It Ain't Like The Movies!

[madricka]

What nursing or medical pet peeves drive you bonkers in movies or on TV?

I find myself yelling at the tv and huffing about how wrong they got everything.

For example, when people rip out their IV's but don't bleed. Or ETT that are not taped down. AT ALL. Or when they shock a flatline. Or when nurses and doctors run for even the most minor things. Code patients who wake up looking refreshed and alert/oriented. Oh! And when doctors do things like start IVs or clean up vomit (yeah, right).

What about you?

TV/movie pet peeves?

Best/worst medical shows?

[Rexie]

It's a really minor thing but it drives me nuts that the everything from the surgeons' scrubs to the patient gowns all appear freshly ironed, crisp and wrinkle-free.

[NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN]

My two big ones have already been covered: codes and labor.

He's in v-tach!

*monitor flatlines*

Shock!

*dramatic pause*

*normal heartbeat returns*

*patient gasps and regains consciousness fully oriented*

"My water just broke!"

*agonized screaming from a contraction*

"THE BABY IS COMING RIGHT NOWWWWW."

It's not on TV, but I have another pet peeve with things that are supposed to be EKG rhythms that bear no resemblance to an actual cardiac rhythm. Hospital cardiology billboard? Random scribble. Name badge holder? random scribble. Fancy nail decal? Random scribble. Come on people, normal sinus rhythm is not trademarked!

[riaeg]

I used to be glued to TV when ER was on, like 1st or 2nd season. Then I got too involved in RN program to have time to watch TV. I have never watched Grey's Anatomy. But, I can relate to laughing when they shock flat line. My husband seems to think I am too critical when watching TV so I try to keep my comments to myself. LOL

[dec2007]

"House" used to drive me nuts. One patient, surrounded by several doctors, almost never a nurse in sight.

And the doctors are hanging the IV drugs, the same doctors do neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery, plus they also exam specimens under the microscope and do all the CT scans and MRI personally.

[NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN]

And the doctors are hanging the IV drugs, the same doctors do neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery, plus they also exam specimens under the microscope and do all the CT scans and MRI personally.

None of that bothered me as much as the fact that they would waste time with differential discussions while the patients apparently went days without basic lab work. Oh no, he's turning yellow, his liver is shutting down! Really, that was the FIRST clue? Lol

[NuGuyNurse2b]

you know what I just thought of? when you watch the credits roll at the end, there is always a medical consultant on board...so it makes you wonder how any of these discrepancies made it past that person???

[AspiringNurseMW]

Not nursing-specific but, years ago an actor friend pointed out that almost always coffee cups and mugs are clearly empty. They are not being carried or handled as if they have actual coffee.

Since then, I see this all the time.

OMG THIS DRIVE ME NUTS! I pointed it out to my husband just last week.

[knurse10]

When they shock asystole in movies. I'm like yeah..... not really....

Or how Grey's anatomy ignores the existence of nurses for the most part. The hospital just runs by itself

[Mhsrnbsn]

Honestly.... The only damn show that ever came close to resembling real medicine is sadly SCRUBS! And that was meant as a comedy!

there are nurses and doctors and they are each portraying their actual role! It was so refreshing. There was a lot not right in that show, but at least nurses existed and were the ones caring for the patients.

[O9eleven]

you know what I just thought of? when you watch the credits roll at the end, there is always a medical consultant on board...so it makes you wonder how any of these discrepancies made it past that person???

It's probably the same consultant who makes the rules and regulations for Medicare/private insurance reimbursements. SMH.

[paroxetina]

My biggest pet peeve is when you have an "unconscious" (sleeping) patient, not on a ventilator, but the most prominent sound is the sound of a vent. Watch for it, and you'll never be able to un-see it.

[pixiestudent2]

Honestly.... The only damn show that ever came close to resembling real medicine is sadly SCRUBS! And that was meant as a comedy!

there are nurses and doctors and they are each portraying their actual role! It was so refreshing. There was a lot not right in that show, but at least nurses existed and were the ones caring for the patients.

Carla (was that her name?) the nurse, claimed she had never gone to college. So that was disappointing haha