Ep 6. Days Like This

In ER season 2 episode 6, titled "Days Like This," we continue to follow the doctors and nurses of County General Hospital as they navigate through their daily rhythms in the emergency room. This particular episode focuses on two main storylines, both of which highlight the emotional toll that working in a high-stress environment takes on healthcare providers.

The first storyline centers around Dr. Greene (played by Anthony Edwards) as he struggles to come to terms with his father's declining health. Throughout the episode, we see Greene grappling with the guilt he feels over not being able to spend more time with his dad and trying to balance his personal life with his professional duties. As he attends to one patient after another, he finds himself increasingly distant and distracted, unable to focus on the task at hand. The tension builds as he faces difficult ethical dilemmas, including a homeless patient who is in desperate need of treatment but has no insurance and a wealthy businessman who wants to jump the line to receive care for a minor injury. Throughout it all, Greene's emotions are palpable, and we begin to see how his personal struggles are affecting his ability to perform his job.

The second storyline follows Nurse Hathaway (played by Julianna Margulies) as she tries to help a young girl who has been admitted to the hospital after being hit by a car. The girl, named Emily, is non-verbal and has suffered a traumatic brain injury. As Hathaway and the other medical staff work tirelessly to stabilize Emily, they are forced to confront the harsh reality of the situation: even if Emily survives, she may never be the same again. Hathaway, who has a history of working with special needs children, becomes particularly invested in Emily's case, and her empathy and compassion are on full display. As she bonds with Emily's mother and tries to help the family navigate the complicated healthcare system, we see how important it is for healthcare providers to not only treat patients but to also provide emotional support to those around them.

Throughout the episode, we also catch glimpses of the other characters in the ER. Dr. Ross (played by George Clooney) is busy flirting with a patient's mother, Dr. Carter (played by Noah Wyle) is struggling to keep up with the demands of his job, and various other medical emergencies are unfolding around them. But at the heart of it all are Dr. Greene and Nurse Hathaway, both of whom are struggling to balance their professional obligations with their personal lives. As the episode draws to a close, we are left with a sense of the emotional toll that working in an ER can take on healthcare providers, but also with an appreciation for their dedication to their patients and their willingness to go above and beyond in their care.