by the linster

Sexy nurses that make our temperatures rise

With so many shows that revolve around nurses — Nurse Jackie, HawthoRNe and Mercy, to name a few — a list of the 10 Sexiest Nurses was inevitable.

But the recent list created by Nerve apparently used much different criteria for sexiness than I had in mind. I mean, the first nurse on the site’s list is Florence Nightingale.

Seriously? True, Flo did attract admirers, if not suitors, of both genders. But she certainly did not encourage romance; in fact, her biographers generally agree that the pioneer nurse remained celibate all her life. (Despite Nerve’s implication that she might have been a lesbian, her writings indicate that she wasn’t too fond of women in general.) Nightingale’s accomplishments are worthy of admiration, to be sure, but I’m not sure I’d call her “sexy.”

While Nerve does include one of the best TV nurses ever, “Hot Lips” Houlihan (Loretta Swit), the list is more noteworthy for who it doesn’t include. We can do much better. I’ll get things going with a few of the sexiest nurses on television, starting with the first one I remember.

Julia Baker

Julia, starring Diahann Carroll, was the story of a widowed nurse and her son. Julia Baker’s husband had been killed in Vietnam, forcing her to relocate and forge a new life in a primarily white environment. Whatever the situation, Julia was strong, elegant and dignified. With her at my bedside, I know I’d feel better.

Colleen McMurphy

China Beach dealt with Vietnam more directly, set at an Army base during the war. Dana Delaney played Nurse Colleen McMurphy, who was the perfect blend of passion and compassion. I came out during the show’s run and McMurphy was the first female character that I openly admitted to having a crush on. I still think of McMurphy when I see Delaney — and still have a crush on her.

Carla Espinosa

One of the things that made Scrubs unique in the sitcom world was the way it allowed relationships between characters to change and grow. Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes), head nurse at Sacred Heart, was, in many ways, central to those relationships, covering rookie mistakes and offering advice that usually turned out to be right. She was smart, confident and knew better than to feel threatened by the relationship between her husband Turk and his BFF J.D.

Carol Hathaway

Remember the pilot episode of ER? Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Margulies, tried to commit suicide over a failed relationship with Doug Ross (George Clooney). Over the next six seasons we saw Carol go from shaky to self-assured — and were enchanted by her every step of the way. I knew Carol and Doug would end up together, but secretly wished she’d show up on my doorstep instead.

OK, your turn. What nurses make your heart beat faster?

the linster's blog

Submitted by

the linster

on September 30, 2009 - 1:00pm.

TAGS ::

television

none of them

Submitted by

shoelaces (1 post)

on September 30, 2009 - 1:52pm.

nurses would of even came to mind, abby ER, Callie/Meredith/Arizona Greys Anatomy, Thirteen House?(i dont follow house),

<3 Callie and Arizona

Nurses and doctors are not the same thing

Submitted by

BAS (553 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 4:38pm.

All those characters with the sort of exception of Abby are doctors.

Abby on ER was a nurse first before she went to med school so she counts and is definitely hot. I assume you aren't counting those nurses on the new shows, because although I haven't watch any they seem pretty hot from the coverage here. Also from ER - Sam Taggart (played by Linda Cardellini) in the later seasons. I was never a giant fan of Hathaway in a "hot" sense. Probably just not my type though.

Most of the nurses on ER were shockingly normal looking. I think it went a long way towards the real feel of the show, but they just aren't going to compete looks-wise with the stars of say, Nurse Jackie or Mercy.

I loved how on ER the nurses

Submitted by

Andi Torak (60 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 6:33pm.

I loved how on ER the nurses (at least at the start) were middle aged women who looked like they'd been up all night looking after difficult patients. Even when the show got a little more glamorous, Sam still looked exhausted and Chuny wasn't caked with make up. In the later series, I really missed the kickass-ness and comradery of all the nurses like Lidya, Haleh, Connie, Lily, etc. Even Malik and Yosh were really cool characters, and were beleivable nurses.

CARLA

Submitted by

leonormi (9 posts)

on October 1, 2009 - 5:52am.

she's the main reason why I started watching scrubs

I'm so glad you thought of her for this list

oh, and nurse Rose on Grey's...

although

Submitted by

erika :] (54 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 1:55pm.

carla espinosa was hot, my mom's a nurse so i find nurses to be more maternal and comforting than sexy. lol

Hmmm...

Submitted by

imthey (562 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 1:59pm.

Nurses Hathaway, Taggart and Lockhart from ER would all make my list (as respectively played by Julianna Margulies, Linda Cardellini and Maura Tierney).

I have to also mention one of the first nurses I can remember from the TV show Heartbeat... Nurse McGrath (played by Gail Strickland).

As for the new show Mercy. which I haven't quite decided if I enjoy or not, I'll cite Nurse Callahan (played by Taylor Schilling) as a good reason to keep watching while I make my decision.

I also have to say that the awesomeness of Suleka Mathew as Nurse Bobbie Jackson and Jada Pinkett Smith as Nurse Hawthorne keeps me coming back for the show Hawthorne.

As for Nurse Jackie (other than Eve Best as Dr. Eleanor O'Hara... sorry had to include her) it's Merrit Wever as the adorable Nurse Zoey Barkow that keeps me watching.

♡OTALIA Forever!♡

"I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

I thought I was the only one who remembered Heartbeat!

Submitted by

Donica (139 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 3:16pm.

And the great Nurse McGrath! I loved that show and the fact that she was an out lesbian.

nurse hathaway

Submitted by

nicole eggett (137 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:24pm.

oh my gosh i love her :D julianna margulies is a-mah-zing!

