Generally, a large population still holds the image of traditional nursing practice. Though the practice has evolved and changed with time and influenced the nursing image, the public image of nursing as a profession is unique are uncertain. The public has a perspective that views nursing as a low-status career. It is believed that nurses are not educated enough to solve a medical situation effectively. Nurses are mostly seen as subordinate staff to physicians and other health care professionals. The public, therefore, tends to treat the nursing profession as a field lacking professional autonomy (Craswell & Dwyer, 2019). However, with time people have come to understand that nursing is a respectable profession, and they have developed a positive and encouraging attitude to the profession.
The views of the public to the nursing fraternity appear due to misinformation and stereotypes. Some factors that influence the general perception of nursing are the media. Media platforms present to the public a nursing image that is different from reality. It portrays nurses in a flirtatious manner, with flashy dress codes making nurses look unprofessional (Hoyle et al., 2017). The conduct of nurses both in hospitals and outside plays a role in how the public views nursing. Sometimes the nurses are rude when addressing patients and their family members, making the public judge nurses as rude and disrespectful.
It is salient to educate the public, help them understand what nursing entails, and improve the nursing image. Such can be achieved by the nurses maintaining a professional image when interacting with the general public. Telling the nursing story on media platforms will facilitate the correct information to the public and aid in educating them (Hoyle et al., 2017). Nurses should also embrace and have pride in their profession. This will encourage the people also to embrace it as a respectable career.
References
Craswell, A., & Dwyer, T. (2019). Reasons for choosing or refusing care from a nurse practitioner: Results from a national population‐based survey. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(12), 3668-3676. Web.
Hoyle, L. P., Kyle, R. G., & Mahoney, C. (2017). Nurses’ views on the impact of mass media on the public perception of nursing and nurse–service user interactions. Journal of Research in Nursing, 22(8), 586-596. Web.