The Media and Hollywood in Particular, Represent One Avenue in Which the General Public Becomes Familiar with the Role of Nurses. How Do the Media Positively or Negatively Influence the Public’s Image of Nursing? What

It is a common fact that nurses are not given the respect they deserve for the high level of knowledge they demonstrate to patients (Hoeve, Jansen & Roodbol, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to show how the negative portrayals of nurses in the media can result in a distorted image from the public. The components of this paper talk about the negative image of the nurse due to the lack of consistency in the media that the public is viewing, as well as the shortened staff and the public’s poor judgement on the profession.

This essay focuses on the impact of historical development of nursing on contemporary representations of the nursing profession. It examines the professional identity of nursing and further discusses the contribution of modern nursing, social, cultural and political factors that influences the professional identity of a nurse. The essay also looks into the professional regulations and the role of the nurse’s and midwifery Council (NMC) in the protection of the public. Finally, this essay will discuss nursing education, the media, stereotype, and their impacts on nurses as well as demonstrate my understanding as a student nurse to challenge the professional identity of nurses.

Media has an immense effect on societal views, and cultural norms. It is not surprising then, that media influences the public view of the nursing profession (McHugh, 2012). Negative portrayal of nursing in media is detrimental, these stereotypes undermine the profession which leads to less resources and a negative image of nursing among nursing students (Anonymous, 2010). For these reasons the image of nursing in media is something that needs to be explored, to understand how the nursing image in media affects both public and personal perception of the profession (Anonymous, 2010). Nurse Jackie is a controversial television show about an Emergency room nurse named Jackie (Hudis & Zisk, 2009). In this series Jackie is middle aged, married, mother of two, and while she is depicted as being loving with her family, she is having an affair with the pharmacist for her department. As a nurse Jackie is caring, and compassionate towards her patients, while also exhibiting unethical and inappropriate behaviours both within and outside of her working environment (Sorrell, 2009). Jackie is a complex character who exhibits both positive and negative nursing behaviours.

“The nurse has a basic concern for people as human beings, confidence in the fundamental power of personality for good, respect for religious beliefs of others, and a philosophy which will sustain and inspire others as well as herself” (ANA, 1940; p. 980). The documentary “The American Nurse”, explores some of the biggest issues the United States faces today- aging, war, poverty, and prisons- through the lives of five very different nurses and their work as health care providers. The film examines real life people in their everyday lives as nurses which changes the way one looks at and thinks about the entire concept of nursing. Nursing is not merely a job, nor is it simply an occupation or a profession. To be a nurse, one must uphold the finest of standards and ethics, dedicating their entire lives to helping and serving others. Therefore, it cannot simply be a behavior; it is a lifestyle.

As of 2008, there were about 753,600 Licensed Practical Nurses and 2,618,700 Registered Nurses in the United States (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010-11). In the year 2018, the LPN employment percentage is expected to rise 21% while the RN rate should be approximately 22% (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010-11). This may not seem that high, but it is, when one considers that the expected employment rate for a Dentist is only expected to be 16% (U.S Department of Labor, 2010-11). Nursing is a highly respected and sought after career because every person that enters this profession is able to make a difference and is needed by the general population for his/her skills and contributions to the medical field. When a person is contemplating entering

Image. The media diverts the attention of the young adults who may be interested in nursing by focusing on the challenges that nurse’s face rather than the aspects of the career that are rewarding.

“According to the IOM report, the nursing profession is the largest segment of the nation’s healthcare workforce. Nursing represents the largest sector of the health professions, with more than 3 million registered nurses in the United States.”

