The nursing image

The nursing image has changed over time, and society’s attitudes of the profession have evolved. Nurses are portrayed negatively and positively in the media. Most TV shows, on the other hand, portray nurses poorly as simply physicians’ assistants with no meaningful role. The media reinforces preconceptions that undermine nursing by portraying it as an inferior profession for the less abled who did not make it as physicians (Cherry & Jacob, 2016).

Gender Stereotypes and Nursing

It indicates that doctors are more important than nurses. Most medical television presents nursing as a profession of girls. As a result, boys and students from private schools are discouraged from taking the subject because more is expected of them. It negatively affects the public image in that; it is believed that nursing is a profession for the less skilled (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). This is because in the medical television shows the nurses are either invisible or just walk around in scrubs with clipboards as the physicians tend to all needs of the patients. It, therefore, makes the profession less appealing to the public.

The Media’s Focus on Mistakes

The media also focuses on highlights the mistakes nurses make while working yet they rarely stress on how many lives they save (Hoeve, Jansen, & Roodbol, 2014). Despite the significant negative portrayal of the nurses by the media, they showed nurses as kind, compassionate and dedicated to their care for the patients. This a positive trait that easily appeals to the public. It, in turn, demonstrates a resilient culture of compassion and care to the patients by the nursing community.

Education for Public Awareness

Other avenues that can play a significant role in educating the public on the role of nurses and the changing healthcare systems include educational seminars and talk shows (Hoeve, Jansen, & Roodbol, 2014). These will help in creating awareness to the details of nursing such as critical thinking and decision making.

References

Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Hoeve, Y. T., Jansen, G., & Roodbol, P. (2014). The nursing profession: public image, self‐concept and professional identity. A discussion paper. Journal of advanced nursing, 70(2), 295-309.