workforce
NUM Darren Scott . Photo : Supplied
Superheroes in scrubs
Everyday heroes take us inside the nursing profession on new TV reality series .
By Eleanor Campbell
A
new factual reality series has ushered audiences behind the frontlines of Australia ’ s busiest hospitals , from the eyes of the nurses who work inside .
Nurses premiered in August on Channel 7 , beating The Bachelor to attract almost 900,000 viewers nationwide . A recent episode delved into the operating theatres , intensive care units and the bustling emergency department of St Vincent ’ s Hospital in Sydney .
Preparing a 43-year-old woman for heart replacement surgery , viewers meet senior perioperative nurse Nakita Magua , who guides a young scout nurse as they assist on a four-hour heart valve repair surgery .
Nakita , 35 , said when she was first approached by her manager to appear on the show , she believed an onscreen tribute to nurses was a subject that was long overdue .
“ Naturally , the surgeons and the doctors kind of get all of the recognition and the nurses don ’ t always get recognised for how much knowledge they have and
24 | nursingreview . com . au how much work they put into things ,” she told Nursing Review . “ So I thought the show was a great idea . “ In reality it was quite difficult : trying to act natural in front of a camera is not easy .”
As the surgery gets underway , Nakita speaks through voiceover about the importance of remaining 10 steps ahead . Carefully observing , the four nurses monitor each and every move performed by the surgeons .
Nakita goes on to unwrap a prosthetic ring to be fitted into the woman ’ s heart valve and hands it over to the surgeon . The room falls silent , as the patient ’ s heart rate gains traction on the monitor , and then begins to pump into a full rhythm .
“ It ’ s such an honour just seeing that we ’ ve been able to provide a better life for someone who has been so sick , and has really been suffering . I still find it incredible ,” Nakita tells the camera as she grins behind her mask .
Intensive 12-week filming for Nurses began at St Vincent ’ s earlier this year when community COVID-19 transmission stood at a halt . The experience of filming a television show and working through a pandemic , Nakita said , was challenging .
“ It was one of the hardest things I ’ ve ever done .
“ There ’ s hardly any space in the operating room anyway , and they had this extra person with this camera that was constantly there , and then I had a mic on so you ’ re kind of aware of everything you ’ re saying , but your natural side kicks in because you ’ ve got to focus on your work .”
During her late teens and early 20s , Nakita had successfully pursued diplomas in beauty and personal training , but said after reaching the top of those vocations , she still felt like something was missing from her life .
“ I sort of got to a point where I was like ‘ nope , I still need to do this ’, I ’ ve been trying to avoid it for so long , so I went to university a little bit later when I was 25 ,” she said . “ And I fell head over heels in love .” After completing a one-year perioperative course at St Vincent ’ s , Nakita launched straight into her nursing career and never looked back .
Filming the show , she said , was an opportunity to offer her friends and family a rare insight into the operating theatre , a place where often only a few are permitted to enter .
“ I think a lot of people think , ‘ oh yeah they just do bed baths and bedpans ’, and they think you ’ re kind of like that assistant person that is just running around doing little bits and pieces .