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Nursing's Reputation
388 posts back to top |
Posted over 5 years ago Do think that nursing's reputation is sometimes hurt by news reports that demonize them? How has this affected nurse recruiting and overall public support? |
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| Posted about 5 years ago I know in the u s that everyone knows nurses are in demand. Especially in california. The general public in my opinoin is becomming more accepting of a nurses knowledge and skills in healthcare and that nurses reputation is growing on a "whole". But that's just what I've encountered hearing from people that I tell I am going to be a nurse, all the way to patient's families. Anyone have a different take? |
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| Posted about 5 years ago It's hard to say. I think it depends on people's experiences with nurses. Although, just before I started nursing school, when I told people I was going to become a nurse, they asked me, "Why not become a doctor? You're so smart!" It was almost as if they had this perception that smart people become doctors and not-so-smart people become nurses... Of course, I do get the very positive responses that make me proud to be in this field. I've had people tell me, "That's great! We need more nurses. I think you'll do very well. People need you." But there is hope! One of my friends, who is in biochemistry and wants to become a doctor, told me, "I have a new respect for nurses now that I know what all of you do. You guys work so hard and you do so much!" |
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| Posted about 5 years ago Kotoko, I got the same response in high school when I told people I was becoming a nurse. My brother told me flat out I was wasting my time as a nurse, I was far too smart to spend my life cleaning bedpans (his words) and should go to medical school. He couldn't understand why nursing motivated me, or how much medical knowledge I had to have to be a nurse. On his wedding day, our mother fell ill, and Dad rushed her to the Emergency Room. I wasn't even aware of what happened (dancing with my husband) until my cousin found me to tell me. When I got to the hospital, the rest of the family was there and anxious because no one knew what was going on. I went back to see Mom by myself, talked to her about what happened and how she felt, looked at her EKG and talked to the nurses about her labwork, and then went out and explained to the family just what was going on. My brother stood there with this look of shock on his face as it finally dawned on him how much about medicine I really did know. He's treated my profession with total respect ever since, and even called to ask questions about his wife's prenatal care when they were having their first child. |
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| Posted about 5 years ago Yeah, my father-in-law is a moleular biochemist and he refers to my mother-in-law's nursing field as a "hobby." He's not very supportive of my nursing school, either. But I don't worry about people like that. I'm a nice enough person to never hope that people who think like that end up in a situation where they NEED and would perhaps respect nurses a little more...!!! As my husband always tells me, "Don't let the bastards get you down!" ahaha. |
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| Posted about 5 years ago Nursing's Image will only change when nursing takes a more aggressive approach to marketing and self promotion- case in point: advertising showing nurses as sex objects, TV shows such as "House", "Grey's Anatomy" . Johnson & Johnson have started running more Campaign for Nursing commercials showing the technical side versus "nurses as angels". So get involved with your State Legislature, join professional nursing organizations, make sure your name badge states your certifications and degrees. |
