Scholars Crossing Faculty Publications and Presentations School of Nursing 2006 TV Nurses Often Hurt More Than Heal Hila J. Spear Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nurse_grad_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Spear, Hila J., "TV Nurses Often Hurt More Than Heal" (2006). Faculty Publications and Presentations. 18. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nurse_grad_fac_pubs/18 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Nursing at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TV NURSES Often HURT More than HEAL BY HILA J. SPEAR We live in an era where image and the marketing of image has never been more important.While nurses can certainly maintain that the core business of nursing is caring for the sick and assuring the health and well being of people, nurses would be foolish to ignore the importance While channel surfing one discovered I was watching the season of nursing’s image. Sunday evening, I came across what, at premiere of the CBS drama Cold Case, first glance, appeared to be a promo which aired on September 25, 2005. for informed consent about abortion. The person talking about abortion was abortion. Other characters in this But as the dialogue continued, I an actor playing the role of a school episode mocked the school nurse, nurse,“Nurse Laura.”She was overly her tactics and her pro-life view. dramatic,uncaring and insensitive as she Beyond the irresponsible characteri- I Hila J. Spear, PhD, explained to an already distraught zation of a pro-life nurse as an RN, professor of nursing and director of graduate studies, teenage boy how abortion ends a life. unprofessional, hard-hearted indi- teaches graduate and undergraduate students at The “nurse” reinforced the informa- vidual, the media is fraught with Liberty University in tion by thrusting pictures of aborted offensive and disturbing images of Lynchburg,Virginia. Hila maintains clinical practice as babies into the hands of the young nurses. I recall reading or hearing a lactation consultant and attends Timberlake Baptist father-to-be. Based on the crazy about nurses labeled by terms such Church, where she is nurse’s scare tactics, the boy and his as “sex symbol,”“seductress” and actively involved in ministry. girlfriend changed their minds about “naughty nurse,”or lampooned as 32 JCN / Volume 23, Number 4 buxom nurses dressed in tightly fitted white uniforms.1 Sadly,these sex-oriented and other negative Media portrayals of nursing typically stereotypical views of nurses persist. To confirm this, one need only are inaccurate, offering inferior images watch a television episode of ER, of the profession. Grey’s Anatomy, a variety of sitcoms, and tasteless commercials and magazine ads that include “nurse” characters. concern to nursing is the reality that is especially troubling.To provide Thankfully,the shampoo commercial how others perceive nurses is impacted recruitment support, in 2002 Johnson that depicted a female nurse in an by their consumption of media- and Johnson launched a national overtly sexual and irresponsible way was inspired representations. Researchers Campaign for Nurses’ Future.10 This short-lived due to protests of concerned Phillip Derbyshire and Suzanne ongoing project involves, in part, televi- nurses.2 Unfortunately,nurses often are Gordon emphasize that public beliefs sion ads that portray caring images of characterized by the media as immoral, about the importance of nursing are nurses and affirm nursing as a desirable less than bright, selfish and concerned affected by media-driven images. profession.Although it will take more more about their personal lives than They point out: than the Johnson and Johnson about providing safe and appropriate We live in an era where image and campaign to significantly mitigate the care for their patients. On TV,if a nurse the marketing of image has never dwindling number of those choosing is mistaken for a physician, it is a compli- been more important.While nurses nursing as a career, surveyors recently ment, but if a physician is mistaken for a can certainly maintain that the core reported that this initiative has success- nurse, it is a major insult. business of nursing is caring for the fully influenced some young people to Although many media depictions sick and assuring the health and well become nurses.11 are unflattering, sometimes nurses are being of people, nurses would be presented as strong and intelligent. foolish to ignore the importance of WHY SHOULD CHRISTIAN During the early days of ER, the nursing’s image.4 NURSES SPEAK OUT nurse character Carol Hathaway Other researchers have attributed Whether or not you view television modeled positive qualities of nursing attrition rates in nursing school to the programs or other media enterprises such as compassion, leadership and misconceptions students had about that portray nursing or the