Nursing Images!!!!!!!!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 10, 2002

Does television help or hinder our image?

TV HURTS.

I left my high heels and tight skirts at home last I looked.

I also never worked the floor, ER and the OR in one shift!

Also greeting cards and late night talk shows.

There was a hospital in Tampa that advertised that nurses who go to work there can meet xxx number of new doctors! UGH.

Why are we not as powerful as the AMA?

Money.

More of us.....different power structure?

-jt help!!!!

What can we do to improve our image?

Unify.

Quit nit picking at each other.

Promote the good.

Fight the bad....sounds like Robin Hood kinda?

prmenrs, RN · Jan 10, 2002

Try a lit search w/author name Kalish or Kalisch--I think they did a lot of articles in the 80's on the media and nursing image.

rosy · Jan 10, 2002

Originally posted by prmenrs
Try a lit search w/author name Kalish or Kalisch--I think they did a lot of articles in the 80's on the media and nursing image.

This was more than 20 years ago, the research must be almost 30 years old. Sadly I'm not sure that the findings are as out dated as we would hope. I think the public preception of nursing is probably still about the same: :eek:

prmenrs, RN · Jan 10, 2002

Yeah, I know it's old, but if you CAN find their stuff it's an eye-opener--and, yes, unfortunately, some of the stereotypes are still alive and well!

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Jan 10, 2002

We definitely have an image prob.... the most mentioned occupation in Xrated movie titles...you guessed it..NURSES!

nurs4kids · Jan 10, 2002

This thread made me curious, so while doing some surfin', I ran across the following page on nursing history. It is very interesting to see how nurses were once viewed...or is it still viewed?? Check out the job requirements. Some of this stuff is too funny. Much of it is probably where our "image" originates.

http://enw.org/1895_Nursing.htm

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 10, 2002

Google has over 31 pages of links re image....check out the First 2 pages and selected ones below:

http://www.google.com/search?q=nurses+image

Image Overhaul: Media still are off-target portraying nurses

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/00-10/tv.asp

ANA Continuing Education | The Nursing Shortage: Solutions ...

The Nursing Shortage: Solutions for the Short and Long Term

http://www.nursingworld.org/mods/mod270/cesh03.htm

Best Shortage Reports and Trends

... Term (January 31, 2001) A New Image For Nursing (September 2000)

http://www.y-axis.com/healthcare/career/shortagecrisis.shtml

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Does television help or hinder our image?

TV hurts when:

See P_RN above

TV helped more overall:

1.JULIA in mid-1960's: introduced + promoted idea that black women could be nurses.

2. MASH: Hoolahan and others showed importance nurses soldiers recovery and dependence of Drs. on them in surgery.

3. ER: ENA's influence in the first year of this show helped get nurses portrayal right....ok sometimes fluff, WE know who initiates codes.

Loved story re nursing shortage and Docs needing to do own stuff this year.

Why are we not as powerful as the AMA?

1. Agree, different power structure.

2. Medical cultural indoctrination that AMA membership professional obligation throughout training.

ANA---mentioned less than 1 hour in most schools

3. AMA continuing education sessions built into work hours...need do same for nursing.

4. Money.

What can we do to improve our image?

Unify

Agree, Quit nit picking at each other--just look at some posts here even Nursing Spectrum requiring registration due to anonymous posters tearing into others constantly, not constructive criticism.

ACCEPT that change is a way of life

RESPECT each other's differing opinions: work towards consensus; trial period of new ideas; SUPPORT group decision

Nurses, docs and lawyers all bellyache/ complain re long hours and putting up with working with some strange people; nurses discourage children entering profession-not same message that doctors and lawyers give.

In social situations: brag about /promote ourcontributions/sucess stories/lives saved/improvements made a patients life

Give credit for what we do each day: NURSING IS THE NECESSARY GLUE IN HEALTHCARE

Each nurse is the most important recruiter for the profession and for an organization

Advertising campaign-see Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow

http://www.nursesource.org/

Need to get nursing periodicals on newsstands e.g. Borders, Barnes n Noble, Waldenbooks etc

nightingale, RN · Jan 10, 2002

Pationate subject for me.....

Does television help or hinder our image?

Ditto to what Karen pointed out. I think the nurse images on ER have challenged the old thinking... true the accuracy of whattakes place is something of a chore to sit through without cringing.. but I love the drama and interactions of the staff....

Why are we not as powerful as the AMA?

In addition, the AMA has a large and very powerful lobbying group in Washington... sounds like an organized and finely tuned union to me... very affective in getting their needs met... hmmm for that matter.... the insurance companies have a very large, very powerful lobbying group in Washington....

hmmmm is there a connection? hmmm.... power = lobbying

What can we do to improve our image?

Strive for positive input though excelling. Embrace each other and not bicker in public... debate... of course.. challenge each other to reach their fullest..... and forgive one another and not condemn each others short commings....

Education whether via school or through inservices or now teaching to one another is the road to freedom and autonomy of our very valued profession!

Good luck on your project!

B.

:)

WashYaHands · Jan 10, 2002

Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media

Following is an excerpt of key information from the Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media

http://www.nursingsociety.org/media/woodhullextract.html

pebbles, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2002

TV is one of our worst enemies.

My boobs aren't big enough or perky enough to be a TV nurse, and I'm waaaay too smart.

I saw some documentary series - six episodes, that was supposed to be " a behind the scenes look at how a real hospital works." No nurses were featured - I think there was a nurse in the background of a few of the wide shots. It was basically a "this is what it's like to be a doctor" series - why couldn't they just advertise it that way in the first place?

wynne · Jan 14, 2002

i agree with you!!

i am a nursing student from an asia country.

in our TV show, nursing stuff always play as a narrow-minded character just like Snow White's stepmam.