Janet Dean, Registered Nurse is an unusual TV drama of the era to have a female as the title character.
Here star Ella Raines plays a former military nurse. A decade before she played one of a group of volunteer army nurses in the WWII film Cry Havoc.
The format of having Janet Dean as a private nurse allowed great flexibility in storylines as Nurse Dean was seen employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private homes. Being a former military nurse still in the Air Force Reserves added to that flexibility, especially in terms of locales. Nurse Dean was, therefore, the only reoccurring character.
With Academy Award nominated screenwriter Joan Harrison as producer and star Ella Raines as president of the production company, this show was a rarity in having two women in such high executive positions.
Star Ella Raines promoted both the show and a career in nursing by making personal appearances at medical facilities around the country.