Tired of "ER's" Portrayal of Nurses???

OBNurseShelley · Nov 14, 2003

I've had just about enough of this whining about how bad ER is in portraying this and that.

As others said: IT'S A FREAKING TV SHOW, it's NOT reality, and if you don't like it, STOP WATCHING IT?? Novel idea, eh?

As far as what the public thinks, I guarantee you changing one litle tv show's portrayal of nursing isn't going to change the public's view of nurses and their jobs.

I happen to LOVE my job and I'm GOOD at it and yes it has it's faults, but life is not perfect and no job is ever that perfect, so I choose to buck-up and not piss and moan about how awful it is.

Choices people, you got them, use them.

Liann · Nov 18, 2003

Well said OBnurse shelly.

TV shows are fantasy. Remember Ben Casey? Marcus Welby? That Chad Everett character on Medical Center? Julia? Quincy? Those paramedics on Emergency? I could go on and on. NONE of those characters were anything like medical folks in real life. Its like reading a romance novel and expecting the prince to show up and carry you away for real.....:roll

nurseygrrl, LPN · Nov 18, 2003

IT'S A FREAKING TV SHOW, it's NOT reality

WHAT?!?!?!?!

:rotfl:

BarbPick · Nov 18, 2003

Carol Hathoway's character had an MSN and was a CEN.

Jaxrn02 · Nov 18, 2003

Originally posted by OBNurseShelley
I've had just about enough of this whining about how bad ER is in portraying this and that.

As others said: IT'S A FREAKING TV SHOW, it's NOT reality, and if you don't like it, STOP WATCHING IT?? Novel idea, eh?

As far as what the public thinks, I guarantee you changing one litle tv show's portrayal of nursing isn't going to change the public's view of nurses and their jobs.

I happen to LOVE my job and I'm GOOD at it and yes it has it's faults, but life is not perfect and no job is ever that perfect, so I choose to buck-up and not piss and moan about how awful it is.

Choices people, you got them, use them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe most of the people posting to this thread LOVE their jobs and are GOOD at them....that's the point. I haven't read any "pissing and moaning" about how horrible their jobs are. I've read concerns about how the profession is being portrayed to the public on TV. Be fair.

acuteobrn · Nov 19, 2003

At first I wanted to stay away, far, far away from this topic because it goes either way: Yes it is just a show, not reality. but yes there are some people the general viewing audience that will think this is reality, ie their life is not reality.

I just happened to be watching CNN this morning and saw something interseting. They brought up this subject and the nursing advocacy group that is making a fuss and said something along the lines of 'come on...really?' they quoted that real nurses are the ones that defibrillate and that the ER is showing doctors doing many jobs that were once concidered nursing and effectively pushing away future nurses from entering the profession. Now really I agree, come on!!!! If the future nurses of America are upset that ER show isn't showing the ER nurse defibrillating and decide against going to nursing school based on a television show, then, well frankly maby that is a good thing because nursing isn't about procedures it is about compassion, critical thinking and most all providing holistic care, not who holds the paddles.

I agree with OBNURSE SHELLY, It is a freakin' TV show, yes I agree there are times when I sit there yellin at the TV especially when they are down there doing the deliveries, but it is a good escape from 'reality' as I do know how it really works.

I will try and be fair in saying that the nurses are truelly underrepresented...but this is a show centered on doctors, although I like the no sh*t taking new nurse, she's got balls, like most other real ER nurses I know and they did put in the nurse manager to give out pink slips, so some good has changed. I think they should make that nurse manager or director a female Romano counter part...that would be good;) I used to work under someone just like him in that role!

By the way does anyone remember that old show I think it was called "Nurses" Now that did more damage that ER ever did!

benzene · Nov 19, 2003

I used to love ER and would never miss it. But, now, quite frankly I am just bored with some of the characters-- especially Abbey. It doesn't matter to me if she is a nurse or a med student, the show needs new blood. It used to have more interesting characters-Carol Hathaway, Doug Ross, Mark Green, etc. While I still like Carter, Susan, Carrie and Korday; many of the new doctors (there aren't many new nurses) just don't interest me. ER is no longer "must see" TV for me.

tmiller027 · Nov 19, 2003

Just throwing in my 2 cents worth here, the show was created by Michael Crichton, who I believe graduated Harvard Medical School with an M.D. Knowing that, it's understandable why they glamorize doctors so much more over nurses, the whole concept of the show was created by a doctor.

mattsmom81 · Nov 19, 2003

I think it was Emergency. She was coolheaded, professional....in fact I wanted to be a nurse just watching her play the role.

These TV shows can value us or devalue us.

Liann · Nov 19, 2003

Now that I think about it, when I was in Medical Technology school (in the early 80s) I would define my career by saying it was like the character of "Sam" on the Quincy show.

Worthy · Nov 19, 2003

I'm in nursing school because of "Emergency". :)

The nurse was Dixie. Despite the fact I always wondered how she kept that little cap so carefully balanced on her head, and she spent an inordinate amount of time sitting on a stool at a desk, I thought she was fabulous and a strong and compassionate character.

The paramedics were kind of cute, too. What?!??!! They really aren't like that?!?

nurse2be in ny · Nov 19, 2003

Originally posted by Worthy

The paramedics were kind of cute, too.

My sister and I used to have mad crushes on Randolph Mantooth, who played...what was his name...Johnny Gage? The first and only fan letter I ever wrote was to him. Isn't that sick that I still remember his name?