So... How real is the show ER?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Okay, so I'm very new to this forum and I'm starting my nursing education. And I'm SURE (like 100% positive) that this has been discussed here before (probably many times), but how does the show ER portray what happens in a real ER where you all work?

Again, I'm sure this has been discussed before so if you know what page it's on or whatever, just steer me in the right direction. I would search for "ER" but you know... umm... I think I'd find a lot of results that way.

Thanks!

BTW... I am considering going into the ER specialty.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Ya gotta admit, thought, that TV shows have come a long way from the standard medical show (dating myself here) that usually had several doctor stars and one nurse star. That lone nurse functioned in every single department of the hospital...if you were having a baby, she coached you through labor! If you were having a heart transplant, why there she was! And if, god forbid, you were dying, she was at your bedside 24/7. My idea of nursing when I was growing up was a band of attractive blondes, roaming the hospital and performing all these heroic deeds.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
My idea of nursing when I was growing up was a band of attractive blondes, roaming the hospital and performing all these heroic deeds.

Ha ha! Nurse Fembot! At least nurses were doing something on the older shows ...

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Only episode of Greys Anatomy I watched with my wife was the one where they shocked the dear in the back of a pickup...after that I've never seen it again (and don't care to). House drives me crazy too...what IM doctor does CT's and MRI's...

I haven't watched ER since "Dr Ross" left...lol

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I haven't watched ER since "Dr Ross" left...lol

Yep, same here! Another thing that annoyed me about ER was that "Nurse Hathaway," who was a prominent nurse character in the show, wanted to be a doctor. But of course, right?! LOL! Don't all nurses want to be doctors? (That's sarcasm, in case anyone missed it. ;) )

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Specializes in ED, Clinical Documentation.

I work in a level I Trauma center and the nurses here do A LOT. our doctors are great and there is a lot of team work. i love it here and i will admit that watching ER before nursing school did have something to do with me wanting to work here.

i wouldn't want to be a doctor for anything. besides, i can change fields if i want to someday (oncology or homecare for example).

there are repeat patients and some of it does get routine, but then a good code comes in and it's great.

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Specializes in Emergency Department/Trauma.

I was always amused by the MD's moving patients over from ambulance stretchers on ER. I have been working on an ambulance since 1990, I have met one doc in that time that did that (and does so quite frequently) but he moved up from EMT-P to DO.

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Specializes in ER.

The first season of ER was pretty good, but it went downhill.

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I have stopped myself so many times from yelling oh my gawd this is nothing like ER just to see everyone's head spin off. HAHA. :)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Last week we admitted a 16 year old with a C7 fracture post motor vehicle collision. I was the resource nurse so was tasked with covering breaks, running to codes on the wards and helping with admissions. I went to see if the nurse in the room needed help and nearly fainted form the shock of seeing not one but FIVE physicians (well, four docs and a med student) in there log-rolling the patient while the nurse assessed his skin. I wanted to take a picture... no one would believe me without one.

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I actually had a doc straight cath my patient. I tried a billion times, another nurse tried a billion and in walks one of my favorite dr's and she sure did get it on the first try. Had to give her props as none of us thought she could do it. :)

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Specializes in ER, telemetry.
I actually had a doc straight cath my patient. I tried a billion times, another nurse tried a billion and in walks one of my favorite dr's and she sure did get it on the first try. Had to give her props as none of us thought she could do it. :)

We actually have a couple of docs that are true team players:wink2:

Will come in an attempt iv access (before central line), attempt foleys, take vital signs. Those doctors are truly loved by the nurses.

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Specializes in ED staff.

ER is not real at all, we have no cute doctors, no one is having an affair with a doctor, nurse or tech. Someone else said "I wish our ER ran that smoothly". Yeah, same here. Controlled chaos. Team work. Smart nurses and techs is what makes the ER work. As much as they would hate to admit it, doctors could NOT do their job or save anyone's life without a great staff!

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