Public Perceptions and Attitudes on the Image of Nursing in the Wake of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in recent years has given nursing teams a unique place in this war, and an opportunity to change public opinion. The perceptions have the power to affect the users of health services, the nurses’ performance, health policy, and even the choice to become a nurse. Aim: To examine the relationship between the public’s perceptions and attitudes to the nursing profession compared with other healthcare professions, and to examine the relationship with the image of nursing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and methods: This study is a cross-sectional study, with a descriptive correlational design. Specifically, 80 respondents, men and women aged 18–75, joined a survey consisting of an anonymous questionnaire. Results: A positive relationship was found between the public’s perceptions and attitudes to nursing compared with other professions and the image of nursing in the wake of COVID-19, so the more positive public opinion was, the more positive the image of nursing would be. Conclusion: In the wake of COVID-19, the public’s opinion and perception of the nursing profession compared to other professions and their attitudes to nurses are more positive. It is important to continue to explore which factors most affected and changed the image of nursing during the pandemic, and to design strategies to preserve the improved image of nursing among the public on an ongoing basis.

The Role of Digital Marketing in Shaping Students’ Attitudes towards Health Care Professions

“…Poor knowledge among healthcare professionals has been associated with negative attitudes towards the healthcare profession (Tran, 2023). Societal views influence perceptions of nursing, sometimes leading to it being seen as subordinate to other professions, affecting autonomy and decision-making within the field (Blau et al, 2023). Additionally, motivations for choosing the nursing profession, whether to help others or for financial reasons, can result in different attitudes towards nursing (Efteli et al, 2023).…”

“…This can be done through targeted marketing campaigns and educational initiatives that highlight the exciting possibilities in healthcare careers.a To promote healthcare careers among youth, a multifaceted approach involving targeted marketing campaigns and educational initiatives is crucial. Strategies such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pipeline programming have been developed to expose young individuals to healthcare careers (Brew et al, 2022). Educational tactics play a significant role in directing students' interests towards healthcare professions, emphasizing the importance of personal traits, competencies, and schooling experiences in shaping future healthcare professionals (Althani et al, 2021).…”

State School Nurse Consultants Issue RN Action Agendas

“…Public awareness of the nursing profession increased during the COVID-19 pandemic which spotlighted a range of roles of nurses. RNs were leaders as lifesavers in hospital critical care to prevention specialists in community immunization clinics (Blau et al, 2023; Godsey et al, 2020; Mason, 2020). The public has some knowledge of RNs but is less likely to recognize other nursing licenses or understand the nuances of nursing specialty titles—including “School Nursing.”…”

Perception of the professional self-image by nurses and midwives. Psychometric adaptation of the Belimage questionnaire

“…In recent years, the media has portrayed nurses, midwives and other health care workers as heroes and told stories of their sacrifices, as the Covid-19 pandemic brought special attention to the public perception of health care [ 3 , 32 ]. The majority of respondents believe that the pandemic has had a positive impact on the image of nursing [ 33 ]. Public opinion on social media seems to portray an image of nurses that reflects the professionalism and values of the profession [ 34 ].…”

“…How nurses perceive their professional image affects their sense of professional self-esteem and motivates-positive or demotivates-negative for action. It is important to continue to study which factors most influenced and changed the image of nursing during the pandemic, and to develop strategies that would perpetuate a better image of nursing in society on an ongoing basis [ 29 , 33 ]. The key to changing the image is to first envision the future state.…”