Editor's
Note
Mirror,
mirror on the wall
Reflect
on the image of nursing – and what you can do to improve it
Carol Bradley, MSN,
RN, California Editor
January
22, 2001
I have
always wished that the nursing profession were portrayed
more accurately in the media. I was hopeful last year when
I heard about the Johns Hopkins Hospital television series
on health care, "Hopkins 24/7." Did you see it?
Well, if you know much about health care, you would have
to assume that "nursing" ended up on the cutting
room floor, as it was missing from the series. The disappointing
result was the unrealistic impression that physicians provide
24-hour care in hospitals.
Many
nursing leaders voiced concern about the unrealistic and – once
again – transparent depiction of nursing within the health
care delivery system. This time, someone listened. We will
have another opportunity to see if television can reflect
the many wonders of nursing: The Discovery Channel will
air a five-part documentary, "Nurses," that aims
to present nursing as a challenging and distinguished career.
Many
national nursing organizations are joining the American
Organization of Nurse Executives, the American Hospital
Association and John Hopkins Hospital in publicizing this
series by hosting an event Jan. 24 at the National Press
Club.
The
series will premiere Jan. 28 on the Discovery Channel (see
box). Please take time to watch it. I will be taping it,
with the hope that it can be used to influence young men
and women to choose nursing as a challenging and lifelong
professional career.
I hope
it is a winner. In fact, how about an Academy Award? (Or
would it be an Emmy?) We would rejoice to see someone standing
at a microphone with millions watching on television. The
person would raise the award and dedicate it to the millions
of nurses around the world who have devoted their professional
lives to caring for others in every nook and cranny of our
health care delivery system and community.
While
the power of television has an undeniable influence on particular
perspectives of the world we live in, we also need to recognize
our own individual opportunities to influence the image
of nursing as well. At every hospital and nursing home bedside,
in every school nurse’s office, in every emergency room
or clinic, patients see the real thing: nurses involved
in nursing.
Perhaps
it is time that we take a good look around us (and in the
mirror) and assess the image of nursing that we portray
to our patients. The image of nursing is something we can
all own and do something about. It is "actionable."
While
I won’t try to tell you what "image issues" may
need fixing where you practice nursing, just consider that
you and your colleagues can help influence how the world
sees us, even if it is just one patient at a time. Yes,
one person can make a difference!
For
more information on the image of nursing, go to "Nurses
for a Healthier Tomorrow," a national coalition
that is working on a campaign to improve the image of nursing.
NurseWeek and many California organizations have
provided financial support for this important effort.
