From TV shows like Nurse Jackie to movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Good Nurse, the media’s portrayal of nurses has long been a concern of nurses.
These characters or characters based on real nurses can shape public perception of the profession and affect how real-life nurses are viewed and treated.
Portraying nurses as highly skilled professionals
Nurses play a critical role in patient care, from administering medications and managing chronic diseases to providing emergency care and patient education. Advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), have even greater autonomy and responsibilities, often diagnosing and treating illnesses independently.
Despite this, few advanced practice nurses are featured in the media. One exception is the Netflix TV show, Virgin River, where one of the main characters, Melinda Monroe (played by Alexandra Breckenridge), is a nurse practitioner and midwife, who manages everything from postpartum depression to providing care to a gunshot victim.
Nurses often spend more time with patients than physicians, monitoring progress, managing treatment plans, and caring for each patient’s physical and emotional needs. TV shows such as the British drama, Call the Midwife, have started to reflect this more accurately, showcasing the dedication and resilience of nurses.
Leaders and innovators
The work of nurses goes beyond the bedside and includes implementing practices that improve patient outcomes and leading research initiatives. The portrayal of nurses as leaders is slowly evolving in the media, with characters such as Maggie Lockwood (played by Marlyne Barrett) on Chicago Med, overseeing the emergency department and Sharon Goodwin (played by S. Epatha Merkerson) serving as executive director of patient and medical services.
Impact of media portrayals
The portrayal of nurses in the media has significant implications, including:
Shaping public perception
The media heavily influence public perception of nursing. When nurses are shown as physicians’ helpers or sex objects, it diminishes the respect and recognition they deserve. Positive and accurate representations of nurses can elevate the nursing profession and foster a greater appreciation for the important role nurses play in healthcare.
When TV shows and movies depict nurses as competent, essential healthcare professionals, it improves public perception and respect for the profession. This can lead to better working conditions, higher pay, and more support for nursing education and training programs.
Influencing career choices
Media portrayals can also influence career choices. Potential nursing students can either be deterred by the negative nursing stereotypes they see in the media or inspired by positive portrayals. Accurate representations of nurses can attract more people to the nursing profession and create a more robust workforce.
Creating role models
Characters such as nurse Jackie Peyton (played by Edie Falco) from Nurse Jackie and Carol Hathaway (played by Juliana Margulies) from ER demonstrate resilience, compassion, and expertise. Both portrayals show nurses’ humanity — their imperfections and moments of self-doubt, while also showing their personal triumphs and professionalism at work. Both of which can inspire people to pursue nursing careers.
Showing diversity
Diverse and positive representations of nurses can attract a broader range of individuals to the profession. Movies and shows that feature nurses from various genders, backgrounds, and ethnicities, such as Call the Midwife and Scrubs, help foster a more inclusive view of nursing. Diverse nursing characters can also encourage more people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue nursing careers. Diversity in the profession also brings varied perspectives and experiences that enhance patient care.
Highlighting career advancement opportunities
On the TV show, Hawthorne, Jada Pinkett Smith played the role of Christina Hawthorne, chief nursing officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital, illustrating that nurses can also work in hospital leadership.
Negative portrayals can impact career choices
Despite many positive portrayals, some movies and TV shows perpetuate negative stereotypes of nurses, depicting caregivers as the "naughty nurse," the subservient helper, or evil and sadistic — Nurse Ratched, a character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, is a classic example. These misrepresentations can undermine the profession’s credibility.
Meanwhile, it can be said that “The Good Nurse,” which is based on the true, inspiring story of Amy Loughren, shows nurses depicted in both a positive and negative light. Loughren is the “good” nurse, a dedicated ICU nurse, mother, and friend to Charles Cullen, a nurse who was administering lethal doses of medication to patients.
TV shows often overdramatize what it’s like to work in a medical environment. While this makes for compelling TV, it can also cause misconceptions about the profession. Seeing unrealistic portrayals, constant emergencies, and personal workplace drama can deter students from pursuing a career in nursing.
Another issue is the limited scope of TV shows. They often focus on hospital-based nurses, neglecting to show those who work in schools, community health, and research. This can limit viewers' understanding of the full spectrum of nursing careers and the various settings in which nurses work.
Broader implications for the nursing profession
Accurate and positive TV portrayals of nurses can play a role in addressing the global nursing shortage. By inspiring more individuals to enter the field, these portrayals can help ensure a steady supply of new nurses to meet growing healthcare demands.
When TV or movie producers and writers collaborate with nursing professionals, the result is accurate representations of the profession. Consulting with real nurses can provide insights into the realities of nursing. On Grey’s Anatomy, real-life nurse, Kathy C. An, plays scrub nurse, BokHee An, and has been with the show since its first season.
The media should also depict the wide range of nursing roles beyond working at the bedside in hospital settings. Featuring community health nurses, nurse educators, and nurse practitioners can broaden viewers' understanding of the profession's scope and opportunities.
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