On October 24, MTV began airing a new reality show about nurses which has caused an uproar in the nursing community. The show, “Scrubbing In,” features a cast of young traveling nurses and focuses primarily on their personal lives, rather than their work as nurses.
Today, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) called on MTV to cancel the show on the grounds that it is demeaning to nurses and detrimental to efforts to address the nursing shortage. Several other nursing associations, including National Nurses United, American Nurses Association, Canadian Nurses Association, and Change.org have also urged the network to cancel the show pointing out that its portrayal of nurses is offensive and may harm efforts to encourage young people to enter the profession.
In a letter addressed to MTV President Stephen Friedman, NACNS President Carol Manchester wrote:
At a time when our nation needs nurses more than ever, this program is denigrating and demeaning the members of what has been shown time and again to be one of the most trusted professions in the United States. “Scrubbing In” does a serious disservice to nurses, nursing students, our health care system and our nation as a whole.