Sean Whitfield - NURS 1000 - Active Learning Guide- Module 8- Backgrounds in Nursing- Nursing Image - Completed (1).pdf

NURS 1000 - Introduction to Nursing Images of Nursing and Contemporary Trends Images of Nursing and Contemporary Trends Module 8: Backgrounds in Nursing 1. Take a moment to picture a nurse in your mind’s eye. How do the images of nursing presented in the chapter compare with the image of nurses/nurs...

NURS 1000 - Introduction to Nursing Images of Nursing and Contemporary Trends Images of Nursing and Contemporary Trends Module 8: Backgrounds in Nursing 1. Take a moment to picture a nurse in your mind’s eye. How do the images of nursing presented in the chapter compare with the image of nurses/nursing that you have or had? In what ways are they the same or different? The immediate image of nursing that I can imagine is that of the pandemic nurse. During the pandemic their was barely an opportunity not to be updated or have time occupied by news or any other type of update. The profile of the nurse was that of a hero, the epitome of Florence Nightingale’s vision. Now another image of a nurse is the presentation on social media. The majority of nurses that post on social media are doing a service for us students that are curious to what it will really be like once we are done. Those nurses also post study hacks or mnemonics that are handy for remembering concepts. Those uploads are beneficial and appreciated. Then there are the posts of ugly behavior or a slip in judgment, that show nurses in a bad light. The posts criticizing patients and their family members are not needed and I am surprised those individuals would take a chance to be disciplined or lose their license. Comparing these images to those in the book there are some similarities. For the most part throughout time, nurses were knowledgeable and wanted to help. They are also neat and put together in a way that does express professionalism. But there are instances of nurses being stereotyped based on sex or race that are not flattering or informative of the position and job duties, but are there only for a story line. Even though these are fictional characters, these negative portrayals are carried by people and inform their ideas of what a nurse is. Increased stereotyping occurs when race and sex are added. The difficulties and intricacies of nursing are reflective of what our environment socially is currently experiencing. Nurse Eunice Rivers had a very unique role during the Tuskegee experiment. Ms. Rivers, due to her being black, was used to recruit men for the syphilis experiment on black men. The experiment was to document the entire “treatment” without the cure. As a black person to be used to harm other of your race, under the guise of healthcare, I’m sure is disturbing. As a black nurse, during that time in America, she is as much a victim as the men given the disease. I’m sure she was not kept in the loop or properly advised as to the extent of the experiment. The vector or environment and being socially active continues to be a part of the nursing code and profession. Advocacy is a fundamental bedrock tenet or precept for the profession, that I can argue is more of a lifestyle, culture or behavior. 2. How has the image of nursing changed over the years? Nursing has always been focused on caring for those in need or the less fortunate. But now nursing is more academic and with this increased access to education, nurses are becoming more independent. They are becoming Nursing Practitioners and Physician Assistants and NURS 1000 - Introduction to Nursing Images of Nursing and Contemporary Trends taking on more responsibility. There is an increase in mid-level access that some have described as job creep, as hospital systems try to find a way to provide healthcare at a lower cost. 3. What are some nursing images or actions that might convey a negative image of nursing? Nursing employees as a whole is standardized from the uniform, to facial hair to what is considered appropriate behavior at work. Some nurses may want to seek some individualism by becoming tattooed, dye their hair certain colors or wear a particular style of scrub. Some stereotypes of nurses is that they are over sexualized, incompetent (doesn’t question the doctor), and some personal negative anecdotal experience that a patient of family member may have with a nurse that gets purpetuated and pushed out. Also, veteran nurses eat their young. Why do you think nurses might be susceptible to these types of images or behaviors? Nurses and other health care workers are seen as a monolith. Nurses are susceptible to misinformation due to the difficulty to gain access to the profession, the small percentage that a person is actually friends with a nurse and can get first hand information. People believe everything that is published in all forms of media about nurses. The good and the bad and do not form their own opinion. Do today's nurses bear any responsibility for the images being portrayed either historically or presently in media? No. The only responsibility nurses have is how they present and conduct themselves to their patients, co-workers and health system. 4. List 4-5 factors that directly contribute to the nursing shortage in the United States. A. Lack of available teachers. B. Aging Workforce and Retention. C. Transition to Nursing Practice is stressful. D. Nursing Salaries.