Grey's Anatomy on ABC

[Cumberland]

One thing about ER that bugs me though, is they are not accurate or respectful in their portrayal of nurses. They had a PA (jeannie) who would do major surgery but the NP they had ( like three years ago) was horrible, always making mistakes, and Carol had to fire her (which would not have happened in real life).

Then there was the scene made famous among PO'd nurses where I think it was Abby (when she was a nurse) suggested something to Dr Pratt who said " I fly the plane, you serve the coffee" Let me tell you what I would have said if some Dr ever said that to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just looked at our bookcase and my husband has Tintinalli's book. I agree...I think ER is one of the best medical shows on right now...although their storylines can be far-fetched at times. DH is always quick to point out medical inconsistencies, but he rarely finds any with ER...which is good because I was getting annoyed when we were watching Grey's Anatomy and he kept saying, "That's wrong, it would have shown up on the LP" and "But they said that test was negative".....

[DCJenn]

Actually, the medical show I like the best is still Scrubs but second is that new show House, on Fox. Really, really good. Of course I'd be interested in what Kris and Jill's husband's think on the ID lines...

Jenn

Then there was the scene made famous among PO'd nurses where I think it was Abby (when she was a nurse) suggested something to Dr Pratt who said " I fly the plane, you serve the coffee" Let me tell you what I would have said if some Dr ever said that to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sadly, a lot of nurses are treated like this by doctors...especially in the ER. Most of my husband's partners are great guys, but once they get in the ER, some turn into Mr. Hyde. My husband gets along great with the nurses and has become friends with some of them, but a few of the other doctors refuse to even make small talk with them. Talk about inflated egos!

but second is that new show House, on Fox. Really, really good.

Jenn

I think House is totally unrealistic in it's portrayal of patient care. Have you ever heard of a doctor going to a patient's home and school bus yard to search for clues to their mysterious illness? Let alone an attending digging up a dead cat in the middle of the night in the patient's yard????
I find it hard to believe that would be done at even the best teaching hospital. Please correct me if I am mistaken because I would love to find out that patient care at X hospital is so thorough!
It seems like the residents/attendings on this show only have 1 or 2 patients to take care of. They spend a LOT of time all grouped together discussing one particular patient. I personally think the show focuses way too much on mysterious illnesses which for me has already gotten old.

I love Scrubs too and am glad to see a humorous side of medicine. It's refreshing!

[Rapunzel]

I also really like Scrubs. It's just hilarious!

Jennifer

[SueC]

Me too, though my dh always comments on the opening credits that they put the chest X-ray up backwards. That drives him crazy!! It's nice to see a humorous medical show on TV, though--I'm pretty sick of all the drama!

I love Scrubs. It cracks me up. Especially a recent episode where they took a good dig at a dermatologist.

Have you guys seen Medical Investigation? Or something like that? The lead guy is a medical investigator for the CDC or something. It one of those shows that is SO bad you keep watching to see how much worse it is going to get. I think it has been cancelled by now.

Scrubs cracks me up! My favorite episode is the one where they stole Jell-o cups from the hospital because they couldn't afford groceries on an intern's salary. I think they nailed it with that one!

[migirl]

my dh always comments on the opening credits that they put the chest X-ray up backwards

Too funny, Sue, my DH does the same thing! We love this show too, it's one of the only TV shows we make it a point to watch.

I find it interesting that a lot of 'non-medical' people also seem to really like it, which puzzles my DH because he thinks you have to have a certain level of understanding about the medical field to truly appreciate some of the humor.

just in the nick of time they save this person;
the illnesses/diseases/accidents become more and more extreme and rare.

agreed. dh & I have watched maybe 2 episodes of "Scrubs", and in both they had a patient with (bear w/the spelling here) necrotizing faciatis which dh says is not at all common.

to give the genre a small break - we're not good judges b/c of what several people have already mentioned: our medical spouses take all of the "suspension of disbelief" out of it b/c they're always pointing out the errors. I don't even like ER anymore!

[Amiens]

Scrubs cracks me up! My favorite episode is the one where they stole Jell-o cups from the hospital because they couldn't afford groceries on an intern's salary. I think they nailed it with that one!

It cracks me up too! I remember in the first season of Scrubs how JD didn't have any money for food, and stole a patient's meal in the middle of the night while he was checking vitals.

If anything these days I don't mind watching medical shows with Matt and hearing the "truth" from him.

Last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy showed all of the surgical interns leaving the hospital at the same time in DAYLIGHT!!! I told Matt it must still be summertime in the show because about September/October it is dark by about 5 or 6 pm. Matt made the comment "Must be nice to leave when you see daylight." Here in Seattle about April the anesthesia residents start to see a return of the sun during their lives.

2 other far fetched things and I will quit- 1) a surgical intern having to take an hour long ferry ride to get to work. 2) how can you live in Seattle for 6 weeks and not know there is a ferry system? Do you live under a rock?

Anyway I am afraid others will not enjoy in relishing in the inconsistencies that I find......
Crystal

I just watched the premier of Grey's anatomy. ( I taped it and forgot about it until I saw this post!) I had to laugh when the intern said "you're right, i'm just an intern. maybe you should go to medical school for 4 years and then you can diagnose" i can't tell you how many times the new interns have said to me "umm. what would you do?" i think in most hospitals the interns (the smart ones that is...or at least the ones with nurses as wives/husbands) recognize the nurse as part of the team. And if they don't they better watch out!! I think that's why I like scrubs, aside from being hilarious, the nurse on there, whose name I just totally blanked on, has her act together and bosses the docs around just as much as they do her. Hopefully more medical shows will get the nurse characters figured out or all of us nurses will revolt!

Crystal,
On the contrary, I noticed the same inconsistences as you. Let it all out!
Especially the one where they are leaving all together when the sun is still out. Maybe they were leaving when the sun was coming up?
My expectations are simply way too high. I crave for more substance and reality from a medical show. The only characters I really like on this show are Patrick Dempsy and the Korean intern from Sideways...(forgot her name). The rest just don't seem to be all that believable or interesting.
I love ER but the format seems to be old and I don't think copycat shows can compete. They have to tweak it a different way and stop using the same, old storylines.
I guess this is different in that it focuses exclusively on surgeons. Nevertheless, I like small pieces of the show and will continue to watch just so I can have a small 'something' to relate to! I am hopeful
I think I need to get out a notebook and start writing a show to pitch to HBO. I already have 4 relationships in my head.
I said it before and I'll say it again. I believe there's a lot more drama goin on at home then at the hospital. It's an untapped market for a show.

[Amiens]

All these shows are missing out on the real drama - the drama that occurs in medical marriages. The drama that occurs at home and in these relationships. I long for a real show on HBO or Showtime that depicts OUR lives being married to physicians. I guarantee there is more interesting material here than in random patient cases and doctor/patient interaction. Or even doctor/doctor interaction.

I keep meaning to reply to this comment. Do any of you remember a few years ago ABC did a piece on residents and attendings at John Hopkins? I think it was called John Hopkins 24/7. It was reality. If memory serves me right they did cover on a medical marriage, but it was between 2 surgeons, and one was a complete jerk (is a nice word for it).

Anyway, I agree with you. There is more drama to be had in OUR lives. You could take any one of our stories, and mix it into the random patient mix. I do wish these medical dramas would at least cover or even just brush on medical marriages and the struggles. I mean how many times have we discussed on here how our non-medical friends think we are loaded or what not? (I have other comments but I don't think they are appropriate for the General Forum- I will post them in Marriage Matters).

Crystal