The Nurse

Episode aired Dec 11, 1975
TV-G
1h

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

160

YOUR RATING

Drama Family Romance

Mary Ellen is eager to begin nursing school, but is unhappy to learn that she lacks the education in algebra and chemistry needed to enter.Mary Ellen is eager to begin nursing school, but is unhappy to learn that she lacks the education in algebra and chemistry needed to enter.Mary Ellen is eager to begin nursing school, but is unhappy to learn that she lacks the education in algebra and chemistry needed to enter.

Director
- Alf Kjellin
Writers
- Earl Hamner Jr.
- Kathleen Hite
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

160

YOUR RATING

Director
- Alf Kjellin
Writers
- Earl Hamner Jr.
- Kathleen Hite
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos2

User reviews3

8.1160

Featured reviews

8shelleyboyer

Nice episode for Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen annoys me most of the time because of her rude sassy ways. However, Judy Norton Taylor is a fantastic actress and plays her flawlessly.

I like this episode because it shows her vulnerability as well as her strength and compassion which you dont often see.

Great episode!

9aiqzc

A Lesson in Humanity and Perspective.

Judy Norton does an amazing job as always, but what strikes me about this episode is the contrast between Mary Ellen and the older Bassham daughter. Mary Ellen looks jealously at the better educated nursing students who have been taught chemistry, but this girl, who never had the opportunity to go to school at all, looks up at Mary Ellen with even more wonder. Mary Ellen seems to realize this and is humbled, which grounds her and puts her ambitions into perspective and makes her appreciate what she has. It's A+ level writing and acting all around, one of the very best episodes of a great show.

Trivia
After Essie Basham dies, John-Boy says, "I got the circuit preacher to take care of everything." A circuit preacher is a Christian minister who, due to a shortage of ministers, officiates at multiple churches in an area. Even in the 21st century it's still common for small rural congregations to share clergy.

Goofs
When Nurse Nora is visiting the Walton family a crew member's hand is visible in the lower left of the screen holding her horse's bridle and leading it away.

Quotes
Narrator: [narration as John 'John Boy' Walton, Jr. reading from his journal] The joy and pain of growing up came to each of us in different ways, but no one endured the experience alone. And so it was when Mary Ellen tried her first searching steps away from her childhood. It was a time of joy and pain for her and for the rest of us as well.