Nursing and the Media - Essay Example

Nursing and the Media Nursing and the Media Answers to Questions The image of the public about nursing is affected by the media through the portrayal of the nurses in television shows, nursing advertisement, and news stories including nurses. The public image of the nurses is affected positively or negatively depending on the manner in which the nurses are portrayed in the media. 2. The media can either positively or negatively influence the public image of nursing depending on the stories, news, or advertisements on nursing broadcasted to the public.

The media can positively impact on the public image of nursing through broadcasting shows/films of nurses working to save victims of natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes and news stories relating to nurses importance to a safer public positively affected nursing and aided in augmenting respect for nurses (Donelan et al., 2008). However, news. Films, or advertisements on nurse’s strikes and nurses not taking their duty well in terms of caring for the patients and participating in unethical behavior endangering the lives of the patients results in a negative public image of nurses.

News relating to nurse shortage and the general outlook on nursing as a career does not positively or negatively impact on the public image of nurses (Donelan et al., 2008). 3. Avenues of educating the general public include nurses writing articles in newspapers aimed at informing the public regarding nursing roles and scope and changing health care system. Other avenues include posting and circulation of nursing accomplishments, making announcements in dailies, nurses speaking to civic and community groups on nursing roles and responsibilities.

Other avenues are posting online in blogs and on social media sites, and contacting media outlets and program developers on the need to portray nursing in a positive manner and in the true light of nursing roles and scope. References Donelan, K. , Buerhaus, P., Desroches, C., Dittus, R., & Dutwin, D. (2008). Public Perceptions of Nursing Careers: The Influence of the Media and Nursing Shortages. Nursing Economics, 26(3):143-150.