Introduction
This paper discusses the chapter dedicated to the problem of nurses’ public representation. It presents the points suggested by Buresh and Gordon (2013) and discusses their relevance. The paper also provides evidence of the lack of nurses’ recognition by the hospitals based on the information on their web pages. It reflects on the ways of communicating the nursing staff’s significance, concluding that its role is underestimated and it is necessary to change the situation.
Chapter Discussion
The chapter encloses many insightful ideas on nursing, but the most significant ones are the following. Firstly, Buresh and Gordon (2013) point out that there is a lack of accurate information about nurses available to the public. Nurses’ role in health care is underestimated and is not perceived as valuable. The authors mention asymmetrical naming practices where nurses are addressed by their first name only, which contributes to their anonymity and results in other medical professionals overlooking nurses’ contribution. Hospital web pages often mention nurses only within their careers section. Secondly, Buresh and Gordon (2013) underline that patients require nursing care as much as medical treatment. Physicians cannot provide hospital care without nurses’ assistance. It is necessary to underline that nurses represent the largest group of staff and contribute to care as much, or more than other medical staff does. Finally, the authors point out that nurses must speak for themselves and justify their existence. They should try to achieve the high level of public understanding of their role in health care.
To support their perspective on the lack of nurses’ representation and information about them, Buresh and Gordon (2013) provide the evidence found on hospitals’ web pages. For example, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) barely mentions nurses on its website, and the information about them is hard to access. However, the resource addresses other representatives of staff, including engineers and biologists. Even the hospitals with Magnet recognition do not mention their nurses on their websites. For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center does not address them on its home page, and their representation on other pages does not look professional. The evidence the authors provide is of a particular interest to me, as I have also noticed that it is hard to find information about nurses on hospitals’ websites. Moreover, the existing information often aims to attract nursing staff rather than the public. I also consider the practice of addressing nurses only by their first name deprecatory and humiliating. I believe that it is necessary for hospitals’ authorities to understand that nursing practice is as important as other healthcare professionals’ work. It is the only way for nurses to receive proper representation.
Unfortunately, my practice reflects the findings of the authors as well. I have often noticed that my role as a nurse is underestimated. For example, many patients do not believe that I can provide quality care for them and expect me to ask for the physician’s assistance. Sometimes they refuse to disclose the health-related information to me as they think that I am not qualified enough. I assume that the reason for it is the lack of public awareness about nurses’ role in caregiving. From the chapter’s focus, I have learned that nurses should communicate their significance, which I am planning to do by highlighting my knowledge and insisting that my workplace should promote my profession to the public. The authors’ work helped me expand my thinking about caregivers’ role and realize their significance for patients. I believe that this information will change my future career development, as I will focus on promoting nurses’ public representation along with improving my qualification.
Conclusion
Nurses’ role in medical treatment is highly underestimated and devaluated. It is necessary for hospitals to represent nursing staff on their websites properly, as it can help other medical professionals and patients recognize the significance of the profession. Nurses must communicate their importance as well through their self-representation, and the dialog with hospitals, and media. The chapter provided me with valuable insights on how I can contribute to improving nurses’ public representation.
References
Buresh, B., & Gordon, S. (2013). From silence to voice: What nurses know and must communicate to the public (3rd ed.). Ithica, NY: Cornell University Press.