Nursing vs the media

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just reading another thing about this, but it made me think of how disgustingly nurses are represented by our media.

Example #1) House MD. Sort of entertaining, but oh my lord, most offensive to nurses ever. My "favorite" quote, Foreman asked a little girl to help hold her brother while he did a LP. She asked "Is this all that nurses do?" He answered something like "It's all we trust them to do." I was horrified! Seriously, this is the message we want out there?? Don't even get me started on how the nurses don't exist on these shows. The docs give all injections, all IVs, all vitals... how many patients are now going into the hospital expecting to actually see a dr longer than 10 minutes during the day? They are in for a shock!

Example #2) Grey's Anatomy. Love the show, but still. When Jane Doe was recovering from her burns/pregnancy, she often just watched the nurses stand around and gossip. Really, that's all I do all day, how about you?

And sadly, the other culprit that grinds my gears: ER. It's probably the most accurate depiction I have seen, HOWEVER, ever noticed how the nurses always screw things up? They all have to sleep with their doctors. Abbey decided to become a doctor, b/c nursing wasn't enough. Not even a NP, a doctor. Sam killed a pt by going outside her scope. Even Nurse Hathaway, most famous tv nurse, was a suicidal mess and dropped everything to follow her man who by the way, didn't express an inkling of interest in their twin daughters.

This sort of thing just drives me nuts. Anyone else?

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

I realize that TV is all about fiction. I laugh at the nurses on TV. There was one TV show that was on back in the 80s, based on a nurse. It was one program that attempted to show things from a nurse's point of view.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Hospice and Telemetry.

I sometimes find myself screaming at the tv during medical shows.

At least the first season of "Gray's Anatomy" featured the nurses showing the interns what had to be done. Except for the hapless nurse whose job was to transmit syphilis from one doctor to the next, the nurses are portrayed pretty professionally.

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Yeah this kind of thing grinds my gears sometimes too. What really gets me is that the patients truly have no idea what we do. I had a guy literally ask me for his meds at 8:37 (I'm making up the time, but that's what it was - an odd miute like that) last night. I thought he was joking at first. These were prn meds obviously, and he asked what was the exact time he had them, so I checked the computer and that's when he was due next. I had to explain that, while I would be as prompt as possible, I could not guarantee the exact minute I could be there as I had other patients who needed me as well. He wanted me to give the meds early. I said no. So he put his call light on every five minutes (literally!!!) for almost an hour! I just told the tech to tell him the nurse would be in when it was time for his meds. He insisted that I was wrong about the time, despite the fact that I had the computer right there that showed what time I had scanned the meds. No matter what I said to him, he was convinced that I was not busy (hah! 2 admissions at the same time!) and should be there exactly when he wanted me.

That wouldn't bother me too much - I'd just think he was a jerk, or he didn't understand - but it happens a lot. He might have been a bit on the extreme side, but still. I don't necessarily care about the TV shows, but I wish someone in the industry would stand up and say, "okay, this is how it is", instead of all this patient = customer bullcrap! I'm sorry, you come into the hospital with a life threatening problem, and you walk out. You should be happy! Not upset because you had to wait 15 minutes for your jell-o! :angryfire

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I am also concerned about nursing's image in the media. Have you ever heard of the Center for Nursing Advocacy? http://www.nursingadvocacy.org This is a good place to start of you want to get more involved in these types of issues.

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I am also concerned about nursing's image in the media. Have you ever heard of the Center for Nursing Advocacy? www.nursingadvocacy.org This is a good place to start of you want to get more involved in these types of issues.

I just went and wrote letters to Grey's, House, and ER. I feel productive now!

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House MD, that is some funny stuff. When that guy falls on the floor..and House yells down the hall, "Nurse, clean up on isle 10!"

I hate to be the one to break it, but the average US citizen has no clue how the medical system works, and I doubt that they care. Most people watch these stupid shows for pure mindless entertainment. We have much bigger problems with the media when a presidential debate is considered ground breaking on Youtube. :confused:

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Hospice and Telemetry.

I had a guy literally ask me for his meds at 8:37

I really feel for you having to deal with someone trying to bully you in to pampering him. It doesn't matter what his "psych-social"motivation is; he is still a bully and a disruption. Unfortunately, we still have to deal with our customer.

In my acute hospital days, I frequently had patients balk when I brought meds to them. The would "instruct" me how they always did it at home. They wanted some pills before meals, some with, others afterward. Others might want the pills spaced out just because they only took one or two at a time. With only six patients I might manage to keep coming back to ONE patient every half hour or so to give the four or five pills between IVs, labs, discharge planning conferences and charting. I understood I wasn't about to change a person's lifestyle (and need to control everything) during my eight hour shift.

Now, working LTC with up to 36 residents (patients), I fill in on the floor when the LPN is out. We still have residents (or families) who are every bit as demanding and controlling.

At least in LTC, you can establish a routine. The demanding residents become a part of the routine. Make sure Mrs. P. gets her snack at the right time. Make sure another resident's daughter won't have anything major to complain about when she comes in at meal time. We all know the drill.

I'm really not sure how much the media portrayal even matters once the residents and families adjust to the health care setting.

Whatever they may have previously thought is modified as they see what I and other members of the nursing team do to meet their needs. It doesn't take long for most people to figure out doctors breeze in and out but nurses and CNAs are always there.

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Specializes in Utilization Review/Case Management.

Just a thought as I was reading these posts...

I too get "upset" at how nursing is portrayed in these TV shows/movies sometimes. (to the point of annoying my family when I say "Oh right, like THAT would happen" when a doc is drawing blood for labs, etc)

However, I have never had a patient say "well on *tv show X* the doctor does _____ or the nurse does_____". Also, if they question how things are done, demand certain care that is unreasonable, I try to educate. (I know it's hard sometimes, and some people never learn, but I gotta try....)

Also, I wonder if the police, lawyers, etc. have the same concerns? Maybe I should go lurk on one of their boards ;)

Just kidding, I spend to much time on this one already.

For the record, I DON'T think any of the bad treatment/sexist attitudes seen on some of these shows is in anyway OK in the real work environment. But really, if you look at all the characters in these shows, none of them are "real" (doctor, nurse or patient), and most people know they are fiction (I hope).:twocents:

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Funny. I LOVE 'House'. I watch it for the medical conditions and the ensuing discussions. [Okay .....they are a little far-fetched!!] And he is a big jerk about the nurses, but really, who in the world would ever believe that? And who would ever believe that he could get away with his behavior?

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Funny. I LOVE 'House'. I watch it for the medical conditions and the ensuing discussions. [Okay .....they are a little far-fetched!!] And he is a big jerk about the nurses, but really, who in the world would ever believe that? And who would ever believe that he could get away with his behavior?

The thing is, he is a jerk to just about everyone (although I do love him!).

I really think that too many people are taking these shows too personally. They are TV shows...entertainment, stop stressing. Those people that are rude patients will be rude patients no matter what they watch on TV.

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Funny. I LOVE 'House'. I watch it for the medical conditions and the ensuing discussions. [Okay .....they are a little far-fetched!!] And he is a big jerk about the nurses, but really, who in the world would ever believe that? And who would ever believe that he could get away with his behavior?

:yeahthat:

He's a big jerk, period. That's a lot of the point.

And have you noticed that they wheel patients to their cars, start their own IV's, assist in neurosurgery, do their own labs and vitals - yeah, in some alternate universe. Television compresses time and tasks for dramatic impact, not reality.

I love that show. And yeah, Hugh Laurie could put his shoes under my bed.

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