Nursing is generally viewed as a noble caregiving job for women, despite the fact that it requires a wide range of knowledge, skills, and competence. Despite the fact that the desire to help others is frequently cited as the primary motivation for pursuing a career in nursing, the profession’s one-sided image appears to be excluding a substantial number of possible nursing degree candidates, such as high-achieving smart young people or men. The public impression of nursing is impacted by the public perception of nursing, which has been shown to represent nurses in a stereotyped and unfavorable light, portraying nursing as a lesser profession than medical.
Young people’s job choices are influenced by their families, and the level of education and financial condition of the family have been linked to the likelihood of young people choosing nursing as a profession. Friends play a vital impact in shaping attitudes, as evidenced by previous research. Furthermore, the research has already identified the impact of professors and career advisers on career decisions and perceptions of nursing (Glerean, 2017). The information provided by career advisers to young people about nursing is outdated and unfavorable. Because of these negative opinions about nursing, young people are less inclined to pursue a career in the field. Nevertheless, the attitude towards nursing seemed to change after the pandemic (Monti, 2022). This change might lead to a larger interest in a career in nursing and engage more talented people. People should be educated through their families and schools about the importance of nursing for them to have a realistic image of the profession.
In conclusion, the nursing profession is perceived by the public as virtuous and important. Nevertheless, many people are hesitant to start a career in this field because of the outdated and unfavorable information provided by the advisers. As healthcare changes, the scope of nursing expands and the obligations that must be fulfilled by nurses widen. Nurses are taking on new responsibilities today, such as coordinating care from various providers, handling cases of patients with complex needs, and assisting patients in transitioning from hospitals to their homes or other settings. The perception is affected by different social institutes, including family and school. To educate the public about the real image of a career in nursing, the information should be spread in the way that it would be told at homes and schools.
References
Glerean, N., Hupli, M., Talman, K., & Haavisto, E. (2017). Young peoples’ perceptions of the nursing profession: An integrative review. Nurse Education Today, 57, 95–102.
Monti, J. (2022). Survey: Majority of People Believe Nursing Is a Favorable Career Choice Since Pandemic.