantly having sex inside the hospital or better yet, do the surgeons discuss their love life while performing surgery? jeez i hope not.
I like watching the show too, but it's pretty ridiculous. I don't think they portray anyone in a good manner nurses, doctors, students.... in "real life" is the staff constantly having sex inside the hospital or better yet, do the surgeons discuss their love life while performing surgery? jeez i hope not.
In the 8 years I've been a nurse, I have encountered nurses who talk in detail about their sex lives. Also, fooling around happens.
I don't think this is limited to medicine, it probably happens everywhere. It is just the culture now - we are pretty focused on sex.
I enjoy GA, honestly. I'm so enthralled with the character setup, and of course, Patrick Dempsey!
The way they portray nurses or anyone for that matter, doesn't bother me at all really, it's just TV and a show that I enjoy taking part in watching. I don't take the comments or snide remarks/lines to heart while watching.
I'm tired and have a 4 year old. 
:chuckle 
ICRN2008, BSN, RN
897 Posts
I watched parts Grey's Anatomy a few times, and while it's entertaining I also think that it portrays nursing very badly. This is why I no longer watch the show. Before I went to nursing school, I used to buy into a lot of the negative media stereotypes. This is why I didn't major in nursing at college the first time around, because I thought that it wasn't a respectable choice. I probably realize more than a lot of people how much damage can be caused when we allow the "just a nurse" attitude to persist.
After my first semester in the nursing program, I joined the Center for Nursing Advocacy. Membership is inexpensive, and I think that this organization is doing good work to push for more positive media portrayals of nurses.
I had to go to nursing school myself to realize that I was wrong, but for most people it is up to the media and us as individuals to change their minds.
Just my $0.02
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org