Trauma: Life in the ER.

[Jen2]

Has any ER nurses ever worked in an ED where they filmed an episode and how was your experience? I will begin my nursing career in the ED in a Level 1 trauma center next week and I love this show. I was just wondering if anyone from the boards was ever in it?

[z's playa]

WHOO! We know a famous person! Lol

I don't think I would let someone film me or a family member, as much as I love the show. I don't think it would be good, if two years down the road you're watching re-runs on TV, and them coding your loved one is what you see when flippin channels. JMO. I've always wondered how they've covered themselves with HIPPA.

I think the show "Real Untold Stories of the ER" is bogus. The stories are cool, but the acting is SO unrealistic! The doctor turns around, in that serious loud voice, yells "NUrse! Get me a this thing NOW!". Give me a break!

"The Residents" had a good show the other night, and it really focused on one resident, and finally, an ER nurse. Half the show was about her, which I thought was totally awesome.

-Andrea

Gimme gimme never gets :chuckle

Z

[mommatrauma, RN]

Thanks. I live in Pa and I liked the one they did in Pitssburgh at AGH. I wonder if they will do anymore there? I just wonder how difficult it might be having cameras filming you while you are trying to do your job? They usually always interview the ER nurse on the show and it's really nice to see that the show is not just all about the doctors.

We had the discovery channel filming something a few months ago...not sure what it was about though..the film crew were really nice...and after a few hours, we were so caught up in working they kinda disappeared into the background...

[nursem2]

I Love the show also. I live in NC and the show comes on every evening at 7 pm on Discovery Health Channel as well as the show Paramedics which is also very good. The Critical Hour also comes on and is ok, not quite as good as Trauma. Another is Real Untold Stories of the ER and is good sometimes and actually funny sometimes. As you can see I love nursing and everything to do with it. Although, my children only allow me my one hour of TV a night watching Trauma lol. I am a med/ surg nurse and gonna make the move to ER after summer is over and the kids are back in school, allowing me to train on 1st for the night shift. One of my friends told me it takes about a year to feel somewhat comfortable in the ER. And omg I am worried about ACLS. Any input????? Thanks! :balloons:

As of today, I have survived my first year of ER nursing. This has been my first nursing job out of school, and it has been a long year. It definitely has taken every bit of the year to become somewhat comfortable. I don't think it will be as bad for you because you already have nursing experience. Ask a lot of questions, trust your instincts and own experiences as a nurse, and don't let the more "seasoned" ER nurses intimidate you - you have a lot to offer because of your med-surg background. Also, don't worry about ACLS. Everything is covered in class, and you will be able to practice everything. Good luck!

[student4ever]

I to am a medical show junkie!! I just started in the ER last week, and it is awsome!! Everyone keep tuning in!!!!!!!!! Jennifer

I love medical shows too - especially the real ones where they actually do things the right way (I do watch ER though, not for the medical perspective, but for the drama/soap opera factor). My dear BF thinks I'm totally nuts, because i work all night in the ED then come home and watch all these Trauma shows I recorded on my tivo! I guess when you're in love with the ER, you just can't get enough! I also love seeing how other hospitals work, especially the bigger ones, since I want to eventually work in a level I trauma center (I currently work in an "unrated" ER where we get a pt as stable as possible and then ship them out to a level I). I'm constantly fascinated and amazed by the medical miracles and mysteries, and am reminded every day that no matter how much you learn/experience/see, there will always be something coming through the door that you have never seen before. I am one of those people who has to be constantly challenged, and that's why I love the ER so much (not to mention I'm an adrenaline junkie!). THe Discovery Health CHannel has so many great, true life shows - really a good thing for society I think to see what it is we really do for a living. Of course, every time they show a new "Diagnosis Unknown" someone inevitably comes in saying "I have all the symptoms of that woman/man who was on "Diagnosis Unknown," I want every test run on me, I KNOW this isn't a simple ear infection/bruise/whatever! LOL, well, at least I know my job's secure!

[begalli]

"The Residents" had a good show the other night, and it really focused on one resident, and finally, an ER nurse. Half the show was about her, which I thought was totally awesome.

I saw this one too. I LOVED that nurse. It was almost like she was channeling the nurses from this message board...."First and foremost, I'm a patient advocate!!"

She really described it like it is, no sugar coating. It was a great episode and I'm glad she decided not to leave the ED.

There is an episode of Trauma: Life in the ER and an episode of Paramedics out there that was filmed at our county hospital in the South SF Bay Area.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I was on an episode of Paramedics a few years ago in Oklahoma City. We knew they were filming the ambulance crews, but it never occured to me that they would follow them into the ER. We got a call about an 18 month old febrile seizure. It was coming to one of my rooms, but had no idea they would be coming with a camera. It was quite un-nerving! I was in the room waiting on the patient, and in they rolled as usual, but followed by a cameraman close in tow. He never said a word initially and I got report, the doc came in immediately, we got VS, I started a line and got blood, blah, blah, blah. The kids father was in the room as well. After all the dust settled, the cameraman got consents from all of us to be on the film. After I signed it, I thought maybe I shouldn't have, but what the heck....15 seconds of fame!

While the cameraman tried to stay out of the way, just having him there made everyone nervous. If there had been just a camera in the room, on the wall, or whatever it would have been OK, but having him stick the camera within 8 inches of where I am trying to start a line was a bit much. But, they are doing a service to us by showing what really goes on in the ER and that we are not a bunch of twits running around chasing doctors!

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

I was working the night Paramedics was filming in Oklahoma City the night of the May 3rd tornado. I was on screen a nanosecond on that one. We were so busy I didn't pay any attention to the film crew.