NR395 Week 1 Discussion: Improving the Image of Nursing
NR395 Week 1 Discussion Questions
Describe the way in which nurses are perceived by your patients and the public.
How do the best known nurses currently depicted in the media represent the type of nursing image you wish to promote?
Speaking of image, do you feel that no longer wearing traditional white uniforms has had an impact on how nurses are perceived?
How is your clothing an important part of your public image?NR395 Week 1 Discussion
What could you do to improve the professional image of nurses?NR395 Week 1 Discussion
NR395 Week 1 Discussion Answer
Elevating the Nursing Profession: A Quest for Recognition and Influence
In the eyes of the public, the nursing profession is often perceived as a bastion of benevolence, compassion, diligence, and trustworthiness, as noted by Huston (2020). Regrettably, only a limited segment of the public views nursing as a profession that commands prestige and influence. This perception stands in stark contrast to the reality that nursing is the largest medical profession in terms of its workforce. Despite their substantial numbers, nurses have historically found themselves operating with relatively limited power and influence. The traditional healthcare hierarchy, which has long placed physicians at the zenith, has inadvertently contributed to the perception that nursing is of lesser importance and competence. NR395 Week 1 Discussion
My aspiration is to champion the nursing profession as an indispensable cornerstone of healthcare. Nurses, with their extensive patient interactions, possess an intimate understanding of the holistic needs of individuals under their care. This unique insight positions them to play a pivotal role in healthcare delivery. Paradoxically, popular media tends to cast physicians in the limelight far more often than nurses. This disparity in representation has inadvertently perpetuated the misconception that nurses occupy a subordinate role to doctors. It is only in the crucible of the ongoing pandemic that the media has begun to celebrate the tireless efforts of nurses, bringing long-overdue recognition to their critical contributions.
References:
Huston, C. J. (2020). Professional Issues in Nursing: Challenges and Opportunities (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
