My Favorite TV Nurses

Growing up with a nurse for a mom and now also having two sisters in the nursing field you can understand why nurses are some of my most favorite people. They care for you when you are sick, they nourish you when you are in hungry, and they comfort you when you are sad. They are the epitome of everything we could ever need as human beings.

What better way to pay tribute to all the nurses out there than to write about my second favorite nurses. These are the ones who made house calls, the ones who traveled through snow and storms just to make us feel more comfortable and content. These are the nurses who visited us on our television sets every week - our favorite TV Nurses!

Carol Hathaway (ER)
Probably my all time favorite TV nurse is Nurse Carol Hathaway. From her attempted suicide on the first episode to her fairytale romance with Dr. Doug Ross, Carol Hathaway was everything I ever wanted to be - if I was a nurse!
(136 episodes, 1994-2009)
Played by: Julianna Marguilies
From "ER: You Bet Your Life (#3.18)" (1997)
Dr. Doug Ross: You can get through my door.
Carol Hathaway: Anything wearing a bra can get through your door.

Carla Espinosa (SCRUBS)
I have always loved Carla's sarcastic but humorous nature; she never failed to make me laugh or get a 'you go girl' out of me.
(169 episodes, 2001-2009)
Played by: Judy Reyes
More About Carla...
From "Scrubs: My Female Trouble (#4.10)" (2004)
Turk: Baby, you know if my malpractice insurance goes through the roof, you're gonna have to take a step-down lifestyle wise.
Carla: I live in a tiny apartment with my husband, his best friend, and their dead stuffed dog. What's the step down?

Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (MASH)
TV Nurses would not be where they are today if not for Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. Whether with Charles Winchester or Major Burns, she definitely heated up the screen while providing excellent care for her patients.
(245 episodes, 1972-1983)
Played by: Loretta Swit
Margaret: I'm not so think as you drunk I am...

Samantha Taggart (ER)
I absolutely loved Samantha Taggart from her first moment on ER. She was cool and distant and somewhat of a tom boy but still cute and sexy and managed to win the affections of "hottie" Dr. Luca, at least for a little while.
(127 episodes, 2003-2009)
Played by: Linda Cardellini
More About Sam...
From "ER: Carter est Amoureux (#11.21)" (2005)
Meredith Smart - Couples Therapist: What are you feeling, Luka?
Dr. Luka Kovac: I'm happy! I'm happy and Sam's not. I don't know why. We're healthy, we enjoy each other... our work. We have a good life.
Meredith Smart - Couples Therapist: How does that make you feel, Sam?
Nurse Samantha Taggart: Like hitting him over the head with a hammer.

Peter Petrelli (Heroes)
Peter is the single male TV nurse that I picked out mainly because there aren't too many male TV nurses. But Peter acts the part well (even though it is not accented) and it is nice to see the TV nurse role played by a man.
(64 episodes, 2006-2009)
Played by: Milo Ventimiglia
More About Peter...
From "Heroes: Chapter Seven 'Nothing to Hide' (#1.7)" (2006/II)
Peter Petrelli: This painting is the key. Alright? With this thing we c- we can make a difference.
Nathan Petrelli: I'm trying to make a difference Peter. The best way I know how. Flying around, how is that gonna help anybody? What is it gonna- I can't- what am I gonna- What am I gonna do when I get there? I don't have a gun, I don't have a badge, I don't - I don't know karate. I guess I could put on a costume and-and fly around and pull cats out of trees. How's that gonna make a difference?
Peter Petrelli: You're not gonna know until you try.

Abby Lockhart (ER)
As may be able to tell, I am very partial to TV nurses on the medical series ER. It was one of my favorite TV shows for many years. I watched the characters come, grow, and leave. Although Abby eventually 'Crossed over to the dark side' as she put it in one episode after she finished med school, she was still an excellent TV nurse. In fact, she was the OB nurse who helped deliver Carol and Doug's twin girls.
(190 episodes, 1999-2009)
Played by: Maura Tierney
More About Abby...
From "ER: If Not Now (#12.11)" (2006)
Patient: I was never the sickly type, you know. Always very healthy. Used to do triathlons. Believe that?
Abby Lockhart: Me too.
Patient: Really?
Abby Lockhart: Smoking, drinking and watching TV.

Laverne Todd (Empty Nest)
Who could forget the funny lady turned nurse Laverne Todd from TV's Empty Nest? She kept the good doctor in line with her own one liners and often kept his grown daughters in line too.
(170 episodes, 1988-1995)
Played by: Park Overall

Kitty Forman (That 70s Show)
And last but not least by far is nurse Kitty Forman from "That 70's Show", wife of Red, and mother of Eric and Laurie. Although her job as a nurse was not a major part of her character, her nurturing nature carried through to her role as a wife and mother.
(201 episodes, 1998-2006)
All Seasons
Played by: Debra Jo Rupp
From "That '70s Show: Hyde's Christmas Rager (#3.9)" (2000)
Reginald "Red" Forman: Kitty, put that out.
Kitty Forman: [Red moves towards Kitty to take the ciggarette] Back off, Grinch.

Sources

IMDb
The Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/