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Hi All,
I am wondering how you feel about the representation of nurses in television drama. Are you outraged at Nurse Jackie or pleased with the portrayal of nurses in Holby City, for example? Is there an aspect of nursing absent in TV drama? I am currently researching all areas of nursing in Britain in the hope of finding a new take on the profession, in order to develop a drama that feels both real and authentic to the healthcare community. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated.
Drama researcher, London
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I haven't seen any advanced nurse practitioners in tv dramas - or general practice nurses. Not that I have too much time to watch telly these days as in the middle of my prescribing course!
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Dear drama television researcher,
I would be happy to send you a copy of our book Saving Lives: Why the Media's Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All at Risk.
I'm not sure if you saw our op-ed on the BBC site a couple weeks ago. You can read that here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8708041.stm
We've written many analyses of Nurse Jackie which can be seen here: http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/media/tv/nurse_jackie.html
Overall we think her clinical expertise and general autonomy outweigh her moral and ethical flaws and that the show is a net asset for nursing's media image.
I wish we could watch Holby City in the US, but it's not here sadly... Feel free to contact me off line.
Sandy
-----------------------------------------------------
Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH
Founder and Executive Director
The Truth About Nursing
Co-author: Saving Lives: Why the Media's Portrayal of Nurses Puts Us All at Risk
203 Churchwardens Rd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21212-2937 USA
phone 1-410-323-1100
fax 1-410-510-1790
ssummers@truthaboutnursing.org
www.truthaboutnursing.org
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I have watched Casualty and Holby from the very beginning, and infact it was Angels that was on when I was a very young child that inspired me to enter the profession in the first place ! This is the impact of the media on my life ! I am frustrated at times though that there is the impression that doctors are 'in charge' of the nursing staff. This is a very wrong representation of our profession because we are not hire, fired or governed by the Doctors ! I would like to see more of the nurses being shown to be the knowledgeable and skilled professionals that we are - working autonomously and not standing about waiting for a doctor to bark an order at us, or to sweep us off our feet in a fit of passion. I know that the general public watch and form opinions of us from programmes like Holby, so it is vital there is more attention to the detail, not just of the correctness of the surgery (which is excellent) but also the ongoing ward management.
Promoting Maria or Donna to the status of Sister is just plain daft though - Maria has only just qualified a year or so ago, and now she is supposedly managing a ward ?! Come on get real !
I don't know what other information you require but I would be happy to chat with you about this further if you wish.
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I am happy to comment on this topic as I regularly highlight the perils of assuming drama= real life for both student nurses and medical students. The portrayal of both professions is problematic and I often use it as vehicle for encouraging more discriminatory and critical thinking. Having studied creative writing I also explore how plot development, heightened tension, emotional crises, personal dilemmas makes for good drama but is not necessarily indicative of real life.
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I have watched nurse Jackie twice ,i felt ashamed is that what they think of nurses , I dint feel like watching again in front of my family and I hope this is not happening at work .Its a professional job ,I hope people dont think this is how nurses are or treated down by the doctors .
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