The media has played a huge role in the evolution of nursing. Its influence has been both positive and negative. I have chosen to research this subject because of the negative results and feedback that I will provide throughout this paper. This negative influence is directly affecting the number of people that are deciding to pursue nursing as a career. In a study of students in grades 1 through 10, most of them describe nursing as a technical job with no career advancement. The students stated, “it was a girl's job”, and were unsure of the job security as a result of an

Social media seems to have defended nurses in a big way against these remarks, despite it being mostly from the medical community. The troubling part about this is not necessarily how the american community reacted to a silly thing said by entertainment tv cohosts but that this is a topic at all. Nursing is no longer invisible, but it seems to remain in trivial news with unimportant subjects. Although we have elevated ourselves via higher education and representing professionalism in our practice it seems the public still may take a bit longer to fully adjust to

There are 316 million people living in the United States and in 2010 every year 133 million find themselves in the emergency room for different reasons (Hospital Utilization, 2015). That is almost half of the population. The population consists of infants, children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly who may be homeless, everyday people, CEO’s, and lets not forget, celebrities. Yes, celebrities get sick and have accidents too. Although it is not advertised like the rest of their life, celebrities are not inhuman and invincible; they sometimes need to seek help just like the rest of us. Being a nurse and a crucial part of the health care field it is likely at some time in our career we will treat or hear of a celebrity who has been admitted to the hospital you work with. How the nurse acts can determine his or her career. Now lets imagine your favorite band is in town and you the nurse have to work because no one can cover your shift. Your friend who is at the concert keeps texting you how much fun it is and you’re becoming flustered because you’re night is beyond ordinary. 2 a.m. rolls around and you hear over the radio about a motor vehicle accident and the medics are bringing the victim in. The medics begin giving you report and you notice it’s the lead singer of the band you were supposed to go see in concert tonight. You text your best friend and she doesn’t believe you so you take numerous pictures of him along with his address, phone number, and health record. After

Media and holly wood has a positive and negative impact. I feel that Hollywood has sexualized the profession of nursing. Male nurses are rarely portrayed in media. An active image is essential to vitality and effectiveness of nursing profession. In TV show, they are showing wrong medical procedure which is the effect on the nursing profession. All level of nursing depends on the public’s understanding of how and why nurses are essential members of the healthcare team. In media, they focus on many issues like staff shortage, nurses mistake, and patient safety issues. What they do not focus on health development issues and nurses action. Nursing is the noble profession they have empathy and compassion as well as

How did average citizens view nurses in the past? How do average citizens view nurses now? The typical nurse in the past was viewed as a woman wearing a white hat, white shirt, and bottoms and a person who only cared and comforted someone, and did not have much work to do. People viewed nurses as, having poor working conditions, shift work and a limited level of autonomy. Nurses work was seen as caring for and helping patients, being considered inferior than doctors. What these people don’t realize is the number of educational

The nursing profession is one of many portrayed by the media. In its simplest form media is how information is shared and stored. Media covers a wide range of services, advertisements, brochures, pamphlets, TV shows, films, novels, and magazines, digital, electronic, it goes on and on. Media is more accessible these days; the internet and wireless technology makes it easy for many people to access information on a wide scale. As information is shared by the media the public creates an image. This image may be right or it can be wrong, it all depends on the media’s accuracy. Nurses have been depicted in many forms over the years. These depictions can influence the public’s opinion of the profession as well as the likelihood that the profession will be considered for future students. Nurses need to take a more active role in how the profession is portrayed by the media, they need to work together to portray the profession in its best light in order to recruit and retain nurses.

As nurses, we need to have confidence, good viewpoints, strong beliefs spiritual understandings and moral values in developing a powerful image. “I have always believed you are what you think you are.” (Coelho, n.d). If you’re honest, have self-confidence, reliable, sound principles, and respect; you can acquire the capability to be successful. (Posner, n.d.).

Like any scientific discipline, the nursing profession has evolved over time. Nurses, once regarded as housemaids and lower class citizens, now hold positions of authority and stature in our modern society. These changes in the profession are attributed to the many nurse theorists who devoted their lives to the improvement of patient care. Through their theoretical advancements, the public perception of nursing has gone from dismissive to reverential. Today, our culture considers the nursing profession to be one of the most rewarding and respected career paths an individual can pursue. Through a review of one such patient theorist, Dorothea Orem, one can witness this change in the perception of the nursing profession. As a first semester student in a professional nursing course of study, Orem has already influenced my personal nursing philosophy.