Is the NBC Show 'ER' Realistic?

[ummnafeesah]

Hi,

I'm a nursing student and no I didn't decide to become a nurse after watching ER! (ha ha) I wanted to be an MD as a child then switched my career goals to nursing in middle school. Started working on my BSN straight out of high school but took a "marriage and kids" break. Now I am 26, married with two kids (4 & 2) and hoping to graduate with my BSN May 2004! Anyway back to my question, I *do* enjoy ER, it is my favorite show but I wanted to ask you real nurses if ER a *realistic* portrayal of nurses and what their days working in a hospital are like?

[pkmom]

Originally posted by Agnus

This family also told me they expected a quick death because that's the way it is on ER, a realistic show".

Anyone who believes that what he/she sees on TV is real needs to have his/her head examined. Please!

I love the show; I love the way it makes me cry because I need the emotional release. Thursdays are my favorite day because of that show.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

Some of it is right, you can tell they were at least trying. Some is just so far off though. They deal with codes ALL THE TIME and they're always cracking the chest and getting the pt back. And EVERYTHING in the whole hospital occurs either in the ER or the OR.

I'm especially irritated how they do deliveries in the ER and then hold the mom and baby down there awhile to stabilize the baby. A few episodes ago I remember them failing to get a PIV in a baby and did a UVC insertion rather then call OB or Peds. And of course they got it in in about 2 seconds and everybody was fine and happy. No OB or NICU team ever showed up.

I like to watch the show though. It's a nighttime soap opera.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

When I watch Trauma, Life in the ER I get all stressed and tense, just like I was there. So I don't watch it anymore.

One good thing about ER they have brought the issue of long patient waits up several times, so we have less "drive through" traffic- meaning they are willing to wait 30 min. However, they are MUCH less willing to wait for tests, scans etc. Everything needs to be done much faster than reality to meet expectations.

I always thought there was some sexual tension between Kerri Weaver and Jerry the desk clerk. Boy, guess that was a misread!

[ummnafeesah]

Originally posted by P_RN

SO........... what is your Mom's opinion of The Practice? How about Law & Order. My atty. said that is his favorite. One of mine too. I don't care that much for the Practice.

Oh she gets the biggest kick out of the Practice. She thinks it is so funny because she says no one would talk to judges the way the lawyers on the Practice do and get away with it.

She likes Law & Order but can't really catch it because of her schedule and she doesn't like the spin offs (SVU, Criminal Intent)..she said the thing they don't show in L &O is all the work and research that goes into preparing the case, "it's all so fast on tv!" she says.

[-jt]

I like THIRD WATCH much better.... Monday night NBC