Ethical Dilemmas according to Nurse Jackie

By Sheryl Cornelius, Ed.D, MSN, RN

First…Go watch the show!

Nurse Jackie:“He’s got a bleed, I’m telling you right now.”

Dr. Cooper:“Jeez, Bossy… He’s totally lucid. Let’s get some film on that leg.”

Vignette One- Episode One

“It may have been a shame, but it will not be a waste. That I promise…(Nurse Jackie)”

“My son was an organ donor?” (Mother)

“I’m so confused, he never said anything about being an organ donor. I don’t want you to just cut him up like that. You know?”

(Beth, the girlfriend)” Vignette two – Episode One

“I got one for you…What do you call a nurse with a bad back? Unemployed… Badumbum!”

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Vignette three – Episode One & Two

“Is this happening, not happening? I can’t even tell…”

Vignette four – Episode One

“Ears don’t just jump into toilets, do

they?”

“Actually you were the last one to handle it Zoey.”

“No, I was the one that found it…”

Vignette five – Episode Two

The Robin Hood complex

Vignette six – Episode One

“These hours Jackie? This hospital in no way endorses 80 hour weeks from its’ employees. After 12.5 hours nurses are 3X more likely to make mistakes.”

“Can you do a double on Monday?”

Vignette seven – Episode Two

“You’re right, I do not know what you are going through…”

Vignette eight – Episode One & Two

“I don’t know if I can do this…you are all so good at what you do!” (Zoey)

Vignette Nine – Episode two

“Doctors are in the business to diagnose, we (the nurses) heal. All Saints Hospital is in the business of flipping beds…the fact that you want to help people puts you light years ahead”

“If I was going to be a saint… I would want to be like Augustine. He knew there was good in him and he

knew there was not so good. He knew he was not going to give up his earthly pleasures until he was

good and ready.”

“Make me good, God, but not yet.”