Ridiculous medical mistakes on TV

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We've all heard it: nurses can't watch medical shows without getting annoyed about how inaccurate they are. Lately, I'm finding that the most ridiculous medical mistakes happen on police procedural dramas (Law and Order, Criminal Minds, etc.); at least the medical shows have people with medical backgrounds advising them.

Anybody have some funny tv medical mistakes to share??

Last week I was watching a rerun of Criminal Minds. The victim had been drugged with haldol by her kidnapper. When the police rushed in to save her, the EMS gave her a bolus of narcan and she magically awoke. It was a flipping miracle!! ?

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Nurse Jackie really grinds my gears. She's in recovery and she gets her license back yet the same day she pops pills and no longer has drug tests? Uh, no. It is a multiple year process. I've never been in recovery and even I know that...

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I was watching an episode of Seinfeld where George was in the hospital for chest pain (which they ruled out it was nothing I believe but he still was admitted to a room had to stay over night mind you) and maybe I couldn't see it right (or I could be remembering wrong) but I swear he had a Foley catheter coming out of his nose!!!!! Maybe it was supposed to be like a feeding tube? But again, he was in for possible chest pain. I just couldn't wrap my head around why they would do that!? I kept yelling at the tv about it bc it was one of the more ridiculous things I've seen and my husband couldn't understand why it was so crazy. Tell me someone else has seen this episode! It's "the heart attack" season 2 episode 11.

Also, in an episode of law and order: svu a detective was questioning an elderly serial murderer for where he hid the other bodies and he had oxygen on because he was sick or dying or something. The murderer wasn't giving it up so the detective grabbed the oxygen tubing and squeezed it off until the murderer couldn't breath at all and gave in! So funny! It was like he was squeezing his airway or something. It was very dramatic.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Also, in an episode of law and order: svu a detective was questioning an elderly serial murderer for where he hid the other bodies and he had oxygen on because he was sick or dying or something. The murderer wasn't giving it up so the detective grabbed the oxygen tubing and squeezed it off until the murderer couldn't breath at all and gave in! So funny! It was like he was squeezing his airway or something. It was very dramatic.

I so remember laughing at that one. And talking to the TV as usual.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Also, in an episode of law and order: svu a detective was questioning an elderly serial murderer for where he hid the other bodies and he had oxygen on because he was sick or dying or something. The murderer wasn't giving it up so the detective grabbed the oxygen tubing and squeezed it off until the murderer couldn't breath at all and gave in! So funny! It was like he was squeezing his airway or something. It was very dramatic.

How about the SVU episode where the detective's pregnant wife was in an accident- they had the other detective start an IV before she was extricated and then (who needs spinal precautions after a traumatic accident?) had her pushing in the ambulance!

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Anyone remember the old MA-1 ventilators of decades ago? Well they all ended up in Hollywood for their retirement party. They are a more "mechanical" and impressive looking "breathing machine" than modern ventilators. You'll see 'em sitting in the corner of the patient's room when the patient isn't even intubated. For dramatic effect I'm sure.

And how many of you ICU nursers can tell the "beeps" and the rhythm on the monitor aren't anywhere near the same rate. The monitor clearly shows a tachycardia and the beeps are a steady NSR.

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Specializes in my patients.

1. All the CPR that is done with bent elbows.

2. IV bags that hang, don't drip, yet have monitors that are on and "infusing."

3. Completely inappropriate vital signs.

3B. Vitals signs "updating" behind the patient yet no telemetry cables are attached to them, no B/P cuff, no pulse ox...and they are wide awake and talking...

4. Nasal cannula oxygen on a patient who is 18, wide awake, young, and healthy. Does hospital gown = oxygen therapy every single time Hollywood? Evidently...

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Specializes in ER.

One little detail that drives me wild is that they can rarely get the nasal cannulas on right. They go under the chins, you idiots!

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Grey's Anatomy: when Bailey injects HIV into a teenager in order to cure another disease. "....you just take the cap off..."

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/LDRP/Ortho ASC.

When they're on "life support" which I guess on tv just means unconscious with a nasal cannula.

When they're intubated like 3cm at the lip. Poor McDreamy.

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Specializes in M/S, pedi.

And my favorite is how the IV pumps are never infusing properly, ie Alaris pumps that are flashing red or yellow not green. They can figure out how to shut off alarm but can't turn the light to green?

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

I watched reruns of Emergency from the 1970's. D5W IV started on everyone!

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How about on Grey's Anatomy when they scrub in to surgery, get gowned and gloved, and THEN tie their mask behind their head.

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