Reality TV : Nurses

Gator,SN · May 24, 2005

Cassinia, I was going to write a post very similar to yours, I totally agree!

Unless its a documentary made by another nurse, this is another jab at nurses/nursing.

When these types of shows are made the intention is to get ratings, so its hard to tell what the angle will be but lets face it, no one will want to watch a show about hard working females week after week unless it has some kind of sex, backstabbing etc...And someone commented that the nurses on the show wll no doubt be 5'7'' and slim. Either way, nurses are screwed because it is unrealistic that all nurses look that way and it sends the wrong message. On the other hand if the nurse is overweight, at all, the camera will pick up on it and then people will say that nurses should know better and look healthy.

When the fights break out (as they always do) on the show, I'm sure we'll see therapeutic communication at its finest as well as a collaborative effort during every group project.

Cassinia · May 25, 2005

Cassinia, I was going to write a post very similar to yours, I totally agree!
Unless its a documentary made by another nurse, this is another jab at nurses/nursing.
When these types of shows are made the intention is to get ratings, so its hard to tell what the angle will be but lets face it, no one will want to watch a show about hard working females week after week unless it has some kind of sex, backstabbing etc...And someone commented that the nurses on the show wll no doubt be 5'7'' and slim. Either way, nurses are screwed because it is unrealistic that all nurses look that way and it sends the wrong message. On the other hand if the nurse is overweight, at all, the camera will pick up on it and then people will say that nurses should know better and look healthy.
When the fights break out (as they always do) on the show, I'm sure we'll see therapeutic communication at its finest as well as a collaborative effort during every group project.

Normally, I'm not a cynical person but I've learned when it comes to nurses/nursing portrayed on tv we get blasted. Yes, I made the 5'7" comment; you're right, if any other type of nurse is portrayed then it makes it look like the nurse doesn't know how to care for herself or is a bad example of what a nurse is. I'm wondering if any of these nurses are over the age of 30. :chuckle

mattsmom81 · May 25, 2005

I admit I'm jaded about TV in general...in the way it portrays women. I just listened to Leno and back to back jokes regarding female anatomy, then listened to another show (NCIS)featuring 2 guys describing a woman as a 'blonde personality with 44 DD's'.

It just gets so tiring, this sexualizing. No wonder women have trouble getting taken seriously. Nurses...well we're women (mostly) so that explains much of the demeaning treatment IMHO.

Things got better for awhile on TV the last 20 yrs or so. Now it seems we're back to the same sexualizing of women I saw as a child.

Liddle Noodnik · May 25, 2005

I don't know how much of this has been said but I too can picture the pretty little nurses (shades of old Mediao movies? Well that's what "we" are - right?) Listen this is TV!!! they will WANT the most outstanding!

Oh I just heard the news story, an "example" they are thinking of is the overweight nurse - and they will get the weight trainer and the protein drinks. OH yeah, THAT is realistic too!

Hope they have good morals.

Hope they DO show an example of a real, hardworking, honest nurse.

I think if it were REALISTIC --- it would be GREAT!

Can't you see the "reality TV" theme - most always SOMEone gets drunk, jealous, stupid ...

Can you see one of us having a nervous breakdown - and the implication that we're "weak" or that person has personality problems?

rather than show that it comes from the reality of our LIVES?

And - if all I had to do was live in a mansion by the beach - and work - HOW HARD COULD THAT BE!!! :rotfl:

And as I go to put someone on the bedpan - oops, sorry guys and gals, I have to go do a spot over HERE! (With the other beautiful people).

Sorry - I am JUST - a LITTLE - SKEPTICAL! LOL

markjrn · May 25, 2005

Things got better for awhile on TV the last 20 yrs or so. Now it seems we're back to the same sexualizing of women I saw as a child.

My wife has been saying this for quite a while. She'll be glad to know she's not alone. It really ticks her off.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 25, 2005

It just gets so tiring, this sexualizing. No wonder women have trouble getting taken seriously. Nurses...well we're women (mostly) so that explains much of the demeaning treatment IMHO.
Things got better for awhile on TV the last 20 yrs or so. Now it seems we're back to the same sexualizing of women I saw as a child.

Unfortunately, it's the women on TV that are doing this to themselves. They allow this to be done to them. Hell, some encourage it, to get their way.

This put me in mind of Jenny McCarthy, who i saw being interviewed about her new show. She complained that ever since spreading it in Playboy, no one take her seriously and sees her for her mind, that she doesn't get serious acting offers. Well, she did it to herself, repeatedly i might add, since she hasn't limited herself to just one time of doing it. Wanna be taken seriously? Keep your **** clothes on.

Hmm i don't know. Maybe i just have way too much pride, dignity, and self-esteem to lower myself to such a level of degradement. Aparently, for the right price, others don't see it that way.

And i also remember the days when Cosmopolitan magazine used to encourage independence, etc. Now it's "It Never Hurts to Cry a Little at Work" to soften the boss up, regfering to breasts as "ta-tas" and "jugs" or a bunch of half-naked men, pretty much has turned into the female's answer to Maxim (yet another female degrading rag).

Raising a daughter ought to be a trip.

l.rae · May 27, 2005

"reality", "nursing" and "mansion"...in the same sentence? geesh, do we still use the term oxymoron?

hula · Jun 3, 2005

"reality", "nursing" and "mansion"...in the same sentence? geesh, do we still use the term oxymoron?

Well I still think you have all been brainwashed by the reality tv that has taken over our lifes. I still think nursetv has the potential to help educate the public. For example, heart attacks on tv are generally portrayed by simply clutching your chest and collapsing. I personally haven't watched any of the other nurse tv shows, but if you have I would like to hear your oponion of them. Are they showing young nurses in short dresses? I highly doubt it.