TV Nurse Consultants: Who’s Behind Your Favorite On-Screen Medical Moments?
Image Source: Sollis Health via Instagram
While watching your favorite medical show or movie, you’re glued to the screen, witnessing doctors pull off miraculous saves or nurses handling chaos with grace. But behind the scenes, Hollywood nurse consultants are the real MVPs. They ensure those heart-pounding moments are as medically accurate as they are entertaining.
Continue reading to discover the fascinating world of nurse consulting for TV and movies.
Blending Fact with Funny on St. Denis Medical
NBC's new comedy, St. Denis Medical, is set in a bustling Oregon hospital and is a perfect example. While the show aims to tickle your funny bone, it doesn’t skimp on medical authenticity. The production team leans heavily on nurse consultants to keep things real, from getting the scripts right to making sure the hospital environment looks believable.
Allison Tolman, who plays the supervising nurse, Alex, has shared some behind-the-scenes insights. In an interview with Us Weekly, she says, "Working with our medical consultants has been eye-opening. They've taught me everything from proper patient assessment techniques to the small details of how nurses communicate during hectic shifts."
Consulting for St. Denis Medical
Medical technicians Jamie Watkins RN, MSN, PHN (a Concierge emergency nurse with Sollis Health) and Rachel Daigh (a former EMT and Cadet with Phoenix Fire Department) consult for the show.
Tolman described working with them: "These two great med techs also write all of our medical jargon too. So, the script might just say, 'and then they....' Then Jamie and Rachel come in and are like, 'This is what they're doing. Here's what she says. Here's what he says.' We would be lost without them."
Nurse consultants have a tricky job. They’re the tightrope walkers of the TV world, balancing medical truth with the need to entertain. Take that mammogram scene in St. Denis Medical. The consultants made sure the procedure was shown correctly while still leaving room for some comedy gold.
Accuracy Pays Off
Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. St. Denis Medical scored a second season, with critics applauding its mix of comedy and authentic healthcare dilemmas.
Keeping It Real in the World of Fiction
In addition to her full-time role at Solis and working on St. Denis Medical, Nurse Jamie Watkins also consults and acts on HBO’s The Pitt, along with her Solis coworker Ambar Martinez.
The Pitt enlisted the expertise of countless medical professionals to ensure the accuracy of its portrayal of emergency medicine. Co-executive producer Dr. Joe Sachs (a former ER physician and technical adviser on ER) played a key role in shaping the medical storylines and scene choreography.
Collaborating with showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, Sachs helped create realistic scenarios that resonate with healthcare workers. Additionally, many physicians contributed their insights to the series, including ER docs Mel Herbert, Fred Einesman, and Sylvia Owusu-Ansah.
Dr. Owusu-Ansah said of working on the show, “For better or for worse, media changes lives, that’s why it’s important that it be accurate.” This commitment to authenticity has earned praise from medical professionals for capturing the emotional and procedural challenges faced in high-stakes emergency settings.
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How Do You Become a Hollywood Nurse Consultant?
To become a Hollywood nurse consultant, you need a strong foundation in nursing combined with experience and knowledge of the entertainment industry.
Nursing Experience
Start by obtaining a nursing degree and gaining substantial clinical experience, particularly in emergency care or trauma. Advanced nursing certifications such as ACLS or PALS can enhance your credentials.
Entertainment Experience
Developing an understanding of filmmaking dynamics is crucial. Familiarize yourself with set terminology, shooting schedules, and the unique challenges of film production.
Consider attending workshops or programs focused on medical consulting for TV and film to gain specialized knowledge. Some companies offering these programs include On-Call Consulting, Reel Medical Consulting, and Ready Set Medic.
Networking
Connect with industry professionals through events or platforms like LinkedIn. You should also consider joining organizations that cater to medical professionals in entertainment.
Getting Started
To break into the industry, start by working on smaller projects or volunteering for independent films to build your portfolio. Collaborate with consulting agencies that specialize in providing medical expertise for productions.
As you gain experience, you can transition into script consulting roles, ensuring medical and historical script accuracy. Regularly check job boards and contact production companies or specialized agencies to find opportunities as a film nurse consultant.
Beyond the Scripts: Impact on Nursing Perception
Nurse consultants do more than tweak scripts and teach actors how to use a stethoscope. They often share their real-life stories, adding layers to characters and plots. This collaboration makes for storylines that are not only gripping but also educational, offering glimpses into parts of healthcare that viewers don’t usually see.
And let’s not forget the broader impact. By portraying nurses accurately and respectfully, these consultants help fight stereotypes. They might even inspire some viewers to trade their remote controls for scrubs and join the nursing profession.
So, next time you’re watching your favorite medical show, give a nod to the nurse consultants. They’re the quiet force behind the scenes, ensuring that what you see on screen resonates with the real world of nursing. And who knows, maybe they’re the reason someone decided to pursue a career where they get to wear comfy shoes all day!
🤔 Have you ever thought about being a Hollywood nurse consultant? Tell us your thoughts in the discussion forum below.
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