Podcast
ER Chaplains Watching "ER"
Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton · EN
Why do TV hospitals (almost) never have chaplains?? We're here to help! We'll dive into each episode of "ER" and talk about how a chaplain could have helped, as well as how much things have changed in hospitals since "ER" was on the air.
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Episodes
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Episode 11: Illusions of control
Mar 29, 2019Tap to summarizeThe chaplains break down episodes 1.20 and 1.21 of ER as we look at the ER as “the center of the universe,” how none of us is really in control of much of anything, the beloved friendship between Doug Ross and Mark Greene, secondary trauma, how competition can be both positive and negative, why grief applies to a lot more than just death, righteous anger, and the importance of taking a time-out. We also read a wonderful email from our listener Max. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, and Janie Toy Powell. See Ep 11 Show Notes for more great info and links to the episodes on Hulu.
Transcribe →Ep 11 Show Notes
Mar 29, 2019Tap to summarizeER 1.20 “Full Moon Saturday Night”ER 1.21 “House of Cards”As Stacy mentions, Grey’s Anatomy surpassed ER last month to become TV’s longest running hospital drama. Here are some articles about this milestone (with lots of spoilers for later seasons of ER, if you’re only watching season one now). ”’Grey’s Anatomy’ Makes History” from The Hollywood Reporter”7 Reasons Why ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Has Outlasted ‘ER’” from USA Today”’Grey’s Anatomy’ Cast Reacts to Surpassing ‘ER’…” from ET Online”’Grey’s Anatomy’ Becomes Longest Running Hospital Drama on TV” from People”’Grey’s Anatomy’ vs. ‘ER’: By the Numbers” from E! OnlineThe chaplains talk about the death of Dr. Greene’s OB patient in the previous episode as a “sentinel event.” You can read about the definition of a sentinel event and what policies and procedures the Joint Commission recommends here. Offering staff support is one important part of a hospital chaplain’s role, and offering staff debriefings following a difficult situation or patient death can be helpful. This article gives some guidance on how to approach such debriefings. The chaplains believe that Dr. Greene seems to be suffering from compassion fatigue and secondary trauma following the death of his patient. You can learn more about burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma in this presentation from Dr. Trudy Gilbert-Eliot. Janie says, somewhat jokingly, that as adults we need to take more time-outs. That is especially important in hospitals, particularly following a death. Nurse Jonathan Bartels is credited with promoting “The Pause,” a simple moment ...
Transcribe →Episode 10: Love's Labor Still Losing
Aug 24, 2018Tap to summarizePeter Benton's marathon shift leads the chaplains to talk about boundaries, the value of rest and self-care, and who can/should provide spiritual support in hospitals. And the classic episode "Love's Labor Lost" brings discussion of the alarming (and worsening) rates of maternal mortality in the U.S. We also learn what became of the actress who played Tatiana and more. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Janie Toy Powell, Sara Jane Moran, and Carrie Walker Nettles. See Ep 10 Show Notes page for more great info and links.
Transcribe →Ep 10 Show Notes
Aug 24, 2018Tap to summarizeER 1.18 "Sleepless in Chicago"ER 1.19 "Love's Labor Lost"In looking at Dr. Benton's behavior when he is working too long without sleep, Carrie cites the acronym HALT. This article expands on the dangers of being Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. When ER introduces a little girl who has been severely punished for exploring her body, Carrie also mentions her work with LeAnn Gardner on SAFE Seminars. This stands for Sexual Awareness and Family Empowerment. This kind of holistic sex education can help parents understand what is "normal" at different stages of childhood development and, especially in American churches, help undo some of the damage caused by the Puritan heritage. This list of books for both parents and kids for learning about body safety is another great resource. Stacy tells us she did some research on the actress who played Tatiana, the little girl with AIDS whom nurse Carol Hathaway wanted to adopt. The actress's name is Milana Vayntrub and she's still working today, most notably in AT&T commercials as Lily and in a recurring role on NBC's This Is Us as playwright Sloane Sandburg. She and her family came to the US as refugees from the Soviet Union when she was very young, and in 2016 she started a charity to help refugees called Can't Do Nothing. The ER episode "Love's Labor Lost" is one that lots of people remember from when it first aired. Stacy says she has read a lot of articles about it online. Here are a few of them. "Haunting First Season Show Leaves a Lasting Impact" from the LA Times"A Riveting ER Gives Dr. Greene One Bad Day That Just Keeps Getting Worse" from The AV Club"ER: An Oral History of the Powerful, Groundbreaking 'Love's Labor Lost'" from TV Guide<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/105134-19-re...
Transcribe →Episode 9: Meet Them Where They Are
Aug 6, 2018Tap to summarizeWe're finally back with a new episode! We learn how George Clooney is a real-life PSA for wearing a helmet, Mark and Jennifer Greene's marriage illustrates Gottman's Four Horsemen, Doug Ross demonstrates toxic charity, and a parable of Jesus reframed for modern caregivers may have saved Stacy and Carrie from burnout. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton and Carrie Walker Nettles.See Ep 9 Show Notes page for more.
