Editorial

Overcoming stereotypes: nursing in 2017

Sex kitten or battleaxe, doctor’s handmaiden or angel. Nurses have faced various stereotypes over the years, especially in the mainstream media, and have endured a lack of professional respect as a result.
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Sex kitten or battleaxe, doctor’s handmaiden or angel. Nurses have faced various stereotypes over the years, especially in the mainstream media, and have endured a lack of professional respect as a result.

There has been progress of late, but there is more work to be done. There are still times when a news story about nurses is illustrated by Barbara Windsor or Hattie Jacques, depending on the tone of the article.

Drowned out 

More recently, the image of nursing has been tarnished by coverage that portrays the profession in a largely negative light. Yes, being a nurse in 2017 is tough and demands a high level of resilience, but it is not all doom and gloom, as the RCNi Nurse Awards will demonstrate later this year.

As Nursing Standard reveals this week, England’s chief nurse Jane Cummings wants to work with the RCN on a joint initiative to celebrate nursing, and encourage more people to join the profession. She recognises that nurses are under pressure, but much of their outstanding work is being drowned out by negativity.

Professor Cummings will have to strike the right balance between celebrating success and recognising how difficult the role has become, but with support from the RCN, there is no reason why this cannot be achieved.

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