Nursing Care Plans: How the Movies Do It
Nursing in Hollywood is far from realistic, as are most careers that are showcased in movies and television. With medical shows on the rise, such as Grey’s Anatomy or even reruns of ER, producers were strapped for dramatic scenes of nurses and doctors, and rather than rely on the truth, they carefully crafted many dramatic episodes that not only pulled in an audience, but kept them wanting more. However, as much as we enjoy the role of the doctors on Grey’s Anatomy, and the quirky little relationships between nurses and doctors on Scrubs, in reality nurses and doctors have very little contact in hospitals and clinics, although they continue to communicate through nursing care plans. Hollywood largely ignores this integral part of the nursing industry, although it is responsible for the majority of patient care and for ensuring that patients are not overlooked, even on busy emergency days.
Nursing care plans are never a part of Hollywood hits. Instead, the doctors rule all and nurses are pushed to the side while interns watch over the patients and make up their own “doctor plans” for each patient. In reality, nurses have far more contact with the patients than the doctors ever do, and while TV shows have slowly been incorporating more of this factual background into their episodes, doctors still dominate the ratings. However, doctors in traditional hospital settings have multiple patients, multiple surgeries, and simply do not have time to sit with patients or even take the hour long breaks for entertainment most doctors receive in television shows. Nurses, therefore, are left in charge of the patients, even though these shows typically portray nurses as somewhat inept at the entire medical process.
Hollywood is slowly starting to realize the importance of nurses and the importance of their communication to each other through nursing care plans. Many sitcoms and dramas now include the nursing industry more than ever before and indicate that nurses have ways they communicate to other nurses about their patients. However, the Movies and TV still paint the best illusory picture they can muster, and still continue to leave out how important nurses are to the medical community. Learning how vital nursing care plans are to most hospital settings is important not only for future medical and nursing students, but for patients as well – it gives many of us peace of mind to know that nurses will continuously watch over us when the doctor is not around.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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