I personally believe that the media portrayal of our profession holds us back more than any other single issue.
Although it's not perfect, ER gets major points for trying hard to portray the RN's role accurately.
Sam (plays the charge nurse) does a lot of interesting things like: advocating for patients, helping doctors with decision making--often convincing them her way idea/diagnosis/plan is better, learning to intubate, etc. etc. etc.
It's pretty cool...and considering watching ER is what first got me interested in nursing, it can't be all that bad!
Do you think there are men out there watching House, Grey's Anatomy, or Scrubs thinking, "Wow! Watching the nurses on these shows makes me want to work my ever-loving ass over for the next four years and become a nurse because it looks like a fascinating, exciting, interesting, challenging, intellectual career!"
The nurses on most medical shows are pretty much just furniture: part of the set intended to make the hospital set look "authentic."
*sigh*
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