I DEMAND CALLIE BE PUT ON

Submitted by

Lauren (327 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:28pm.

I DEMAND CALLIE BE PUT ON THIS LIST.

Sara Ramirez = the hottest woman on earth. Minus Eliza Dushku ;)

Go here for my view on all things lesbian: http://allthingslesbeau.blogspot.com

Callie is a doctor not a

Submitted by

Abby (45 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 4:34pm.

Callie is a doctor not a nurse.

hawthorne and mercy

Submitted by

lezmaig (17 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:28pm.

Definetly Jada smith from HAWTHORNE and her best friend...

But i have to admit, the ladies of MERCY got it going on. Jaime Kirchner in that dress....my, my, my

Where the heck are the

Submitted by

LieutKusa (208 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:29pm.

Where the heck are the nurses from Silent Hill?! They are hot toooo! =D

damn yes they are hot.

Submitted by

runawaycorpus (98 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 10:56pm.

damn yes they are hot. Faceless and everything.

Juliette Binoche

Submitted by

K.Moe (697 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:35pm.

In the 1996 film "The English Patient," Juliette Binoche plays Hana, a nurse whose devotion to her patient leads her to stay with him under dangerous wartime circumstances. The character could be considered one aspect of the Florence Nightingale type, although she does not have the military mindset.

Juliette Binoche is definetly makes my heart beat faster...

Nurse Jackie!!

Submitted by

AshTreeMeadow (5 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 2:59pm.

Am I the only one who thinks Edie Falco as Nurse Jackie is sexy? No one has mentioned her, so I felt the need. Since Carol Hathaway isn't on television anymore, Nurse Jackie has definitely taken over my nurse crush.

P.S. I'm a nursing student, and I know quite a few sexy real life nurses as well... ;)

know what you mean

Submitted by

K.Moe (697 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 3:09pm.

I'm a nurse, and I know a few sexy real life nurses and doctors too...

I wish you good luck with your study for nurse. LOL

Absolutely!

Submitted by

Donica (139 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 3:14pm.

TOTALLY HOT for Nurse Jackie!!

I always had a bit of a thing for...

Submitted by

Mars (82 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 3:00pm.

Elliot from scrubs

oh and 13 but shes a doctor not a nurse

But Im also starting to watch Trauma so I let you know who I like on there later.

Elliot from Scrubs is a

Submitted by

Abby (45 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 4:36pm.

Elliot from Scrubs is a doctor, as well, not a nurse.

AbbyAbbyAbby

Submitted by

polkadotwings (92 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 4:36pm.

Defininetly Abby from ER since she started out as a nurse. I also really like Sam from ER too. And I don't remember her name, but the main girl from Mercy.

And I agree with Carol & Carla.

I think I just like nurses in general lol.

I'm guessing it's because

Submitted by

Abby (45 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 4:38pm.

I'm guessing it's because I'm an RN that I find it all entirely unsexy. lol

My girlfriend of three years

Submitted by

Jill (55 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 5:58pm.

My girlfriend of three years haha. She's beautiful, makes my temperature rise (in the good way) and can take care of me when I'm sick. It's a good situation all around.

...people are going to skew and censor you in order to make the idea of you better represent whatever agenda they've decided you'll promote -Randy Harrison

Hahaha, good answer. And if

Submitted by

Andi Torak (60 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 6:16pm.

Hahaha, good answer. And if she reads this, probably the correct answer

LMAO agreed if she does read

Submitted by

Flashover (75 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 8:01pm.

LMAO agreed if she does read this definately the correct answer!

Yay for the woman with half a semester of computer science!

Submitted by

Andi Torak (60 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 6:14pm.

Oooh, I haven't even watched it yet but I know I'll love Michelle Trachtenberg in Mercy. I loved Sam from ER (more as a brunette, though). And Rose from Greys Anatomy, no matter how short her story line was.

I gotta say I'm suprised by how many people included doctors in this list. I thought it'd be a pretty obvious difference, myself. Not all women in hospitals are nurses, we know that, right?

Esther!!

Submitted by

sbg6 (2 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 6:20pm.

Esther from Hospital Central! (Of Esther and Maca fame.) How did she not make the list?

of course!

Submitted by

La Kiwi (17 posts)

on October 1, 2009 - 6:34am.

thats what i was thinking!!! its starting again real soon (for free to air)... i hope she´s survived the fall.......

Esther and Esther, from

Submitted by

shoveya (115 posts)

on October 1, 2009 - 8:54am.

Esther and Esther, from Hospital Central and Terapia D'Urgenza. Both the 2 nurses are hot, and they sure have very good taste in ladies.

Nurse Chapel

Submitted by

atlaggie (11 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 9:39pm.

Why, Nurse Chapel of Star Trek, of course! Played by the always lovely Majel Barrett Roddenberry, RIP.

Yes!

Submitted by

blunt spoon (38 posts)

on October 1, 2009 - 8:04am.

I was just about to post that. She was awesome! Though, of course, as is the way with most nurses on TV shows, she later became a doctor in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Nurse Chapel Yes!

Submitted by

MovieLounge (237 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 9:59pm.

Don't forget Major "Hot Lips" Houlihan, the character was played beautifully by both Sally Kellerman & Loretta Swit!

Hot Lips

Submitted by

emery (7 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 10:06pm.

I would definitely pick Sally Kellerman over Loretta Switt. Her voice alone...

McMurphy

Submitted by

Northernfire (2 posts)

on September 30, 2009 - 11:55pm.

i had one hellatious(sp) desire that Left-tenant Mc and K.C would get together.......even more so after the tunnel episode (both were kidnap'd to tend to an injured VC officer) ........but , alas .....

*returns to the shadows*