Reference no: EM133907410

Question

Nurses must take direct action when nursing is presented in an unfavorable light in the media. In the article" Improving the Image of Nursing" Kalisch & Kalish presents a checklist for monitoring media images of nurses and nursing. Use this checklist as you view television, watch movies, read books and newspapers, and look at advertisements.

Analyze a television program, film/movie, advertisement, newspaper, or book that focuses on a healthcare situation/storyline.

How are nurses depicted compared with other healthcare professionals?

Compose a letter to the program describing your analysis, and document your arguments to support your viewpoint.

CHECKLIST FOR MONITORING THE MEDIA

Prominence in the Plot
Is the nurse in a leading role or a supportive role?
Is the nurse actively participating or shown in the background (handing instruments, carrying trays, pushing wheelchiars)?
To what extent are nurses shown in professional roles, engaged in nursing practice?
Who provides the actual nursing care? The nurse, or others?
In scenes with MDs or hospital administrators, who does the talking?
Demographics
Does the portrayal reflect men as well as women in nurses' roles?
Are nurses shown to be of varying ages and marital status?
Personality Traits
Are nurses portrayed as: intelligent, rational, confident, ambitious, sophisticated, problem solvers, assertive, powerful, nurturant, empathic, sincere, and kind?
How do the personality traits of other health care providers in the program compare with nurse traits?
When nurses exhibit the above personality traits, do such portrayals show them to be abnormal in some way?
Primary Values
Do the nurses exhibit values for service to others, humanism, scholarship, achievement?
Are these differences in nurses' values compared to other health care providers?
When nurses exhibit scholarship and achievement, do such portrayals show them to be abnormal in some way?
Sex Objects
Are nurses portrayed as sex objects; referred to in sexually demeaning terms; or preseented as appealing because of their physical attractiveness rather than their intellectual capacity, professional commitment, or skill?
Career Orientation
Is the profession of nursing shown to be an attractive and fulfilling long- term career?
Is the work of the nurse shown to be creative and exciting?
How important is the career of nursing to the nurse portrayed?
How does the nurse's career orientation compare with other professionals depicted in the program?
Professional Competence
Are nurses praised for their professional capabilities by others?
Do nurses praise other professionals for their competencies?
Do nurses exhibit autonomous judgment in professional matters?
Is there a gratuitous message that a nurse's role in health care is a sup-
portive, rather than central, one?
Do nurses have a positive impact on patient/family welfare?
Are nurses shown harming or acting to the detriment of patients?
How does the professional competence of nurses compare to the professional competence of other health care providers?
When nurses exhibit professional competence, are they shown to be abnormal in some way?
Education
Who teaches nursing students?
Who appears to be in charge of nursing education?
Is there evidence that the practice of nursing requires special knowledge and skills?
What is taught to nursing students?
Administration
Are any roles filled by nurse administrators or managers or are all nurses shown as staff nurses or students?
Is there evidence of an administrative hierarchy in nursing or are nurses shown answering to physicians or hospital administrators?
Are nurses shown turning to other nurses for assistance or are they depicted as relying on a physician or other character (generally male) for
guidance, strength, and/or rescue?
Overall Assessment
Overall, is the presentation a positive or negative portrayal of nursing?
Why or why not?