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Image of Nursing

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Public Image of Nursing Historically, the public image of nursing has been controversial this was evident by nurse healers being viewed as witches in the middle ages. As Minkowski (1992) conclusion indicated the nurse healers were viewed as “creatures in the league of the devil” and currently, the media has been covering negative images of nursing. This media coverage includes images of neglect in nursing care, poor performance results and lawsuits. Ads on the local television channels by law firms reporting poor nursing care, the television show “Mash” calling a nurse “hot lips” on just about each show, and the television show “House” left the viewer to perceive nursing as almost obsolete, has negatively impacted the profession of nursing.
To alleviate the negative perception and image of the nursing profession, education to the public will need to occur. Nurses have quietly accepted ignorance, regarding their profession, in the past, due to the lack of urgency in the matter. With the health care crisis, the profession of nursing has been a hot point topic. In Kazis et al.’s (2009) article that analyzed media coverage, it was suggested that the public has little understanding of what a nurse actually does. Personal collaboration with professional nursing organizations could give a nurse a voice in the regulatory process and help in the education of the general public.
In conclusion, mastering public speaking on a professional nurse’s role coupled with joining forces with professional nursing organizations could be an avenue to educate the public on the role and scope of a professional nurse and give the nurse a voice in policy making.

References
Kazis, C., & Schwendimann, R. (2009). Bringing nursing to the public. Journal Of Nursing Education, 48 (11), 642-647. Dol: 10. 3928/0148834-20090828-01
Minkowski,W. (1992). Women healers of the

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