...The nursing profession is one that is based on ethics and morality. The portrayal of the profession in the media elicits an atmosphere of unethical and immoral behaviors being demonstrated by actors. The depiction of nursing in a negative manner began in early literature. Sairy Gamp, a midwife created by Charles Dickens in "Martin Chuzzlewit," was depicted as unclean, uneducated, untrained and unreliable. Beginning in the 1960’s, nurses began to be portrayed as sexual, romantic, and cast in demeaning roles by the movie industry. During this era, MASH created the nurse, Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. The name alone paints a picture of a sex object. In the 1970’s movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, nurse Ratched was represented as...
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...concepts and propositions The nursing metaparadigm basic concepts comprise of human being, environment, health, and nursing. The relational propositions involve the relationship between the following concepts: human being and health; health and environment; nursing and human being; and human being, health, and environment (Fawcett, 1984; Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2013). Leventhal et al explained the human being and health concept through The CSM as “Patients are active. Patients take in and interpret information and cope with whatever problems arise” and “People seek information to label or define their body states and they use symptoms, or body states, to define labels” (Leventhal et al., 1980, pp.15). The theorists also clarified the concepts of health and environment as “The influence of social and cultural factors on self-regulation is depicted in the CSM that is social and cultural factors are depicted as shaping individuals’ representations of their health conditions” (Leventhal, Brissette, & Leventhal, 2003, pp.57). Furthermore, nursing metaparadigm concepts of human being, health, and environment were described through the CSM by stating the fact that upon developing health problems, individuals perceive and initially interpret such problems based on their common-sense...
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...The Nursing Professional and Ethical Considerations for Using Web-Based Social Networking Sites The Nursing Professional and Ethical Considerations for Using Web-Based Social Networking Sites As nurses navigate web-based social networking sites there is a dangerously thin line between professional and personal online etiquette. Health care employees must maintain patient confidentiality and privacy at all times, as well as serve as a positive representation of their place of employment. Inappropriate use of social media often leads to disciplinary action; and in the most serious cases, can negatively affect a nurse’s career and license. A violation of patient confidentiality takes place as soon as a nurse shares information or even a small detail concerning a patient over the Internet. Examples include reflecting on the severity of a patient’s disabilities, or even commenting on the behavior of an Alzheimer’s patient. Healthcare Professionals must be diligent when it comes to using web-based social media sites. Anything that is posted on the internet is accessible to all and will stay in cyberspace even if the user deleted it off of their sites. Even with the strictest of privacy settings on their profile, it can still be seen by thousands even millions of people. So imagine that you post a picture on Facebook and you have 100 friends and those 100 friends share that post to their 100 friends and then they share that post with their friends. It could go on and on...
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...How Nurses are Portrayed in the Media Jennifer Hodges Stevenson University Professional Seminar 1 NURS 313 Dr. L. Paris, RN How Nurses are Portrayed in the Media As far back as one can go in history women have been depicted as the ones who nourish, nurture, and tend to the care of children, aging family members, and the wounded. How nurses have depicted themselves can be expressed not only by their actions, but by the uniforms they have worn over time. The image of Florence Nightingale in her uniform, carrying her lamp and caring for the wounded is an image instilled in nurses’ minds to this day. Unfortunately, this is not the image instilled in the public today. On television nurses are portrayed as sexual beings, and we are being defined as such. Nursing should promote Ms. Nightingales teachings to the public in everyday situations. The Truth About Nursing, a non-profit organization, speaks frequently on the image of nursing and on empowering nurses to change how they are perceived (Geller & Summers, 2014, p. 26). Ms. Summers is the founder and the executive director. The image of nurses is in the hands of each individual nurse. Therefore it is essential for each nurse to take a stand and vocalize his/her role in the medical profession. It is important that nurses remember the past. However, it is even more important that the legacy we leave behind is of a profession that is strong and accurate. We can do this by responding to the negative images...
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...certain circumstances. As a researcher and a writer, Matthew Gribble analyzes his crime scene with diligence and care. The crisis: The shortage of nurses in America. The question: How and why did this shortage become a persistent problem? Matthew affixes strings of yarn to a number of gunshots: the increasing average age of the workforce, long hours, work that is often menial or clerical, and finally, relatively low salaries. But these strands lead to new questions, wider causes which have nothing to do with social yarn. These new questions have to do with rhetoric and the enduring association of nursing with “women’s work” and “femininity.” Matthew has the audacity to ask how the rhetoric of femininity actually functions. How and why are we compelled to accept images and tropes as ‘normal’ or ‘natural’ when they are anything but normal and natural? Is it possible that the rhetoric of nursing is responsible for the shortage? Or perhaps it is the rhetoric of femininity and masculinity as such? But how did such a crime take place, right under our noses, when so many of us never noticed that an injustice ever took place? This essay is brilliant and provocative because it will not stop until the crime...
