how do we improve the image of nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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i am just curious on how do we improve the images of nurses, i know some people see us as non skilled general laborers, doctors handmaids, as well as many other misconceptions i have noticed over the years. I am just curious if anyone has any ideas on how to improve our status.

Pebbles-loved your - "patients think they are coming into the hospital to see the doctor but they are there because they need nursing care". This is so true. How much time does the patient actually get from the doctor while in the hospital? I think things are rolling our way a little and that some patients do realize this, that the doctor may see them for 10 minutes a day while the nurses are there with them 24 hours.

I also agree that a start is for nurses to look professional. I cringe when I see nurses show up to work in scrubs that look as though they have just taken them out of the laundry basket and put them on. Patients do notice those things. That is a start for image control.

I personally have never read the book about Chicken Soup for Nurses but when I read that there was one thought I would go get one. I don't have to embrace everything I read but sometimes it helps to see what other nurses are doing or perceiving just like this forum. We don't have to agree with each other all the time on here but it is sure great to see what other's are thinking and doing. I love it.

I, too, agree with the poster that said he thought the television programs were coming more into the more positive view of nursing. I think ER does portray nurses as nurses in the role they play in that show. Just my opinion.

Getting out in the community is a good start to letting the public know what nurses do. Going into the schools and teaching is a great thing. Even if the grownups other than the teachers are not there the kids go home and tell them about us and what we told them. We have a nonsmoking program that we do in the schools every year and we start in the fourth grade. Maybe if we get them young they will never start the nasty habit.

Also, going into the churches to teach CPR, heart healthy, etc. these are just a few of the ways that the image of nursing can be changed for the positive.

This is a great topic. There have been so many great posts here.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

yea, whining...ok maybe too harsh a word...or wrong choice. is that ALL you took from my post? sheesh. Ok then, I stand corrected. I just somehow see a bigger issue here than figurines, books and tshirts and what we can do about it....

and like it or not, first appearances do speak volumes.......an unprofessional image that is sloppy gives one little chance to change it once it's there. i have read it takes about 30 seconds for us to make a very LASTING first impression in general. Well, then it stands to reason by appearance and attitude, we can either make or break our own profession. How many of us would go to a firstime job interview looking and acting like some of the examples above? Seems figurines and books should figure in VERY small in what the public thinks of us as a profession in general. :zzzzz

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

I liked you post shygirl the best, Not that I would wear a tighter dress. Just wouldnt work for me.

We need an ad campaign. to focus on.

1. be nice to a nurse, take her to lunch.

2. be nice to a nurse, take them out to the golf course.sounds good to me.

3.Be nice to a nurse, pay for us to go on vacation.

4. be nice to a nurse, arrange to have Limos takes to and from work.

5.be nice to a nurse, get her a free housekeeper. My wife would like that.

6. be nice to a nurse, they have the foley catheters.and we know wehere to put them.

7. be nice to a nurse, they have large bore IVs. hahahahahaha and we know how to use them...

8 be nice to a nurse, we could freeze your suppositories.eeewwwwwwwwww

9. be nice to a nurse takes shopping

golfsmythe would be my vote

10 be nice to a nurse, we give shots. and we select the needle size.

and a doo wah ditty

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Specializes in NICU.

Maybe we should put some of those on a tshirt. With flowers around it. Then we could write a book about it. ;>)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

rofl kristi...great idea! then we can dress our figurines in that wonderful tshirt!

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1. more money.

2. weed out the undesirables.

#2 is especially important to me. There are nurses that work along side me that have the same work ethic as the girls I worked along side at my first job in high school. How can we expect outsiders to respect our profession when some of our own don't even respect it?

Heather

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uh oh :rolleyes:

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dude, is the troll back? :eek:

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Originally posted by teeituptom

8 be nice to a nurse, we could freeze your suppositories.eeewwwwwwwwww

10 be nice to a nurse, we give shots. and we select the needle size.

:roll :chuckle :lol2: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Tom, you kill me.

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First I like to say I agree totally with cheerfuldoer and secondly I like to say wow have you really posted 3,000 + times on this BB.........but I agree with her every word totally along with professional appearance and a professional manner...........LOL

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sorry Agnus without being negative............but......what I do on my own time is my time........I will put on some comfortable clothing and get a Smirnoff Ice chilled and sit back and relax.....I will wear a lacy cat suit with thongs and a bra under it and shake my booty to some reggae music on the islandssssss in a hot minute but that is my time to relax and enjoy myself but on the job I will be the best nurse I can be and conduct myself in a professional manner........sorry but that is my thoughts.....

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