So, I did a rare thing the other night: I watched Grey's Anatomy.
I generally avoid the show for two main reasons:
1. I work in the ICU, so the last thing I want to see is the ICU (or whatever make-believe "unit" it is where they practice) when I'm not there.
2. It portrays doctors as NURSES and nurses get NO credit!
Three examples: Dr. Meredith turning a patient?? Dr. in OR with concrete-block-boy pushing D50 and Insulin?? "Figuring out" to put a foley in the patient?
In my time as a nurse (albeit short -- life-longers please disagree if you have contrary experience), I have never seen a doctor do any of these things.
ONCE in a while, I'll get a rare, rare doctor (resident, mind you) to help me pull up a patient, but usually that's b/c the patient is in respiratory distress and needs a position change to breath, and I have only seen a doctor push a med ONCE, and it was again, a resident, TPA, and during a code (b/c that's hospital policy).
And the foley?? What nurse would allow a patient to even ENTER the ICU (much less bolus them with excessive fluids) without making sure they have a foley? Has anyone ever seen a physician put one in a routine patient? Ridiculous.
So, this is my question...why no love for nurses? We not only DO these things (most without being asked, mind you), we double check them before we do, know when they're needed and usually are the ones asking doctors for orders for them...so, why, when positive media-attention is needed for nurses MOST...are these super-unrealistic-suave-RESIDENTS getting the credit?
I noticed another thing while suffering through the show...when the young boy fell down and had a seizure, what did Dr. Gray immediately do?
She yelled, "NURSE!" Because, even her distorted, fictional, unrealistic character-self knew that the nurse would be the one who knew exactly what to do.
It's about time that Hollywood woke up to the fact that nurses are the award-winning, exciting, realistic, intelligent, juicy people they need to be spotlighting on prime-time TV. Then, maybe we'll start to see a break in this nursing shortage.
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I admit I love ER and do watch Greys from time to time. ER is not as bad as Grey and I have thought about giving them up for the reason they do not protray nurses correctly. I often laugh myself silly when I see the doctors in the room holding the patients hand or starting IVs cath etc. It bothers me because people think this is reality. One poster mention they watch Desperate house wives but know its not real because they live in burbs but for health care unless you work there you wouldnt know any better. I do feel the shows should give credit where its due but what do they care, its all about ratings :) Just my rant!
I don't like Grey's Anatomy because I find it annoying...to me, there is not really one likeable character on that show. Just a lot of whining and melodrama- I've seen my share of whiny residents at work, why would I want to see more in my spare time?
I do enjoy House just because the main character is such a whack job and it's fun seeing how he makes some of these diagnoses.
ER I think is past its prime and needs to go away now. My favorite of all the medical shows was Scrubs-could be off the wall and silly but there was always a little truth in there somewhere.
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
At my facility, The docs aren't permitted to push meds or touch the IV pump. I've never seen one try to start a peripheral line and I'm not sure whether they are even allowed to do that either. During a code, I've never seen a doc use the Zoll. Note that I work in a teaching hospital. I would love to see a show that portrays doctors and nurses in their true light.
Let's see. NOBODY is allowed to touch my pumps unless I ask them to! People aren't allowed to mess with my fluids or my titratable meds. Visitors who touch stuff - and we did have one who tried messing with the buttons on the vent- get escorted out, the unit gets locked, and I don't deal with them again, security can have them.
You know I nearly gagged at the "DNR tattooed on the roof of my mouth" thing. OUCH. It would certainly make the dentist do a double take.
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I love Grey's (didn't love the 3rd season, but I am back for more now), House is my absolute FAVORITE (love Hugh Laurie) and I have never watched ER.
I have to say I think Carla from Scrubs (though a silly show) is a pretty damn good example of a nurse. She keeps the residents in line, cares about her patients and plays her role well.
Overall though I don't think too much about TV shows, because when I walk into a patient room I set the best example I can of the power and intelligence of nursing.
Specializes in Adult and Peds ED, Forensic Nursing.
I fully recognized that the TV shows are fiction, fantasy even, but I do love House, and like Grey's, Scrubs, ER, etc. (even "Night Shift" the late night mini series spin off of General Hospital where the nursing students wore pink)
What drove me crazy during the season finale of Grey's was when Rose (the token nurse/love interest) said this:
"I think I liked it better when you were saying boring science stuff"
Like she never took any sciences? I'm a super science geek so maybe it is bothering me more than other people, but seriously? seriously?
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
I fully recognized that the TV shows are fiction, fantasy even, but I do love House, and like Grey's, Scrubs, ER, etc. (even "Night Shift" the late night mini series spin off of General Hospital where the nursing students wore pink)
What drove me crazy during the season finale of Grey's was when Rose (the token nurse/love interest) said this:
"I think I liked it better when you were saying boring science stuff"
Like she never took any sciences? I'm a super science geek so maybe it is bothering me more than other people, but seriously? seriously?
Yeah I agree, I find as a nurse and general person, science is one of my favorite subjects.
I fully recognized that the TV shows are fiction, fantasy even, but I do love House, and like Grey's, Scrubs, ER, etc. (even "Night Shift" the late night mini series spin off of General Hospital where the nursing students wore pink)
What drove me crazy during the season finale of Grey's was when Rose (the token nurse/love interest) said this:
"I think I liked it better when you were saying boring science stuff"
Like she never took any sciences? I'm a super science geek so maybe it is bothering me more than other people, but seriously? seriously?
Didn't that have more to do with Rose realizing "McDreamy" was pining for Meredith?
We talked about the negative portrayel of nurses one night at work example ER and Greys. I believe one of my fellow nurses had heard that the American Nursing Association had spoken out about these shows and their negative and innaccurate account of nursing/nurses. What a discredit to our profession. It is already hard enough as it is with public expectations and attitudes.
ann945n, RN
548 Posts
I admit I love ER and do watch Greys from time to time. ER is not as bad as Grey and I have thought about giving them up for the reason they do not protray nurses correctly. I often laugh myself silly when I see the doctors in the room holding the patients hand or starting IVs cath etc. It bothers me because people think this is reality. One poster mention they watch Desperate house wives but know its not real because they live in burbs but for health care unless you work there you wouldnt know any better. I do feel the shows should give credit where its due but what do they care, its all about ratings :) Just my rant!