The Effects of Media in Nursing Evolution
Running Head: THE EFFECT OF MEDIA
The Effect of Media in the Nursing Evolution
The Effect of Media in Nursing Evolution The media has played a huge role in the evolution of nursing. Its influence has been both positive and negative. I have chosen to research this subject because of the negative results and feedback that I will provide throughout this paper. This negative influence is directly affecting the number of people that are deciding to pursue nursing as a career. In a study of students in grades 1 through 10, most of them describe nursing as a technical job with no career advancement. The students stated, “it was a girl's job”, and were unsure of the job security as a result of an unsteady financial market in health care (Sherman, 2000. p.4).
Nursing Influence In World War II (WWII) the media portrayed nursing as one of the most respected and moral professions women could hold. These nurses were seen as angels tending to the wounded with kindness, compassion, and caring attitudes. The portrayal of heroines of society continued through World War II (WWII), as is demonstrated in the movie The Notebook in which Rachel McAdam portrays a woman who drops out of college during WWI to help wounded soldiers (Cassavetes & Sparks, 2004). The media is a very powerful voice that reaches out to the entire world regarding the issues surrounding the nursing profession. Biased opinions are formulated while watching what the media has to show us. Most people are familiar with Nurse Ratchet in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as she glares at Jack Nicholson and warns him to take his pills orally or she will find another way to dispense it (Forman et al. 1976). Sitcoms currently on the air such as House, Scrubs, ER, and Private Practice are aired internationally. The picture they paint of nurses is poor. In House the nursing role is unrecognized and nonexistent, it focuses solely on the important role of the doctor.
The Effect of Media in the Nursing Evolution
The Effect of Media in Nursing Evolution The media has played a huge role in the evolution of nursing. Its influence has been both positive and negative. I have chosen to research this subject because of the negative results and feedback that I will provide throughout this paper. This negative influence is directly affecting the number of people that are deciding to pursue nursing as a career. In a study of students in grades 1 through 10, most of them describe nursing as a technical job with no career advancement. The students stated, “it was a girl's job”, and were unsure of the job security as a result of an unsteady financial market in health care (Sherman, 2000. p.4).
Nursing Influence In World War II (WWII) the media portrayed nursing as one of the most respected and moral professions women could hold. These nurses were seen as angels tending to the wounded with kindness, compassion, and caring attitudes. The portrayal of heroines of society continued through World War II (WWII), as is demonstrated in the movie The Notebook in which Rachel McAdam portrays a woman who drops out of college during WWI to help wounded soldiers (Cassavetes & Sparks, 2004). The media is a very powerful voice that reaches out to the entire world regarding the issues surrounding the nursing profession. Biased opinions are formulated while watching what the media has to show us. Most people are familiar with Nurse Ratchet in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as she glares at Jack Nicholson and warns him to take his pills orally or she will find another way to dispense it (Forman et al. 1976). Sitcoms currently on the air such as House, Scrubs, ER, and Private Practice are aired internationally. The picture they paint of nurses is poor. In House the nursing role is unrecognized and nonexistent, it focuses solely on the important role of the doctor.
References: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2004). Fact sheet. Retrieved September 14, 2008 from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/index.htm. Bearns, M., (2000, September 10). Nursing mistakes kill, iInjure thousands cost-cutting exacts toll on patients, hospitals staff series: Dangerous care: nurses ' hidden role in medical 14, 2008, from http://www.chicagotribune.com Cassavetes, N. (Director), & Sparks, N. (Writer). (2004). The notebook [Motion Picture].United States: New Line Cinema Center for Nursing Advocacy, (2008) Mission statement Retrieved September 15, 2008, from http://nursingadvocacy.org Chitty, K.K, & Black, B.P, (2007). Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Forman, M.(Director), Hauben, L.(Writer), & Goldman, B.(Writer). (1976) One flew over the cuckoo 's nest [Motion Picture]. United States: Fantasy Films Georgia Nursing Association (2004, February-April) media portrayals of nursing for 2003. Retrieved on September 15, 2008, from http://www.georgianurses.org Lawrence, B.(Producer/Creator), (2008). Scrubs [Primetime Sitcom]. United States: NBC. Roach, J.(Director), Glienna, G.(Writer), & Clark, M.(Writer), (2000) Meet the parents. United States: Universal Pictures. Sherman, G. (2000, August 28). Message posted to nurses for a healthier tomorrow [Memo], Retrieved on September 15, 2008 from