Current Image of Professional Nursing

1. Current Image of Professional Nursing Prof. L. D. Andrews

2. 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%

3. Images of Nursing • 1844, Sairy Gamp • 1854, Nightengale in the Crimea • 1857, Santa Filomena • 1915, Edith Cavell • 1936, White Angel • 1942, So Proudly We Hailed • 1942, We Band of Angels

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Nursing’s View • Female dominated by persons socialized to be anti-intellectuals • Focus on skills rather than critical thinking • Knowledge is power

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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