Transcribe →Ep 9 Show Notes
Aug 6, 2018Tap to summarizeStacy references George Clooney's eventful summer. You can see the AFI Life Achievement interview where he talks about ER's importance to his career here. And you can read about his terrifying motor scooter vs car crash in a lot of places, but this article from motorcycle magazine Rider is my favorite because the headline asks, "Did a Motorcycle Helmet Just Save George Clooney's Life?" (Spoiler alert: It probably did save his life, or at the very least save him from serious head trauma.) Be like George Clooney! Always wear a helmet when riding your bicycle/scooter/motorcycle/etc! Carrie says that Mark and Jennifer Greene's disintegrating marriage is displaying all of Gottman's Four Horsemen. For those not familiar with Gottman's research, these are four ways of communicating (or not communicating) which often presage the end of a relationship: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. You can read more at the link above. We talk a lot in this episode about Tatiana, a little girl with AIDS whom nurse Carol Hathaway wants to adopt. Carrie wishes that she had pediatric Hospice care available to her. You can read about pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care in this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics.In regards to several of the patients and families we see in these episodes, Stacy and Carrie mention complicated grief, also known as complex bereavement disorder. You can read more about it from the Mayo Clinic at the link above. In "The Birthday Party," we see the tragedy of a young boy finding his father's gun and accidentally shooting his brother. Sadly, this is something that we as chaplains have seen in our hospitals in real life, and it's a very preventable occurrence. Please read the articles below for more on keeping kids safe from guns in the home."Guns Within Reach" from Parents magazine"Child Access Prevention" from Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence"Are You Talking to Parents About Keeping Guns Away from Children?" from Psychology Benefits SocietyWhen Doug Ross...
Transcribe →Episode 8: This Is Madness
Jun 26, 2018Tap to summarizeThe chaplains discuss domestic abuse, gang violence, white male privilege (mostly Dr. Carter's), end of life care, the origins of Doug Ross's (and George Clooney's) love of basketball, how ER gave us an Ocean's Eleven prequel, and more as we watch "Long Day's Journey" and "Feb 5, '95." Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton and Sara Jane Moran.See Ep 8 Show Notes page for more.
Transcribe →Ep 8 Show Notes
Jun 26, 2018Tap to summarizeER 1. 14 "Long Day's Journey"ER 1. 15 "Feb. 5, '95"In "Long Day's Journey," we see a somewhat unusual case of domestic violence in which the victim is a parent and the perpetrator is her teenage daughter. You can find resources and help for many different kinds of domestic abuse at The National Domestic Violence Hotline website.Sara Jane does not know who Bobcat Goldthwait is! We hear his distinctive voice as Carol Hathaway's patient who stays under a sheet for the whole episode. Stacy realizes that most people under 40 probably aren't familiar with him, so here's a video of one of his classic stand-up routines on David Letterman's show. Grace, the cancer patient featured in one of these episodes, is staying at a hospice facility but comes into the ER when her condition worsens. There are many options for end of life care explored on the American Cancer Society website.Stacy mentions an article referencing George Clooney's idea to put a basketball hoop on the set. It was this article (see #7) or one like it.When a kid comes into the ER pointing a gun at people in "Feb. 5, '95" the chaplains remark that it seems strange that everyone would freeze and there wouldn't be a plan in place for how to handle such a situation. Maybe it wasn't the case in 1995, but today, hospital employees have to watch training videos like this one annually. Nurse Hathaway is very protective of the new crash carts she gets for the ER in the second episode. If you don't know what a crash cart might contain or why it's important, this video features two nurses demonstrating what it is and how it works.
Transcribe →Episode 7: Sorry About Not Being More Assertive
Jun 5, 2018Tap to summarizeDr. Susan Lewis reminds us of our own difficulties asserting authority as young women and the horrors of individual supervision in Clinical Pastoral Education, while Dr. Peter Benton's story leads us to discuss family systems theory and respite care. And as always, there will be some fangirling over 90s George Clooney. Hosted by Stacy Sergent Lawton, Sara Jane Moran, and Janie Toy Powell. See Ep 7 Show Notes page for more info.
Transcribe →Ep 7 Show Notes
Jun 5, 2018Tap to summarizeER 1. 12 "Happy New Year"ER 1. 13 "Luck of the Draw"The chaplains discuss claiming their pastoral authority and other learning opportunities in CPE. If their conversation doesn't scare you off, you can find out more about Clinical Pastoral Education through ACPE here.Stacy mentions a sketch by Amy Schumer where a group of women make progressively absurd apologies. I couldn't find the video clip online, but this article does a good job explaining the skit and why it hit home for so many women.As Dr. Benton's family faces continuing challenges in caring for his mother who has dementia, and Dr. Ross treats a young boy with a brain injury whose father is overwhelmed by his needs, the chaplains talk about the importance of community resources and support groups. You can find information on Respite Care here (especially for senior citizens) and support for families dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury here. In this episode and others, the chaplains mention Family Systems Theory. You can learn more at the link.
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