- “I think we just have to accept the fact that we're the most under-appreciated people at this hospital.”— J.D.
"My Nightingale" is the second episode of Scrubs' second season. The main trio try to get through a night shift they are in charge of with no one else above them to help. Dr. Cox realizes with the help of Carla that he actually cares about Jordan. Carla switches shifts with another nurse to help the other three when they're in charge.
Synopsis[]
the doctors complain over lunch
Now residents, J.D., Elliot and Turk wish they had more responsibility. Meanwhile, Carla tries to convince Dr. Cox that he still loves Jordan, however he is distracted by Dr. Kelso's order to introduce him at a congratulatory conference, which he quickly refuses.
The new residents get their wish when they have a night shift without Dr. Cox or any attendings to fall back on. This scares them but after a pep talk by Carla, they decide to start working. One patient, a police officer injured in a pursuit, in particular shows no signs of improvement or failure so the unanimous decision is to wait and see if he needs surgery. Turk is constantly called to the clinic, with quite a lot of odd cases to go through and J.D. gets to work on other patients. All the patients are sent to Elliot by a very stoned ER Doctor.
When Dr. Cox watches Jordan sleep, he realizes Carla was right and sneaks back into the hospital to talk about this with Carla, while hiding from the residents. Upon getting home, he tells Jordan about his feelings and she tells him that their casual-sex relationship is ruined, and that she doesn't want to watch him destroy himself again over his disdain for people. Dr. Cox convinces Jordan to give him another chance and Jordan agrees on the condition that he gives the speech honoring and introducing Dr. Kelso.
Dr. Cox dishonors Dr. Kelso
After an hour and still no improvement on their patient, Carla lectures them on how they always whine about having no responsibility yet get scared when they are left alone. The three opt for surgery and are now confident enough to finish their shifts.
When Dr. Cox walks up to the podium, he realizes he can't change and refers to Bob Kelso as the devil, the audience assuming it as a joke but Jordan leaves after seeing no evidence of him changing.
As Turk, Elliot, J.D. and Carla leave the hospital after their first independent night shift, Carla tells another nurse that she switched shifts to look after her friends.
Recurring Themes[]
More: Fantasies • Flashbacks • J.D.'s girl names • Janitor's pranks and lies
J.D. wears a thong
Fantasies[]
- J.D. imagines a tow truck driver named Hank dancing with a little dog in excitement over a car accident.
- J.D. imagines himself dressed as Carla, wearing a black lace thong underneath pink scrubs.
Janitor story[]
As J.D. removes a splinter from Janitor's foot, J.D. mentions that it reminds him of the fable where the mouse removes the thorn from the lion's foot. The Janitor says he likes how the lion eats the mouse in the end anyway. Later, to say "Thank You," Janitor arranges J.D. on a date with a man named Tim, but J.D. tells him that he's not gay. Janitor gets annoyed when J.D. claims being a janitor is a job anyone can do. When J.D. tries to make amends by asking the Janitor for help, the Janitor tells him that he would've stopped hassling him a long time ago if he asked, but it is too late.
J.D.'s Girls Names[]
J.D., Elliot, and Turk are excited to run the hospital for the night.
- Sandy
- “Sandy, what do you say we start our work day?”— Dr. Cox
- “You know, Sandy isn't necessarily a girl's name.”— J.D.
- “It's short for Sandra”— Dr. Cox
- “You know, Sandy isn't necessarily a girl's name.”— J.D.
- “Mary, Rhoda, chart please. What did I stutter? Give me the chart.”— Dr. Cox
- Carol (twice)
- “I think Dr. Cox is on”— Elliot
- “No he went home, but he said that Carol could cover for him”— Carla
- “Is Carol the one with the really firm butt?”— Turk
- “Well, I'm Carol, so yes.”— J.D.
- “No he went home, but he said that Carol could cover for him”— Carla
- “Plus, Carol, you're needed in ICU to place a femoral swan ... on Mr. Reid.”— Carla
Guest Stars[]
- Philip McNiven as Roy
- George Miserlis as Crispin
- Bonita Friedericy as Nurse (My Nightingale)
- Marcus Ashley as ER Doctor
- Richard Cansino as Dr. Rose
- Paul Perry as Randall
- Amy Tolsky as Bespectacled Nurse
Music[]
♫ List of music featured in Scrubs
- Themes to "The Facts of Life", "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Charles In Charge" by The Blanks
Quotes[]
Hank gets excited about a car wreck.
- “Jordan. What a coincidence! You were in my dream last night. I can't say for certain, but I was having the flesh torn from my bones by a cross-eyed water snake - you, right?”— Dr. Cox
- “I like you...again. There, you win. You can ahead and do your victory dance or slaughter a goat or whatever it is you do when you're happy.”— Dr. Cox
- “You don't like me.”— Jordan
- “You don't like me.”— Jordan
- “I watch you when you sleep.”
- “Well that just gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
- “Well that just gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
Trivia/Goofs[]
The trio chooses surgery for their patient.
- As of this episode, Sam Lloyd's character is credited as "Ted" instead of "Lawyer".
- Ted's band sing tunes from old sitcoms such as Charles In Charge and Facts of Life. These are two of many Scrubs references to old sitcoms.
- When Ted's band are singing the Facts of Life and sing the lyrics "The facts of life are all about you, you", J.D. mouths "Me?".
- When the Janitor calls himself "Lurch" he is referring to very tall butler in The Addam's Family.
- The title refers to J.D. and other characters being saved by Carla, just like Nurse Florence Nightingale, who is often credited as the inventor of modern, skilled nursing.
- Christa Miller was already pregnant in this episode so they hide just showing half of her during the whole episode.