The Image of Nursing - Essay Example

Images of Nursing When gauging the image of nursing, we must realize that every image depends on whose perspective we’re considering. A nursing student’s perception of nursing will differ from a patient’s perspective of nursing. Likewise, a bed-confined patient needing home care will offer a different perspective than a child being given his Kindergarten vaccinations. Nurses have their own perspectives on the profession, including insight into how the masses mistakenly stereotype it. However, without exception to whose perception is considered, there are general guidelines concerning the public image of nurses and nursing. These common images of nursing contribute to the willingness of students to enter nursing programs. Some consider that the nursing shortage that has existed from 1998 (Seago, 2004) has been caused by the negative image the public sometimes has of nurses. Therefore, public images of nursing have consequences in many areas of society. The Evolution of a Nurse’s Perception of Nursing As the public has its images of nursing and what it means to be a nurse, youth are influenced by those ideas. What students believe of nurses will alter their desires to enter the nursing field. This, in turn, contributes to the shortage of nurses in the United States. Of students who choose to enter the nursing field, often their images of nursing change as they enter clinicals (Sand-Jecklin). Nursing students hold images of nursing that evolve, while students who leave nursing programs maintain the stereotype that they’d had previously. This seen, it is obvious that in order to break stereotypes of nursing, one must actually be a nurse and encounter a nurses’ experiences. It is difficult to change society’s perception of nursing. In terms of nursing students, it has been shown that their ideals, stereotypes, and impressions of nursing alter with their experience. Sand-Jecklin studied demographic data of 150 nursing students. Their motivations for entering the nursing field were reported. Twelve percent chose nursing for the variety of positions the profession entails; other reasons were job security, salary, and challenging career. Across the literature, findings show that among the positive perceptions of nursing, mainly found from studies on nursing students, are job opportunity and salary. An aspect of Dr. Sand-Jecklin’s study that gauged the public perception of nursing was the report the perceptions students have of nursing prior to entering nursing programs. Most often, students entered nursing programs with altruistic reasons. This phenomenon is often reported by researchers in the field. Students enter nursing because they want to help people; they see it as a caring service; they want to give health to the ill. These ideals reflect on the images on nursing, preconceived notions that students attained from living within society. These images -- that nurses are caring and comforting individuals -- are strengthened within the workplace. Nurses, once having entered the profession, expand their views about what nursing means. Studies of nurses and perception of their own utility, show that the professionalism and technical skill they have to care for the health of patients, is synonymous, for them, with nursing (Wilkin). This means that they differentiate very little between their scientific skills and their personal empathy with patients. These are very realistic images. The curriculum taught in nursing programs is scientific. Rigors of passing Nursing Exams are academic rigors. On the other hand, the most common interpretation of nurses’ utility is the ‘caring’ aspect. The Public’s Perception of Nursing The public’s perception of nursing has been complicated by rising health care costs. Kalisch (2004) reports that “the cost of health care has soared 240 percent since 1968 – faster than any other basic living need, including food, housing, clothing, entertainment, and transportation. One out of eleven dollars Americans spend today goes for health care.” For this reason, the public may have gained, along with the rising costs of healthcare, a general aggravation to all in the medical field. In the media, there has been a lot of attention over the rising health care costs. However, it has been found that little of media’s attention treats the topic of nursing’s professional image. The problem in this situation is that the media serves as an intermediary between the public and nurses. The media are an influential tool. “Nurses are one group concerned about their depiction in the mass media, particularly since they feel that that image has been detrimental”(Kalisch). Considering that very little media attention is given to nursing, it is imperative that the attention not be deprecatory. Patricia Benner (2004) records that despite the feminist movements of the seventies and eighties, little leeway was made to change the perception of a nurse’s independence in the workplace, or the idea that she/he is under the mandate of doctors. The famous Dr. Mayo was cited and how that the Sisters of Saint Francis (who served as his nurses) were ‘under his hand.’ Benner, a Registered Nurse now teaching with her PhD, concludes that The nursing profession, as primarily a women’s profession, has since its pioneering days tremendous responsibility for the welfare and well-being of society, but little recognition, sanctioned authority, and recognized power associated within its level of responsibility. Nurses continue to do much but say little in the public arenas. (p. 8) Similar results were found in a study of California’s Central valley. More than three thousand students in college science classes were surveyed about perspectives on nursing as a profession compared to that of a physical therapist, high school teacher, and physician (Seago 2006). In comparison to the other professions, nursing was seen to lack independence at work and be seen as an exclusively female profession. The problem this poses to society is the resultantly low numbers of students motivated to enter the nursing profession, which is obviously experiencing a huge shortage. Fifty percent of college students (males) taking science classes, who at this stage would normally consider the range of professions available to them, including nursing, will not choose nursing for this reason. Accuracy of Images Interpretation of the United States’ nursing shortage may be taken to mean two different things. One, the nursing shortage is a result of correct perceptions of nursing. That poor image is a reflection of legitimate problems in the health care industry. Or, it could be that the poor perception of nursing conditions within the workplace is incorrect. As the literature review shows, many educators and nursing professionals believe this image, whatever its cause, to adversely affect the supply of nurses within the United States (Kalisch, Seago). In final analysis, the literature reviews show that generally, nursing is perceived to be a favorable occupation (although the majority of students were already in nursing). Generally, the nursing profession is perceived to have good income potential and job opportunity. Conditions of the workplace are questionable. Negative perceptions of the nursing profession, other than the dearth of task independence, are job pressure and risk of injury (Seago). In terms of the public’s perception, nursing is still seen as a decidedly female profession. The studies reported that among the perceptions of nursing were some negatives: its lack of independence as a career, job pressure, and the idea that nursing is ‘inferior’ to other jobs like physicians (Seago). These poor images of nursing probably reflect legitimate issues of the workplace environment. For example, perhaps nurses are not given enough independence in their tasks or task variation. Concerning the perception that nursing is a ‘women’s’ field, perhaps more advertising should be done to recruit male applicants with the dual aims of 1) providing a larger base from which to choose promising nursing students and 2) gender equality. One complication in the image of nurses as caregivers, and comforters, is that none of the respondents to researchers reported the necessary scientific skill and professionalism required of nurses. Nursing is a highly complicated profession. Students must pass rigorous courses and take nursing exams, often times, more than once, in order to qualify for this principally ‘emotional’ job. Although no good nurse would be without the humanist skills of comforting and caring, nursing is a decidedly scientific profession. Discussion: Possible Actions taken by Nursing Professionals The positive aspect of the nursing stereotype -- that nurses are thought to be caring and comforting individuals – is a compliment. Nothing detrimental comes of accepting this image. Nurses should actively maintain it. However, the image that nursing is a ‘women’s profession’ may be causing the nursing shortage experienced within the United States. Nurses will be able to influence this area by recognition of male nurses. Perhaps male nurses could take more ‘up-front’ roles than normally given. Perhaps these nurses could be more public greeters than they are now. Although all nurses should be equal, and given equal opportunity in all tasks, patient care, managing supplies, etc., it is advantageous for men to be seen more in this role. Familiarity brings acceptance. The “Image of Nursing” is accurate when nurses comment about their own profession. However, the public’s perception, as well as nursing students’ perception of nursing prior to clinicals, is incomplete. The academic rigors and skill they must have in the workplace is little recognized by all. This in turn may cause the workplace problem of little independence given to nurses in task performance. Nurses can actively change this by more communication given with patients over health and nutrition issues. Oftentimes, nurses have more time with patients than physicians. Although nurses can never given diagnoses, nor are they recommended to do so, nurses can surely talk more with patients about practical issues of nutrition and scientific health, which they have learned through years of academic study. In this way, the public would become more familiar with the skills of nurses, as well as their empathy. References Kalisch, P., Kalisch, B., & Benner, P. (2005). Perspectives on Improving Nursing’s Public Image. Nursing Education Perspectives, 26(1), 11-18. Sand-Jecklin, K. & Schaffer, A. (2006). Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Their Chosen Profession. Nursing Education Perspectives, 27(3), 130-135. Seago, J. (2006). “The Nursing Shortage, Is it Really About Image?” Journal of Healthcare Management, 51(2) 96-108. Wilkin, K. & Slevin, E. (2004). The meaning of caring to nurses: an investigation into the nature of caring work in an intensive care unit. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13, 50-59. Read More