Nurse Shows & TV Nurses: Inspiring Tomorrow's Nurses

Nurses are among today’s most compassionate, hardworking, and clinically skilled professionals. They offer hope and healing during life’s most difficult moments, while also upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and excellence in patient care.

This deep respect is reflected in Gallup’s annual polls on occupational perceptions. In the latest survey, three out of four respondents rated nurses as honest and ethical, making nursing one of the most trusted professions.

Although personal interactions with nurses can leave a lasting impression, pop culture also plays a surprisingly powerful role. Nurses on TV shows reveal the heart of the profession: clinical expertise, deep-seated compassion, and unmatched emotional resilience.

If you’re thinking about joining this trusted profession, check out the nursing degrees & diplomas offered by Bryant & Stratton College.

Importance of Seeing Nurses on TV

Pop culture can have a profound impact on how we perceive various occupations, including nursing. Over the years, these compelling portrayals have inspired many passionate individuals to enter the healthcare field, while also exposing the public to the realities of life as a nurse.

The more we see nurses on our TV screens, the better we understand the challenges and triumphs of their job. In turn, this can foster positive relationships between nurses and patients, encouraging patients to treat nurses with respect and take their recommendations seriously.

Inspiration for Future Nurses

Many aspiring nurses draw inspiration from the powerful portrayals of nurses on TV shows. These characters demonstrate just how impactful nursing can be — both for individual patients and entire communities. Nurse TV shows also highlight the dynamic energy of healthcare environments and the joy that comes from building strong bonds with fellow professionals. Most importantly, they show that nurses can overcome immense challenges, offering hope and encouragement to real-world professionals entering the field.

Insight Into Nursing

No job description can truly capture the unpredictable realities of modern nursing. Beyond everyday clinical obligations, nurses deal with significant caseloads, complex interpersonal dynamics, and physical exhaustion — all of which can quickly take a toll. By portraying these daily hurdles, nurse TV shows demonstrate how nurses navigate challenges while remaining committed to patient care.

Development of Nurses as Heroes and Idols

While today’s nurses are deeply respected and appreciated, this wasn’t always the case. For example, Gallup’s 1976 poll on occupational perceptions placed physicians on top, with nurses not even included in the ranking. A report published in the journal Teaching and Learning in Nursing sheds additional light on the field’s reputational evolution, explaining that the nursing profession has long “sought to assert its relevance while challenging perceptions of subservience and invisibility.”

Portrayal of Nursing in Television

Although the public perception of nurses has evolved over time, they have long been held in high regard as TV characters. Through the years, nurse shows on TV have consistently demonstrated the sacrifices these professionals make for the sake of their patients. Although the details aren’t always accurate, many nurses enjoy seeing their cohorts depicted on TV and even claim that these shows capture the general spirit of the profession.

The First Depiction of a Nurse

Nurses played important roles in novels, films, and radio dramas long before making their mark on television. One of the earliest TV portrayals of the nursing profession featured Janet Dean — played by the talented Ella Raines in the 1950s.

Originally titled Janet Dean, Registered Nurse, the show was later renamed The Ella Raines Show in an effort to attract more viewers through star recognition. However, the premise remained consistent: emotionally charged storylines centered on serious subjects like emotional abuse, with empathetic RN Janet Dean embodying both strength and compassion.

A few years later, nurses returned to the TV screen in a big way with the aptly named show The Nurses. Featuring experienced mentor Liz Thorpe and novice nurse Gail Lucas, this show further advanced the narrative on nursing, revealing the many ethical challenges inherent to this role.

Modern Presentation of Nurses

From the very beginning, TV nurses have been inspiring figures — but for years, they were almost exclusively portrayed by young, white women. Shows ignored nurses from other backgrounds, failing to reflect the full diversity and depth of the nursing profession.

Fortunately, much has changed since then. Today, TV nurses come from a wide range of backgrounds, capturing the true variety of real-world nurses who continue to shape modern healthcare. These portrayals reflect broader changes within the field, including shifts toward increased autonomy and wider scopes of practice.

Not only do modern medical shows present nurses as heroic and compassionate, but they also capture realistic parts of the job: long hours, grumpy patients, and the emotional burnout that can lead to mental health challenges.

Nurse Shows on TV

Considering the vast number of entertaining medical shows, it’s clear that nursing makes for excellent TV. Nursing shows vary greatly, from comedies that highlight the quirky, chaotic moments of healthcare to dramas that explore the powerful (and often difficult) emotions of patient journeys.

The Pitt

Focused on an emergency department in Pittsburgh, The Pitt provides a decidedly gritty take on America’s contemporary healthcare system. Each episode covers a single, intense hour in the emergency room (ER), showcasing how small moments can change entire lives.

Grey’s Anatomy

As one of the most beloved shows of the 2000s and 2010s — and the longest-running medical series in television history — Grey’s Anatomy is known for its relatable characters and emotional storylines. The show also stands out for its respectful, nuanced portrayal of nurses. In fact, one actress joined the cast while still working as a real-life scrub nurse. Although she acknowledges that there is “much more excitement in the world of Grey’s Anatomy” than in a real-world operating room, she and other cast members have demonstrated a strong commitment to medical realism.

Nurse Jackie

Centered on the challenges of maintaining a high standard of care within an under-resourced healthcare system, the award-winning show Nurse Jackie provides an insider’s look at nursing challenges that are often overlooked, such as drug use and chronic back pain. This show also delves into the ethical challenges of nursing, revealing what can happen if nurses fail to uphold high moral standards.