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...Abstract This paper addresses the lack of nursing opinion available in news media and public opinion, how it affects our profession and how we can change this perception. The general public is ignorant of the role nursing plays in healthcare and has misunderstood important aspects of the profession and how our contribution can be beneficial in many ways if we have a stronger voice. The perceptions and opinions are summarized from the third edition of the book, From Silence to Voice, and provide the resources for nurses to consider in getting their voice heard. The authors of this book describe the history of how nursing has allowed the profession to be overlooked and prevented our profession to be understood by allowing others to speak for us, and over us (Buresh & Gordon, 2013). Opportunities to overcome this perception will be discussed in detail and two supporting articles that address public opinion of nurses and how it relates to our status will be summarized to give opposing perspectives. The conclusion is an example of a letter to legislators that can help to have our voice heard in a persuasive manner addressing the effect technology has on the nursing profession. I urge you to consider issues in nursing that you are passionate about and get your voice heard. Nursing is a misunderstood profession. If you were to randomly ask anyone in the public what a nurse does you would likely get answers that deal with either, carrying out physicians orders, or dealing with...
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...1 Introduction Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa/The Nursing Council of New Zealand (‘the Council’) under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (‘the Act’) is the responsible authority that governs the practice of nurses. The principle purpose of the Act is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing mechanisms to ensure health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their professions. The Council sets and monitors standards in the interests of the public and the profession. The Council’s primary concern is public safety. This Code outlines the standards of ethical conduct set by the Council under section 118(i) of the Act. This Code complements the legal obligations that nurses have under the Act, the Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Nursing Council of New Zealand, PO Box 9644, Wellington 6011 www.nursingcouncil.org.nz Published June 2012 The Code of Conduct for nurses has been revised and rewritten. This document replaces the previous Code of Conduct for nurses published by the Nursing Council of New Zealand between 1995 and 2011. © Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996 and the Health Information Privacy Code 1994. The Act and Code of Rights can be found at http://www.legislation.govt.nz The Code of Conduct for nurses is a set of standards defined by the Council describing the behaviour or conduct that nurses are expected to uphold. The Code of Conduct provides guidance on appropriate...
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...Nurse as an Advocate Nursing Leadership Health Policy Advocating for Health Care Policies. Nurse’s Vital Role as Policy Advocates Introduction “I’m not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward” Thomas Edison (1847-1931). In today’s healthcare system, nurses are aware of the inconsistencies and the troubles that the healthcare system faces, and a need for a change. Expert nurses and nurses with vast experience are stepping forward and motivated to take part in advocacy roles. This movement is initiating a great wave of change in nursing world and how nurses influence a change in policies, regulations and law that oversee the health care system. Nurses stepping into this arena requires great deal of courage and knowledge on how the policies and politics interchange hands to implement a major change in health care system. The nurses who step up into this role should have the will, power and with power comes responsibility to negotiate through the legal system. Methods to advocate for health Nurses taking part in advocacy is not new anymore, but what advocacy means is still a mystery in nursing world. Great theorist like Florence Nightingale and her efforts, did influence other nurses throughout the nursing profession to step out of the box and shape the health system, where discover, heal and teach remains the core motto. Nurses throughout the world in some shape or form initiated policy recommendations, represented their view...
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...1. Stereotypes, narratives, ideologies and discourses are devices that, in different ways according to different theorists, fortify media power. Critically analyse how these devices work, according to various theorists, and reflect upon which best explains communicative power. The social construction of reality is mediated through the communicative powers of stereotypes, narratives, ideologies and discourses and the media is extremely powerful in communicating messages with these devices. It will be argued that discourses are the most powerful communicating device used by the media in the postindustrial era today. Furthermore as per Croteau & Hoynes (2014, p. 9), the analysis will focus on recognised mass media that is readily available in print, film, radio, television, sound recordings and the Internet. Poststructuralists within sociology examine the structures of society and human agency. Human agency or action is influenced by sociocultural factors such as ideology that shape human identity and act subconsciously over an individual. Ideology is the system of meaning that helps explain, define and make value judgments about the world (Croteau & Hoynes 2014, p. 152). As we live in an interconnected world there are many ideologies as there are social structures in any given society. Related to this is that dominant ideas are hegemonic. Marx created the superstructure, which is the domain of ideas for example religion, legal structures, family, institutions...
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...Importance of Diversity Elements in the Nursing Profession This paper consists of various elements of diversity and how they affect the nursing profession. Interpreting the underrepresentation of minority groups in the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the nursing profession can benefit in numerous ways from being culturally competent and recognizing minority groups exist in the workplace. Importance of Diversity in the Workplace Nursing has a long history of being uniform from the nursing attire, all the way down to the education and practice (Bednorz, Schim, & Doorenbos 2010, p. 254). According to "Culturally Competent Nursing Care and Promoting Diversity in Our Nursing Workplace," (2015) "Diversity awareness refers to an active, ongoing conscious process in which we recognize similarities and differences within and between various cultural groups" (p. 10). There are several reasons why nurses should examine the impact of diversity in the nursing profession. For the nurse to provide safe, adequate healthcare delivery it requires cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills. "Culturally Competent Nursing Care and Promoting Diversity in Our Nursing Workplace," (2015) reports the importance of diversity awareness is imperative due to federal regulations on discrimination, competitive healthcare, population diversity and increasing health disparities (p. 7). "Culturally Competent Nursing Care and Promoting Diversity in Our Nursing Workplace," (2015) explains that...
