Tired of the Media's Portrayal of Nurses?

[Brian, ASN, RN]

We've all seen it. The lousy portrayals of nurses in the media. They think we are all just beautiful women with fabulous bodies in uniforms. Nurses are more than that. We actually do have awesome lead roles in the healthcare industry. Where would healthcare be today without these leading women....and men too???

[TriciaJ, RN]

I've seen a lot of ICU pts on TV lately, hooked up to about 20 monitors and the room full of concerned family members. But no nurse anywhere. At all.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

If I see one more TV show where the physician is the one administering medication or changing dressings....

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If I see one more TV show where the physician is the one administering medication or changing dressings....

Yep. I found it disingenuous when, on an episode that aired a few years ago, the doctor on the show "House" was administering an enema and hanging out at one patient's bedside all day long.

In real life we'll see that happening when pigs fly.

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

Yep. I found it disingenuous when, on an episode that aired a few years ago, the doctor on the show "House" was administering an enema and hanging out at one patient's bedside all day long.

In real life we'll see that happening when pigs fly.

Actually, I think we'll see pigs fly first!

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I stopped watching House because as I was going through nursing school I was irritated as I noticed 75% of the care they gave was nursing related. I already stopped watching Glee by the time their "School Nurse" popped up. And Grey...don't get me started.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

I make it a point to avoid these programs. It creates tension at home when I find myself yelling at the television and calling out poor betrayals of staff, improper procedures, and other inconsistencies.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I still remember Dr Kildare, hanging off the back of the ambulance, white coat flapping in the breeze... You would think in this day and age, they'd learn to be a bit more realistic. Even Doc Martin, whom I love, totally trashed sterile technique when he was operating on his own wife. And the occasional nurse that pops up on Doc Martin is always a complete flake.

I watched an episode of House, and it was utterly pathetic. House and his entourage of students only had one patient who had no nurse. House and his crew had to do it all. The doctors did all the nursing care on ER, too. What cracks me up is when they roll the credits and there is always a medical advisor. Shouldn't they hire someone who's ever been in a hospital?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I thought Scrubs and that show Getting On to be actually close to reality....LOL

What really got under my skin was HawthoRNe...that show with Jada Pinket Smith...like I've NEVER seen the CNO running with a stretcher....and I have been at this a LONG time.

[greytRNtobe]

Please check out NY Med where the nurses are a major part of the program.

[AdamantiteEnigma]

I thought Scrubs and that show Getting On to be actually close to reality....LOL

What really got under my skin was HawthoRNe...that show with Jada Pinket Smith...like I've NEVER seen the CNO running with a stretcher....and I have been at this a LONG time.

Admittedly, Scrubs has been a guilty pleasure of mine for a long time. I can never find it though these days.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I've been trying to plug anexcellent websiteandnonprofit that's all about the truthaboutnursing here, but for some reason it occasionally gets blocked. So google it yourself and see a nurse-led group that's dedicated to calling out bad portrayals about nurses and nursing, organizing letter-writing campaigns, and supporting good journalism with awards. Their campaign against Dr. Oz's "sexy dancing nurses" is a classic.