As we see in the media such as on T.V shows, and in commercials, nurses are portrayed as petite, sexy and ‘dumb’. I am positive this is not what Florence Nightingale had in mind for nurses. Famous for her work in the military hospitals of the Crimea, Nightingale established nursing as a respect profession for women (BBC, n.d.). I personally want to be portrayed as a confident, competent, and caring professional. Another common stereotype is that male nurses are gay. I feel that personally that this is an unfair judgment to put on male nurses. So are women construction workers assumed to be lesbians? As I am a nursing student and I feel that it is up to me to help make a positive change on the portrayal of nurses in the future.
References
BBC - History - Florence Nightingale (1820 - 1910). (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figure/nightingale_florence.shtml.
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/LPG/51501~Nurse-Bettie-Posters.jpg
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/06/82506-004-C127D364.jpg
4 comments:
Hi Heather!
I definetly agree with you! I do not think that it is fair that nurses are portrayed in such ways as you described and as the one picture shows. As nursing students and nurses, we must take a stand and ensure that these stereotypes do not continue. As for the one about male nurses being gay, my uncle worked as a nurse for YEARS and is married and has 5 beautiful children!:)
Hi Heather,
I totally agree with you! I went to get a nursing background for my blog and all they had was a provocative nurse in an inappropriate skirt/dress thing. Personally I don't want to portrayed like that! I will have spent more then enough time in school when I become a nurse and I want to be respected more then a stereotypical sexy nurse would be. I hope we can change this stereotype because the people that create these stereotypes are the people that need our care!
I agreed with you. nurses are the front line health care professional. They have to be respected as caring,confident and caring professional.
Male nurses ARE NOT gay. At least I can speak for myself and say that comments like those affect the profession greatly and should be stopped. Nursing is a noble profession. Nurses give their time to care for someone that cannot do it for him/herself. And that should be respected...STOP THE STEREOTYPES!!!!
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