Miracle Workers Job Description

New ABC show "Miracle Workers" to feature two real nurses: will one of them be you?

March 2006 -- See our update on Miracle Workers here.

Mid 2005 -- Note: These positions have all been filled. We are keeping the below for archive purposes.

Early 2005 -- ABC Television/DreamWorks is beginning production on a new network "reality" show named "Miracle Workers." As we understand it, each episode will feature a team of health professionals who will tackle a new patient's health problems in a manner similar to "Extreme Home Makeover" or "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." ABC has asked for the Center's help in finding nurses for the "Host Medical Team" that will guide viewers from show to show, perhaps like the Fab Five. This team is slated to include two nurses, one therapist/social worker and one physician. Surgical teams will also be consulting.

This is a reality show, little of which will be scripted, so candidates for the nurse roles should be articulate and engaging. The Center has advised the show's casting department as to qualities that we think the world should see in a nurse. We believe that ideal candidates would be highly educated, credentialed and experienced, with expertise in community health, adult, surgical or emergency nursing. We think candidates should be driven by holistic, evidence-based nursing, advocate for the patient, and promote the nursing model as a vital component of care, even in the face of adversity. In particular, we feel it's critical that the nurses chosen not defer mechanically to care options proposed by others, but instead be willing and able to resist options that may not be in the patients' best interest. Not only would this likely enhance drama and educate viewers, but in a show designed to make over a person's health in an hour, it could be a vital check on any possible temptation to conduct flashy but unwise procedures for the sake of television drama. And of course, it would show millions of viewers that nurses are skilled, autonomous professionals.

If you would like to apply for one of these jobs, please read the messages below from the "Miracle Workers" casting department. Please submit your application directly to the show, but if you wish, please also send us a copy of it. Getting a sense of the qualifications of the applicants will help us explain to the show the types of qualifications that we believe would be most helpful, and we may identify candidates who seem well qualified based on information we receive, and tell the show why we think that. Be assured that we will not recommend that the show hire any specific candidate, that we will express no negative views on any specific candidate, and that we do not and will not act as an agent for or representative of the show or any candidate. We do strongly encourage candidates from demographic groups that are under-represented in nursing to apply. We need good, strong nurses in these positions. So if you fit the description, please apply!

The text below is from the producers of "Miracle Workers." Not surprisingly, it is physician-centric, but we believe it is well worth trying to influence the show's presentation of nursing.

The goal of the program is to bring together a team of some of the nation's top physicians and match them with people urgently in need of their particular medical expertise, who might not otherwise be able to obtain such help themselves. Each patient and his or her family would also receive support from social workers or psychologists before, during and after the procedures.

Ultimately each episode would be a heartfelt attempt to improve the lives of the patients and their families involved, as well as to enlighten viewers about some of the most cutting edge and miraculous advancements in medical technology to date.

Aside from ABC TV and DreamWorks' involvement, the Executive Producer
of this series is two-time documentary Oscar winner, Bill Guttentag, who was also the Executive Producer of the NBC series, "Crime & Punishment" (which was part of the "Law & Order" family of shows). So please rest assured that this series and its participants will be in more than capable hands.

We will have a skilled team of producers looking for patients, however, since some doctors may already know of qualified candidates themselves, we would surely be open to hearing more about them when the time comes.

We are still at the preliminary stages of this project, but I do hope this explains what we are trying to accomplish with "Miracle Workers."

I look forward to hearing from you soon and thank you for your consideration. I can be reached at 323-954-2069 and I do hope to meet you and in person shortly.

-------------------- Part II from Miracle Workers --------------------

ABC Television, Dreamworks SKG, and Medmiracle Productions, Inc. are about to film a show that will feature cutting edge treatments and surgeries by top specialists for people whose lives are severely altered by illness or injury.

We are presently casting for a Host Medical Team to guide the viewer from episode to episode. This team will befriend the audience throughout the series and focus on all aspects of the patient and family.

In addition, we are also looking for innovative, compassionate Medical Experts skilled at creating or implementing advanced medical solutions. Doctors, Surgeons, Specialists, RN’s, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Advanced Medical Students.

To nominate yourself or someone else, e-mail (ASAP) the show at:
miracleworkers@hotmail.com

Or, mail to:
Miracle Workers Casting
c/o Renegade 83
Attn: Casting
5700 Wilshire Blvd., 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-954-2067 Or 323-954-2069

Please include as many details as possible:

Name, age, contact numbers, picture, curriculum vitae, any news publications or awards, hospital affiliations.