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...respected by her peers, she is also a drug addict. She lies, she cheats, she steals, and she uses her career to obtain the drugs for her nasty habit. It is a good show that depicts a strong and smart nurse, but it is not an accurate portrayal of what nurses do on a daily basis. Media portrayals of nurses can very well endanger the public health. Nurse Jackie shows a disservice to the career field rather than help the public understand the challenging career. The popular television show Nurse Jackie is not an accurate depiction of a nurse’s job. The show portrays nurses as drug addicts, unskillful workers who only run errands for doctors, and revengeful people with no ethical code....
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...the time that many were prejudiced against the most; black and a woman. As rigorous as the spy tactics were, there were also those women of color who worked less in the front lines, but their role was just as important - The nurses of the Union. This was a main place where women were enlisted and used during the wartime, and black women also participated and volunteered in healing and nursing the wounded Union soldiers back to health. There were actually a few of note, such as the historically renowned Anne Bradford Stokes - the first woman to work aboard a US Navy Vessel, and one of the first women to serve as a nurse in the Navy entirely. Such a milestone for black people and women alike is astounding. A deadly combination of both of these is one whose name is already well known; Harriet Tubman worked as both a spy, a nurse, and soldier. She even worked in the Underground Railroad, freeing slaves from the Confederacy along with serving these other duties. The achievements of Harriet Tubman are almost countless; saving over 70 slaves, but an even larger amount of Union soldiers with her nursing, strategizing, and much, much more. Even after the Civil War she remained a women’s rights advocate for the remainder of her days. Although she is more historically prominent than any of the other women aforementioned, her levels of achievement and saint like behavior was more than likely one of the strongest factors in the outcome of the Civil War entirely, altering the history of America...
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...it does not mean that it will result in a change in behavior. 1. People can learn through observation. Observational Learning A baby is not always thought to be feed but he has learned to do so. It is by the sense of sight and touch he learns. It is same as health, you will learn to take care of yourself through observing on what your nurses do until you assume your care. three basic models of observational learning: 1. A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior. 2. A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior. 3. A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media. 2. Mental states are important to learning. Intrinsic Reinforcement I have noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. Intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. 3. Learning does not necessarily lead to a change in behavior. While behaviorists believed that learning led to a permanent change in behavior, observational learning demonstrates that people can learn new information without demonstrating new behaviors. The Modeling Process Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned...
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...quality and patient outcomes that contain costs. “Numerous studies reveal an association between higher levels of experienced RN staffing and lower rates of adverse patient outcomes” (www.nursingworld.org, 2015, para. 1). For this reason, nurse-to-patient ratios is an issue that needs to be addressed at NYP in order to improve quality healthcare within their organization. The acuity of the unit in which patient care is being provided, should determine the acceptable nurse-to-patient ratio. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), factors that influence the nurse staffing needs include: patient complexity, acuity, or stability; number of admissions, discharges, and transfers; professional nursing and other staff skill level and expertise; physical space and layout of the nursing unit; availability of or proximity to technological support or other resources ("Optimal Nurse Staffing," 2015). Currently, New York is one of only fourteen states that addresses the nurse staffing issue in hospitals. New York State requires organizations such as NYP to disclose their nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to the public; however the state does not require a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio to be maintained at all times. As of July 2003, California is the only state that mandates minimum nurse-to-patient ratios within all their hospital organizations. The nurse-to-patient ratio in California is 1 to 5 on medical-surgical units. Ultimately, NYP will benefit by providing better staffing ratios...
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...Administrative Ethics Paper Administrative Ethics Paper The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing has a current article named “Caring for Patients While Respecting Their Privacy: Renewing Our Commitment”. The basis of the article concerns the ethical and legal issues concerning the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” otherwise known as (HIPPA). This law has impacted the healthcare industry and the way in which healthcare workers conduct themselves with patients, their families, and with one another. In nursing the importance of confidentiality has always been the forefront of patient care. The current Code of Ethics for Nurses (ANA,2001) is clear in its intent and meaning as it relates to the nurses primary role in promoting and advocating patient’s rights relating to privacy and confidentiality. Every nurse has always understood the need for patient confidentiality even before (HIPPA) was law. Truth being with advanced technology, new demands in healthcare, and recent developments in the world at large has made it more difficult to keep this promise. But keep it they must. As healthcare workers on any given day we hear and see private and confidential information, it is our duty to protect it. On occasion we do become comfortable with patient’s medical information that it can be easy to forget that as healthcare workers how important it is to keep information secure and private. Thus, a recommended solution to this issue is to recap the -privacy section...
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