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Media Portrayal of Nurses
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How Patients Perceive Nurses
The media has a hand in how people view professionals as authoritative figures from
various sectors, such as nursing. Some stereotypes are perpetuated against nurses by the
press, and these contribute to some of the biases witnessed and shaped some public opinions
(González et al., 2023). An example is when nurses are depicted as being under physicians
and not as equals in the operational environment. Another example is when they are
stereotypically portrayed as overly nurturing or have to consult doctors because they are not
authoritative. Such attitudes transfer to patients who will also not view them as authoritative
figures. For the public image of nurses to be positively influenced, organizations can use
several strategies. One is highlighting their expertise, functions in medical care, and
leadership roles they take up (Garcia & Qureshi, 2022). Visibility can be enhanced via
community outreach programs, social media, and other public engagements. Healthcare
teams can also collaborate to reinforce their expertise and authority in medical care.
Roles Nurses Can Play for Real Imaging
Nurses have several roles they can play to enable their real image in preventive
services and community health to be known. Away from common clinical settings, they can
serve as coordinators, advocates, and educators of care within health programs. Outreach
initiatives can be utilized to educate the masses about healthy lifestyles, screenings, and
vaccinations (Garcia & Qureshi, 2022). Healthcare access disparities and health equity are
other ways nurses can improve their image. Initiatives such as home visits, mobile clinics,
and telehealth medical care bring these services to the underserved. When they collaborate
with other healthcare providers, they improve their image while serving marginalized
populations. Collaborations also help develop tailor-made interventions to address the unique
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needs of the underserved (González et al., 2023). Nurses help improve healthcare outcomes
by engaging with communities to enhance preventive care and promote community health.5
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References
Garcia, R., & Qureshi, I. (2022). Nurse identity: reality and media portrayal. Evidence-Based
Nursing, 25(1), 1-5.
González, H., Errasti‐Ibarrondo, B., Iraizoz‐Iraizoz, A., & Choperena, A. (2023). The image
of nursing in the media: A scoping review. International Nursing Review, 70(3), 425-
443.
