‘St. Denis Medical’ and the Filipino Mafia in U.S. hospitals
By Cristina DC Pastor
“St. Denis Medical” is the latest hospital series to hit primetime television.
But instead of being a medical drama like “ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy,” SDM is a sitcom about a small-town Oregon hospital with Filipino nurses among the main characters and the so-called Filipino Mafia as their hospital Superpower.
“It’s funny,” said Arman David, a post-anesthesia care registered nurse (RN) in Jersey City. “I have not watched St. Denis Medical (in full) but I have seen some clips. We are really known as the ‘Pinoy Mafia.’”
The term “Filipino Mafia” may sound disparaging to some Kababayan in the nursing profession but it can be a form of compliment to others. It indicates a quiet strength that our nurses possess. By their sheer number, their outstanding bedside skills and care toward patients, and their professionalism they command both power and respect in busy hospital corridors. American hospitals and nursing homes are believed staffed 80 percent to 90 percent by Filipino nurses.
Such power comes down to visibility. Filipino nurses are at every floor, unit and department. They bathe patients, insert catheters, give medicine, assist in surgeries, and develop care plans. They are also the nurse managers and executives who communicate with the families. They seem to know one another and can be flexible and uncomplaining when transferred to other departments or given a different shift assignment. They are usually overworked, like most nurses across-the-board, yet maintain a pleasant disposition. The younger ones can count on the support of long-time nurses who will mentor them and show them the ropes.
It was comedian Michael Che of SNL who called out the TV industry’s snub of Filipino nurses during the 2018 Emmys: “Can you believe they did 15 seasons of ‘ER’ without one Filipino nurse? Have you been to a hospital?”
The sitcom SDM premiered on November 12, 2024 on NBC. The main character is Rene, a cocky, judgmental and gossipy male nurse who seems to be the leader of a clique of Filipino nurses. They are, according to a character playing an American head nurse, “like the Filipino Mafia.”
“They’re like the Filipino Mafia,” whispers the nurse character avoiding to be seen as racist.. “Hospitals can feel like high school. There are cliques and hierarchy and Mean Girls and I’d say Rene is definitely the Regina George. You just don’t mess with them.”
‘It’s comedy’
Retired psychiatric RN Darlene Borromeo is a fan of the show.
“Of course there’s going to be opinions from our nurses but the fact is we’re here, we run the show whether we like it or not,” she said. “I am all for it, famous or infamous. I hope ‘St. Denis Medical’ will go on for many episodes.”
RN Maricar Tangonan, an MDS (Minimum Data Set) coordinator in Westchester County, said she is not too happy about the character of Rene – played by actor Nico Santos — as a bully.
“The portrayal of the Pinoy nurse leading the clique at St. Denis Medical as a bully doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t believe most nurses educated in or from the Philippines would act that way on the floor,” she told The FilAm.
While she understands SDM is comedy and that “I shouldn’t take it personally, as a nurse myself, I feel disappointed by this character’s role. That said, I’m still glad to see Filipino nurses finally getting representation in medical shows.”
It is a comedy, maintained Borromeo. She, however, wished SDM and TV medical dramas would also “shed light” on the courage, dedication and stories of heroism of Filipino nurses.
“We have many stories! From calling each other Dai and interpreted by Americans as ‘They’re dying,’ to gross stories only we could tell. You can’t make that up. We have stories of death and dying, of heroism,” she told The FilAm.
SDM appears to be gaining a following judging from feedback, some from nurses’ families themselves.
“I haven’t seen a funny medical show like this since ‘Scrubs.’ I love the blend of humor and accuracy,” writes @MagnumNYC.
Writes Anthonyqty2115: “It’s true though, Filipino Mafia everywhere but instead of crime… it’s gossiping!!!!!”
@AleiatheEnchanted writes: “This is what my nursing classmate said a few years ago when I was a student. We went to do our clinicals at a hospital filled with many Filipino nurses. He was like I want to join the Filipino Mafia. I was like what? And then I knew what he meant lol.”
“Proud son of a Filipino Mafia Donna here. Can confirm it’s true,” posts @pogimax.
