Current Image of Professional Nursing

Prof. L. D. Andrews

Nursing Shortage
Average age of nursing graduate is 33 Average age of RN is 44 Average age of faculty is 50 By 2015, 50% of RNs expected to retire By 2006, job opportunities increased by 21%

Images of Nursing
1844, 1854, 1857, 1915, 1936, 1942, 1942,

Sairy Gamp Nightengale in the Crimea Santa Filomena Edith Cavell White Angel So Proudly We Hailed We Band of Angels

Images of Nursing
1962, Nurse Ratched 1972, Hot Lips Hoolilhan 1940s, Nurse Rivers 1997, The English Patient 1997, Golf Magazine 1990s, Vietnam War Womens Memorial 2000, Meet the Parents

Image Makers of Nurses

Nurses of America Campaign

convey to public that RNs are expert clinicians raising consciousness of invisibility of nursing in the news media

Public Concern with Nursing

What is the image of nursing being created today? Saint vs. Sinner image Can I trust my life to this RN? Public want to believe that knowledgeable, caring, committed and dedicated RNs will be available for them.

What the Public Believes About Nursing

RNs ranked highest among all professions for the highest professional standards of honesty and ethics Public seek advice in 4 areas:

self-care or immediate post op care OTC health care products admin and SE of prescription drugs interpreting physician-provided information

Why do RNs deride themselves in front of the public?

Tee shirts
Nurses do IT better Nurses get to the POINT run a CODE naked

Sloppy clothing
dirty, wrinkled childish symbols

RNs Clash between Beliefs and Reality

Chose nursing because

professional status made a difference (patient care rewards) pride in their profession

1990s Healthcare
multiskilled, unlicensed workers avoid increasing salaries administrators earn high salaries

Business Model of Health Care

Shift from altruistic to business model

Mismatch: nursing care marketed and nursing care provided Amount and type of nursing care negotiated through third parties with economic concerns Competitive Marketplace scarce resources unlimited wants

Nursings View
Female dominated by persons socialized to be anti-intellectuals Focus on skills rather than critical thinking Knowledge is power

Communicating with Physicians

Factually document medical problems in patient care terms Stay on the issue, not personality Appropriate communication

protect your time do not allow inappropriate interruptions

Communication Patterns
RNs have a last name, use it Expect to be addressed in a professional manner as you would address other professionals

Believe in Nursing

Valuing Nursing
Only RNs should attend nursing staff meetings Identify yourself

Protect the name of Nurse Insist on being addressed as a professional

Creating a New Image

Nurses value nursing and image it daily Nurses take themselves seriously and dress the part Nurses recognize the value of caring, health promotion, health teaching, and illness care Nurses believe in themselves and their colleagues