Nurses and our Image on T.V.

There has seemed to be a sudden increase in nurse-related television shows and movies in the past decade. Perhaps TV executives are finally realizing that nurses make up such a large percentage of the workforce and by representing them you may convince them to watch your programs.

The television show “Scrubs” has been around since 2001, and features Carla Espinosa, a nurse who undoubtedly knows more than the residents and main actors prior to them finishing up their residency. This character seems to shed a positive light on nurses, and shows them as intelligent and autonomous members of the medical profession.

A new HBO show called “Nurse Jackie” portrays nurses in a little different light. In this show the main character, Jackie Peyton, is a nurse who is addicted to pain killers, cheats on her husband, and overall seems lost. When I first watched this show I wondered how the public would view nurses after this program aired. Would we be viewed as unfit to take care of our patients? Or would we be seen as drug-seeking and destructive? As entertaining as this show is, I still wonder what the overall affects on nursing as a positive profession will be. Another character on this show is Zoey Barkow, a nursing student who has a very big heart and is learning the ins-and-outs of nursing. She brings with her a naivety and an earnestness that seems to help Jackie carry-on during the hard times.

Shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Hawthorne,” “ER,” and “Mercy” are a few more of the recent television shows that have portrayed nurses as leading characters. They all seem to have a mix of showing nurse as strong leaders, but also human.

Prior to nursing school and working in a hospital, I believe my entire perception of what nursing was based completely on the nurses I saw in “ER.” While I remember thinking that nurses have a pretty exciting job, I never fully understood the difference in roles between doctors and nurses and the amazing independence and autonomy that we have to do our job. I think that knowledge comes only from experience in the field, and not from watching it performed and written by Hollywood.

How do you feel that the recent increase in nurse-based television shows has affected the perception of nursing on the public? As a nursing student has it affected your perception of what a nurse does? I would love to hear your thoughts on this!