Last night, along with millions of other viewers, I tuned in for another entertaining episode of Fox’s new television hit, “Glee.” It promised to be a delightful way to relax after a challenging twelve hours of work in the ICU. But, the promise was short lived. Early in the show, a central character managed to talk her way into an alarmingly easy job as the school nurse.
Terri, the phony nurse, simply waltzed into the school and landed the job, although she had only a background in retail sales. After easily landing the job, she proceeded to break all sorts of nursing regulations. She even gave over-the-counter meds to glee club members in order to increase their vigor. I realize that this phony portrayal was intended to reflect the character’s flaws. I doubt that it was meant to reflect poorly on the nursing profession. Having seen the show before, I am accustomed to its zany characters and exaggerated plots.
In fact, I am a huge advocate of humor. Laughter can be therapeutic. And, in my experience, most nurses appreciate a little bit of humor. So, why was I so disturbed by this incompetent, fake school nurse? Maybe it’s because it’s hard to find humor in an unrelenting nursing shortage. Perhaps, it’s because I find it sad that our schools continue to endure short supplies of public school nurses. The public needs to know that our school nurses are strong, intelligent and hard-working professionals. To make matters more disturbing on last night’s show, the previous school nurse was no longer working because she had been forcibly knocked down a flight of stairs by the cheerleading coach.
We hear a lot of chatter about the portrayal of nurses and doctors in the media. Our profession is portrayed by a variety of entertaining characters. We have “Nurse Jackie,” “,” and “Mercy.” Each of these shows provides a different take on nursing. These programs seem to reflect inevitable variations in professional nurses’ perspectives. But, what about the public’s perception of our profession?
Unlike some of my friends, I am an unabashed fan of both “Nurse Jackie” and “House.” But, my all time favorite is “Scrubs.” No matter how many times I see that show, it always makes me laugh. Sometimes, it makes me cry. And, although it is often ridiculous and silly, it always feels genuine. While none of these shows is completely accurate in its depiction of the hospital work environment, each captures some of the grit and determination of our daily working lives. At the same time, these programs serve up therapeutic doses of humor. They vividly reveal the tenacity of teamwork. All of these traits are integral components of hospital life.
Who is your favorite nurse character? Are you ever offended by the portrayal of nurses in the media? Do you think male nurses are fairly portrayed? How about nursing students, older nurses and psych nurses? Let's hear your thoughts!