Media Influence On Nursing Essay

As we take a glimpse at the nursing history, we can see that nursing was not always recognized as a profession. There are records from the mid to late eighteenth century showing that nurses were often uneducated, undesirable women hired from the lowest classes in society (Brook & Kleine-Kracht, 1983; D’Antonio, 2004; Kalisch & Kalisch, 2004). In those days, nursing was considered an inferior occupation (Kalisch & Kalisch, 2004, p.24).However, In the beginning of the 19th century, Florence Nightingale helped influence the status of the nursing profession, and it was her initiative that brought education, discipline, and good character referrals as essential attributes to being a nurse. Nursing once being an ‘inferior’, ‘a handmaiden’ occupation shifted to be known as
Their competence, skill, knowledge, and judgment are— as the word ‘image’ suggests—only a reflection, not reality” (Sullivan, 2004, p. 45). If nurses are ever cited on media it would be in a negative and unflattering stereotype sometimes portrayed in work of fiction. A landmark study from Woodhull 1997 analyzing the popular press produced surprising results—nurses were rarely written or even quoted about in health care related article. Also, in 2000, nurses were represented in health care industry publications less than 1% of the time (Buresh and Gordon, 2006).
Despite the negative remarks toward nursing, there is initiatives from likes of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) that funded an advertising campaign to promote nursing as a career. The ads are sentimental, and the theme is “the importance of a nurse’s touch.” Similarly in UAE, the Emirates Nursing Association (ENA) have been working to protect and promote the truth about nursing.
Nursing profession as second class job- will it