How about a reality show about Nurses....like "COPS"

[MouseMichelle]

I wish that someone somewhere would do a reality show about nurses. Go into ALL field of nursing, including LTC and do a reality show about how hard nurses have it, how it's a hard job, how we need to be respected more etc. I believe that COPS that has been on for YEARS really has contributed to how police officers practice now, I can imagine if I wanted to be a cop and watching that show as a kid, I would learn a lot from those shows and be more savvy. If you watch COPS from the 80's and compare the show to the present time I feel that the current cops learned a lot and are thus more safe, handle situations better etc.

I have seen documentary's about nurses but only in peds, or in NICU. But I feel that a reality show in ALL fields should be done. Now maybe legally it can't be done, because come on, for example what company is going to allow cameras to be in SNF's a whole privacy issue etc. Or what about just doing shows on interviews with nurses, their challenges, accomplishments etc.

When I was a teen I read a Echo Heron's books and I loved them, it gave raw details about nursing and I think she wrote from back in the early 80's.

I think the public needs to see what nurses do as a living, that way we're more respected, that way people will stnad up for us etc.

Just my opinion what do you think?

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Ugh, please no. Fictional TV does enough damage, lol. If people saw the real behind the scenes they would be disgusted by the lack of intellectualism and professionalism. Besides, there is that little problem of pt privacy, lol.

[MouseMichelle]

Ugh, please no. Fictional TV does enough damage, lol. If people saw the real behind the scenes they would be disgusted by the lack of intellectualism and professionalism. Besides, there is that little problem of pt privacy, lol.

Now that cracks me up yeah pt. privacy is an issue, but there are plenty of great nurses who are professional and do have the intellect :)

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I'm aware. However, you and I don't make for good TV. Think about what would end op on the screen, about some of your peers. Do you really want that profile representing the profession on national tv?

[systoly]

What facility would agree to have their staff to patient ratio and chronic presentation of unattainable goals on display?

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

snort. I didn't even think of that, systoly.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

"Nurse Jackie" beat out "HathoRNe" in ratings, and were pretty much polar opposites in the type of nurse that was portrayed.

Just goes to show you.....the viewers watch the trainwrecks of society. It's interesting and titillating, and it sells.

I shudder to think of what would show up on TV after hitting the cutting room floor, if a producer decided to put on a "reality show" about Nurses.

[MouseMichelle]

I'm loving you responses.....wonderful and excellent points.

It's too bad that we as nurses can't even make it on reality shows....sad.....

[MouseMichelle]

"Nurse Jackie" beat out "HathoRNe" in ratings, and were pretty much polar opposites in the type of nurse that was portrayed.

Just goes to show you.....the viewers watch the trainwrecks of society. It's interesting and titillating, and it sells.

I shudder to think of what would show up on TV after hitting the cutting room floor, if a producer decided to put on a "reality show" about Nurses.

Uh but what if the producer was a nurse with many years of experiece

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Review the list of writers for the show "HawthoRNe", and you will get your answer.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I have to wonder whether 'COPS' is actually a representation of police work any more than the so-called 'nurse' shows actually represent what most of us do on a daily basis.

Honestly, I'll say if some producers of a show came to my hospital, I'd decline to be shown on camera. Maybe I'm contributing to society's ignorance of what nurses really do, but I'd rather go on about my business and take care of my folks and go home. That's just me. Can't fault someone else for a different POV.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Speaking as a cop, COPS has nothing to do with how we work. An informed viewer, such as a prudent officer, will routinely observe errors if not outright violations of law and procedure enacted by the officers seen on the program. You'll also see officers receiving more backup support than you ever will in real life. I've never been on the show nor have I worked for a department highlighted on the show, yet I know of and have spoken with officers who have been featured on COPS. They've told me that they've never experienced such a large amount of gung ho support from other members of their department. The reason: everybody wants to be on tv, and like many, some officers on the show, will engage in tough man activity that you'd never engage in in real life encounters. Some of it is nothing short of silly and stupid.

All that said, don't suggest that COPS has done anything for cops. Many of us watch it though for entertainment value as much as the "civilian" viewer does.

Paramedics was a show featuring paramedics. It was rather boring to me. I've been a paramedic as well, and I've watched paramedics while being a paramedic. It didn't hold my interest.

Trauma: Life in the ER has featured nurses. There have been similar programs that featured nurses in the course of the show. Most, however, feature doctors.

Let me qualify this with stating that I'm in nursing school now and plan to become a nurse. However, I don't think a show about nurses doing nurse stuff would last long. As a whole, (going out on a limb here) I don't think nurses have enough autonomy to conduct in the dynamic activity that a viewer would want to enjoy. What would be the setting? Medical-surgical, home health, rehab, critical care...probably not. People just wouldn't get into it. I wouldn't for sure. The emergency department has been done way too much. Let it die.

To produce an episode of cops the film crew must ride for months. I can't imagine how long a crew would have to shadow nurses to produce an episode interesting enough to sell commercials and thus survive. That's the caveat here. The show will have to be appealing enough to a targeted audience to be watched and buy things featured on the commercials. That's how it works.