Victoria University
School of Nursing & Midwifery
HBBN Bachelor of Nursing
HNB1101
Frameworks for
Nursing Practice
Assessment 1 – Précis
Student Name: Andrew
Student ID: 4218395
Word Count: 708
Fletcher K. (2007). Image: changing how women nurses think about themselves Literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing (58)3, 207-215
There are many views and stereotypes a nurses image is perceived through the media, public, other health professionals and from the nurses themselves. The view of the public coincides with the view of the media and often shows nursing to appear to be a profession of obedience, conformity and serenity. Studies have shown that the public agree that nursing is a good caring profession but it does not hold any position of authority and are seldom mentioned in newspaper publications and healthcare articles. The image that physicians view of nurses also score nursing as having the lowest respect that of other health care professions.
The public and professional views of nurses have an impact on how nurses see themselves. Nurses generally view themselves in a positive light as suggested in literature however it is argued that if the nurses need to tell themselves that nursing is a thinking profession and to work on their professional image then they also do not view highly of the nursing profession. This suggests that public and professional perceptions play a role in how nurses view themselves.
As research shows self-image is influenced by experience, environment, hereditary, groups such as public and media and by gender. It is said that through this, nurses are focused on the stereotypes that are placed upon them such as selflessness and in turn forget that their profession holds more value and this harms the image of nursing.
While it is said that nurses need to change their thinking and how they perceive the profession it is largely tied to a collective image of society which is not enough. Nurses have many challenges to overcome the stereotypes that are placed upon them and only they can change this perception of them. The way to challenge it is through educating the patients and public exactly what it is they do, for example they are problem solvers, have diverse roles, they are educators, are researchers and provide direct patient care. Most importantly each individual nurse needs to be responsible for themselves and acknowledge that nursing holds much value to what is publicly perceived.
Timothy B. McMurry (2011). The Image of Male Nurses and Nursing Leadership Mobility. Nursing Forum (46)1, 22-27
Men represent a small minority in nursing who face challenges and advantages in a female dominated industry and often encounter invisible pressures to move up in higher positions. The challenges that the men encountered were being excluded from certain jobs which involved female and children’s healthcare such as obstetrics and gynecology but were otherwise persuaded to take on roles that allowed them to move into prestigious, better paying roles which research suggests that men have more
