"Janet Dean, Registered Nurse"

Originally Published September 3rd, 2007

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This syndicated, half-hour drama starred Ella Raines as a recently discharged Army nurse who traveled the country filling in at hospitals wherever and whenever she was needed. But Janet Dean wasn't just a nurse; she was a problem solver with a kind soul, trying to do more than heal her patients' physical ills. The series ran for a single season from 1954-1955 and was probably the first television show to have a nurse as the main character.

In 1943, recent college graduate Ella Raines screen tested for a role in Universal's Corvettes in Action and was signed to a term contract by Howard Hawks and Charles Boyer [1]. The film would eventually be released as Corvette K-225. Several months, and several additional pictures later, Universal would take over the contract from Hawkes and Boyer, placing Raines in its own films and lending her out to other studios [2, 3].

Between 1943 and 1950 -- the length of her original contract -- Raines appeared in nearly twenty films before moving primarily to television. In 1950, she guest-starred in episodes of Robert Montgomery Presents, Lights Out and the premiere episode of Pulitzer Prize Playhouse. She later joined with Joan Harrison to form Cornwall Productions in order to produce a syndicated series called Janet Dean, Registered Nurse, starring Raines as the title character [4]. The series was sponsored by the Emerson Drug Company [5].

Scene from Janet Dean, Registered Nurse

The genesis of the series was simple: Janet Dean was a former Army nurse who, after being discharged, began work as a traveling nurse hopping from job to job. She often worked at hospitals, but took assignments wherever she was needed. The half-hour series was syndicated and aired on various days at various times across the country. For example, it aired in New York City on WNBT, Tuesdays at 7PM, starting in March of 1954 [6]. In Chicago, it aired Saturdays at 10:30PM on WNBQ beginning in April of 1954 [7].

Each episode of Janet Dean, Registered Nurse was titled "The [Blank] Case," coinciding with the name Janet wrote on a file at the start of the episode. The stories were rarely benign and often placed Janet in danger as she tried to save lives.

For example, in one episode she rushes into a trapped elevator to help the injured inside despite the fact that it might plummet to earth without warning. In other episodes, she was forced to deal with divorces, ignorance, mental illness, baby-selling, gangs, robberies and much, much more.

Not every episode saw Janet dealing with a crisis, however. One episode didn't feature Janet (or Ella Raines) at all. Instead, Kim Hunter starred as Sylvia Peters who, taking over for Janet, helps a young doctor battle fee-splitting. In another, Janet reminisces about her days in England during World War II and shares with some friends the tale of the "jinx nurse," who dated many pilots -- all of whom were killed in action shortly thereafter.

Ella Raines, In Character, Addresses the Audience

At the end of each episode, Janet would address the audience about a topic relating to nursing or healthcare in general. A total of 39 episodes were produced and distributed, airing in reruns until the early 1960s [8]. The American Nurses' Association released the following statement praising the series: "The sympathetic portrayal which Miss Raines gives to the spirit and substance of nursing is noteworthy" [9].

In October of 1954, Ella Raines began a "penny-a-day" fundraiser through Janet Dean, Registered Nurse with the hopes of raising $500,000 for cancer research [10]. The outcome of the fundraiser is unknown; however, the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research was given a $20,000 check (from the Damon Runyan Cancer Fund) by Ella Raines when she announced the fundraiser [11].

During the 1950s, in addition to Janet Dean, Registered Nurse, Ella Raines appeared in several films and television roles before retiring from acting. During the Vietnam War her husband, Major (later Colonel) Robin Olds, was an Air Force top gun, flying one-hundred missions [12]. He had earlier served in World War II. The two were divorced in 1975 [13]. Ella Raines died in 1988 of throat cancer at the age of 1967, best remembered for her role in 1944's Phantom Lady [14].

However, television fans should remember her for starring in Janet Dean, Registered Nurse, which might have been the very first television series about the nursing profession. We can't say for sure, but we also can't think of any other contenders.

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Last Updated June 26th, 2008