M*A*S*H

Arguably the most innovative show of its time, M*A*S*H focuses on a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. In addition to perfectly balancing comedy and drama, it offers strong character development and an in-depth exploration of the devastation of war. Even though the nurses are largely background characters, their presence remains important, providing a subtle reminder of the ongoing support that nurses lend amid the chaos of military conflicts.

Call the Midwife

A thoughtful period drama focused on British midwives in the 1950s and 1960s, Call the Midwife was inspired by real-life nursing memoirs. Unlike typical medical dramas centered on rare diseases or complex surgeries, this series emphasizes meaningful, everyday interactions between nurses and patients as they navigate births, poverty, and personal struggles. As RN Christine Contillo explains in her review, the series underscores the importance of developing strong nursing instincts and showcases the profession’s “resourcefulness and courage.”

Scrubs

Widely regarded as one of the most absurd yet accurate reflections of the healthcare system, Scrubs details the joys and tragedies of everyday life as a medical resident. The show also captures nursing life with memorable characters like the fierce, hardworking Carla Espinosa and Laverne Roberts.

ER

A pioneer in the medical drama genre, ER has laid the groundwork for many modern nurse shows on TV. While the show highlights physicians, nurses are also integral to the storylines, with complex characters like Abby Lockhart, Carol Hathaway, and Sam Taggart leaving lasting impressions.

New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam follows a new medical director as he attempts to transform the system at America’s oldest public hospital. Though not entirely nurse-focused, the show features many compelling nurse characters who contribute meaningfully to the hospital’s inner workings. While the show has been critiqued for oversimplifying real-world healthcare challenges, it ultimately delivers feel-good moments while addressing many contemporary issues in nursing.

Chicago Med

Part of the One Chicago franchise, Chicago Med dives into the lives of medical professionals at the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Described by NBC as maintaining a tradition of “pulse-pounding suspense” and emotional storytelling, it captures the day-to-day chaos of hospital life. Nurses are also well represented, shown as critical team members navigating intense clinical situations.

Hawthorne

TNT’s HawthoRNe put nursing leadership front and center, following Chief Nursing Officer Christina Hawthorne as she manages staff and advocates for patients at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. While many storylines focus on Christina’s personal life, the show also emphasizes the heroic image of the modern nurse leader, even using the tagline, “Every patient needs a hero.”

Nurses on TV Shows

Some of TV’s best-written characters happen to be nurses. These powerful characters deliver memorable lines amid emotionally charged stories, bringing humor, levity, and a whirlwind of emotions to the forefront.

Nurse Jackie

As the titular character of the previously mentioned comedy-drama Nurse Jackie, Jackie Peyton offers a uniquely nuanced take on the nursing profession and its moral dilemmas. In her overview of the show, RN Tiffany Swedeen explains that while Nurse Jackie once sparked outrage among nurses, it has since stood the test of time. This is partially because it shines such a crucial light on the alarming prominence of addiction within the nursing profession.

Margaret Houlihan

As a high-ranking member of the Army Nurse Corps, Margaret Houlihan highlighted the importance of nursing in the show M*A*S*H. The character was first featured in the 1970 film version of M*A*S*H, where she was heavily sexualized and underutilized. The TV version, conversely, brought great depth to the character, with actress Loretta Swit describing her as somebody in “constant flux; she never stopped developing.”

Abby Lockhart

During an incredible character arc on the show ER, Abby Lockhart revealed what career progression could look like for ambitious nurses, while also drawing attention to the many mental health challenges that both nurses and doctors face

Carla Espinosa

Bossy yet relatable, Carla Espinosa in Scrubs brought much-needed attention to nursing in a comedy otherwise focused on doctors. Her character highlighted the disrespectful treatment that many nurses endure, as well as concerns surrounding physicians’ sometimes patronizing attitudes toward nursing staff.

Jesse Van Horn

Offering much-needed representation for men in nursing, Jesse Van Horn is described by actor Ned Bower as a “punk-rock type of nurse.” As an important character on The Pitt, he plays a powerful role in weaving the “whole fabric of all these different people working together in a team, just like a real emergency department.”

Dana Evans

As a charge nurse in The Pitt, Dana Evans keeps the emergency room running smoothly by blending compassion with a no-nonsense attitude. She has been referred to as the “MVP of The Pitt,” delivering memorable lines and bringing comic relief to an otherwise dark show.

Nurse Ratched

Not all noteworthy nurse characters are protagonists. The iconic Nurse Ratched offered a cautionary tale in the book and film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest before transitioning to TV with the prequel series Ratched. This origin story reveals how asylum nurse Mildred Ratched grew more selfish and manipulative over time, painting a picture of nursing that looks decidedly different from other nurse TV shows.

Ann Perkins

Not all TV nurses star in medical shows. Ann Perkins, for example, plays a central role in Parks and Recreation, a comedy focused on government workers. While government worker Leslie Knope is the main character, she depends heavily on her good friend Ann Perkins, who works at a local hospital but is also passionate about public health. Ann reveals how nursing qualities like compassion can shape other relationships and have ripple effects that influence entire communities.

Start Your Nursing Journey Today!

Ready to follow in the footsteps of TV’s greatest nurses? Whether you’re looking to embark on a new career path or advance your current nursing career, you can count on Bryant & Stratton College for support.

We offer nursing programs at all levels, ranging from nursing diplomas to the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN). We also offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which can be completed pre-licensure or via the bridge RN to BSN program. Request more information today and get ready for a powerful journey that helps you feel confident and capable as a nurse.