Netflix’s Pulse Flatlines on Nurse Representation
Image Source: Netflix
Released to mixed reviews, Netflix’s Pulse (2025) is the streaming service's first procedural medical drama. With many similarities to Grey’s Anatomy, the show blends high-stakes trauma cases with workplace drama and romance at Miami’s Maguire Medical Center.
Pulse centers on resident doctors, including Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) and her fraught dynamic with Chief Resident Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell). Unfortunately, save for a few standout moments, the drama often sidelines nurse characters.
A Glimpse Into Pulse
Set against the backdrop of an impending hurricane, Pulse follows the lives of medical professionals as they navigate professional challenges and personal entanglements. The narrative centers on Dr. Danielle "Danny" Simms, portrayed by Willa Fitzgerald. Simms is a third-year emergency medicine resident thrust into the role of chief resident under tumultuous circumstances.
Another main character in Pulse is Dr. Simms’ ex-boyfriend and former chief resident, Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell), who faces suspension due to a sexual misconduct investigation initiated by Danny herself.
The Nurses on Pulse
While Pulse primarily focuses on the physicians, the series also highlights the vital contributions of nursing staff.
Cass Himmelstein
Portrayed by Jessica Rothe, Cass is a seasoned ER nurse who becomes romantically involved with Dr. Tom Cole (Jack Bannon), adding complexity to her role within the hospital dynamics. She keeps the chaotic ER together, and her sharp instincts and no-nonsense attitude make her a fan favorite, especially in scenes where she schools overconfident residents.
Luis Dominguez
Portrayed by Arturo del Puerto, Luis is an ER charge nurse and close associate of Dr. Tom Cole and Dr. Sam Elijah (Jessie T. Usher). He plays a pivotal role in managing ER operations while also bringing levity to the tense environment, like during rare slow moments when the staff decompresses with a game of desktop basketball.
These characters underscore the indispensable role of nurses in the hospital setting, providing a realistic portrayal of the collaborative efforts required in emergency medicine. However, their roles are largely reactive, lacking the depth seen in more nurse-centric shows like The Pitt or St. Denis Medical.
Critical Response: A Faint Pulse
Pulse has garnered mixed reviews, with a 50% critic and 47% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critical reviews lampoon the drama as uninspired, citing its "lack of identity" and over-reliance on Grey’s Anatomy-style tropes without fresh twists, according to Isabella Soares on Collider.
Nurses on social media have been vocal as well:
- On realism: Many criticize the show’s focus on doctor melodrama over medical teamwork, with one X user calling it "lifeless" compared to The Pitt’s gritty realism.
- On representation: While the show introduces Harper, a doctor who uses a wheelchair, nurses note her storyline is overshadowed by her sibling’s drama, calling it "surface-level" inclusivity.
- On bingeability: Some admit it’s easy “background noise," but others quit after Episode 1, frustrated by its clichés (e.g., a sex scandal subplot).
The Verdict
Pulse offers fleeting nursing moments in a sea of doctor-centric soap opera—ideal for undemanding binge-watchers but unlikely to satisfy those craving The Pitt’s nuanced healthcare portrayal.
On TikTok, theweekendwatch perfectly summed up the show: “It’s not a bad show; it’s just bad timing… It’s just hard to get into it, when coming off of, and still being on - because we’re not even finished yet - the high of The Pitt.”
If you're in the mood for medical drama that’s light on medical accuracy and even lighter on nurse visibility, Pulse might hold your attention for a shift or two. But if you’re hoping to see nurses take the lead, you’re better off paging The Pitt or scrubbing in with St. Denis Medical.
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