Healthcare Jobs: The Difference Between TV and Real Life

If your interest in the healthcare industry came from prime-time shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" or "Mercy," you may be surprised that jobs in this field can be drastically different from what is depicted on these popular television programs. 

The role of a nurse in a hospital has been portrayed in many different ways, from being almost non-existent in "Grey's Anatomy" to being the right hand of doctors in Showtime's "Nurse Jackie."

Some nurses are frustrated by the stereotypes created by these TV shows, and Sandy Summers and Harry Jacob Summers, authors of "Saving Lives: Why the Media Portrayals of Nurses Put Us All at Risk," hope they can change that.

"There's no question that the portrayal of nurses on television has been dismal," said Cynthia Saver, a nurse who frequently lectures on the topic of image and nursing, to Nurse.com. "A better image isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. Image undermines how we think of ourselves, so a negative TV image of nurses plays into a poor self-concept, which can in turn affect how we act, resulting in a vicious cycle."

The authors delve into the fictional TV roles of nurses, and give nods to those that are accurate.  They say the shows with the most accurate portrayals of nurses are: "Nurse Jackie," "Mercy," Discovery Health Channel's "Lifeline: The Nursing Diaries," "Angels in America" and "Hawthorne."

However, while "Nurse Jackie" is favorable for the authors, some nursing organizations do not like the depiction of the pain-killer addicted, tough-as-nails character.  Those who do find the portrayal favorable cite that she always fights for the best care for her patients.

The worst portrayals of nurses come from some of the most popular TV shows. The two authors say these shows have some work to do in accurately representing nurses: "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Private Practice," "ER" and "Hopkins 24/7." ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" have been criticized because they "pretend that nurses play no significant role in hospitals" and that nurses are clueless, according to the two authors. Many of these shows ignore the important roles that these healthcare professionals play in real life and real hospital situations, and instead focus primarily on the physicians and surgeons.

The authors are also the founders of the group and website "The Truth About Nursing." This website aims to dispel rumors and stereotypes held against those in the nursing industry.

"Nursing is an autonomous, self-governing profession, a distinct scientific discipline with many autonomous practice features," writes Summers on the website. "Despite what the media may portray, nursing is not directed by physicians, even though nurses have less practical power than physicians do."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses make up the largest employment group in the health care industry with over 2.6 million jobs.