While doctors often get the glory of television buzz, a growing number of shows in the summer and fall lineups are focusing on other office employees. These staff members include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants depicted in shows such as Nurse Jackie. Fast talking, dedicated Jackie, played by Edie Falco, shines at the forefront of modern medicine and the viewer almost forgets for an hour that there are also doctors in the hospital. Jackie lets her voice be heard and her opinion on medical matters known. Programs including Grey’s Anatomy and ER are starting to take a backseat in ratings to the more realistic and relatable dramas focusing on other hospital employees.

Doctors have become increasingly overworked and are in dire need of help on the job. One major field that has remained strong through this recession is Heath Services. Aside from being a doctor, there are many different career options in a hospital or other Heath Services center. Registered nurses, also called RNs, are very helpful to doctors and patients alike. These people are able to provide the emotional support that the doctors cannot readily give. Among other responsibilities, Registered Nurses treat and educate patients about medical conditions. To become an RN, a student needs to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, after receiving an associate’s degree. Next, a national licensing examination must be passed in order to receive a nursing license. In a 2006 report released by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median income for registered nurses was $57,280. However, in metropolitan cities such as New York, RN’s can earn upwards of $90,000. Most hospitals will accept nurses with associate’s degrees with the notion that they will go on to pursue a higher level of schooling. In return for the long hours spent at the hospital, the next few years of schooling will be paid for, and free for the nurses.

Nurse Jackie, along with other television dramas, has intrigued many viewers with the idea of a smart, strong-willed nurse at the forefront of hospitals. Nurses are needed all over the United States in the growing field of healthcare, and television shows are fueling the success of the industry.