Have you ever described yourself as ‘just a nurse’?

How people talk about nursing can diminish its value and deter potential recruits, the profession’s leaders warn. Here’s what you can do differently

• Not only do nurses’ words influence the public perception of the profession, but the language you use can help change the narrative
• Get across the message that nursing is a ‘safety critical’ profession to improve its value to policymakers, employers and the public, say nurse leaders
• How to change the way you represent your role and your profession's impact on patient care

How do you describe what you do? Do you present a clear image of your role, its complexity, the fact that it’s pivotal to patient care? Or do you say you are ‘just a nurse’?

Nursing leaders warn that words used about the profession have an impact on how it is perceived –