values of assertiveness. In the off-Broadway nursing based on their media-gener- Christian nurses in a negative way,it play Wit, Emma Thompson played ated views of the profession.5 Similarly, is important to convey your opinion. the role of a nurse who demonstrated many believe that the increasingly You have the option of turning off the professionalism, caring and sensitivity criticized dramatic series ER is a television or not reading offensive as she advocated for the unique needs contributing factor to the nursing print media. But why not make an of a dying patient.These positive shortage because of its weekly broad- effort to be a positive influence rather characterizations are encouraging. cast of inaccurate and negative than ignore the ever-growing presence Nevertheless, they are not the norm. portrayals of nurses.6 of negative media fare. Nurses need to Historically,nursing shortages in speak out and to be proactive about IT IS NOT JUST ENTERTAINMENT America have been linked to the poor who they are and what they do.12 There is ample research evidence image of nursing.7 More specifically, As Christians, we view nursing as a demonstrating that the media is a public perceptions of nursing have been special calling and a ministry.When powerful force transcending enter- correlated with nurses’ self-image, job others misrepresent and disparage tainment. For example, observation performance and turnover intentions.8 nursing, we should take notice.The of violent and sexually oriented Considering the reality that the nursing media is an influential and powerful productions can increase risk for workforce is aging, with fewer young source that can be used for good or aggression and adversely affect sexual people entering the field,9 the public evil.Why not be a voice for good? behaviors and attitudes.3 Of particular denigration of nurses and the profession Franky Schaeffer’s book A Time for JCN/Fall 2006 33 Negative images of nursing contribute to WEB RESOURCES • Center for Nursing Advocacy - poor public perception and recruitment. http://www.nurseadvocacy.org/ • Discover Nursing - http://www. discovernursing.com/default.aspx Anger, published more than twenty when negative or inaccurate media • Center for American Nurses - http://www.ana.org/center/index.htm years ago, is still applicable today.He portrayal of nurses occurs. referred to the media’s “growing mania • Proactively educate the public! for power and their discrimination Write accurate, positive articles or against Christians and traditional letters about nursing for secular 1Philip Kalisch and Beatrice Kalisch, The Changing Image of the Nurse (Menlo Park, CA:Addison Wesley, 1987). 13 Judeo-Christian ethics.” Schaeffer and Christian publications; educate 2Center for Nursing Advocacy,“Procter & Gamble asserted that as followers of Christ, we others about the multiple career Pulls Clairol Shampoo Commercial and Apologizes to Nurses, June 11, 2003.”Accessed May 16, 2006, at should reveal the truth and confront options available to nurses. http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2003jun11_ the sophisticated debasement of Chris- • Contact networks, producers and clairol.html. 3 tianity and anti-Christian sentiment other individuals who sanction Tina L. Cheng, Ruth A. Brenner, Joseph L.Wright, Hari Cheryl Sachs, Patricia Moyer and Malla R. Rao, rampant in our society.Jesus told his poor images of nurses. “Children’s Violent Television Viewing:Are Parents Monitoring?” Pediatrics, 114, no. 1 (2004): 94-99, and followers to be the salt of the earth and • Reinforce and encourage positive American Academy of Pediatrics,“Understanding the to let their light shine before men (Mt media renderings of nurses and Impact of Media on Children and Teens,” Accessed February 21, 2006, at http://www.aap.org/family/ 5:13-16). Is it possible that this could nursing by expressing appreciation mediaimpact.htm. involve Christian nurses speaking out to those responsible for positive 4Philip Derbyshire and Suzanne Gordon,“Exploring for respectful and truthful media portrayals. Popular Images and Representations of Nurses and Nursing,”in Professional Nursing: Concepts, Issues and representation, both of Christ and of To help influence the public’s percep- Challenges, eds. John Daly Sandra Speedy,Debra Jackson,Vickie Lambert and Clinton Lambert, 69-92 the profession? Shouldn’t we be tion of nursing, engage in endeavors (New York:Springer: New York,2005). committed to perpetuating a legacy that reflect a positive image of the 5Kathryn Godfrey,“Don’t Believe the Hype,” Nursing of quality care and service to others? nursing profession. Promote National Times, 96, no. 28 (2000): 28-29, and David A. Brodie, Gavin J.Andrews, Justin P.Andrews, Gail B.Thomas, Nurses Week in your church.Visit Josephine Wong and Lorna Rixon,“Perceptions of schools to inform students about the Nursing: Confirmation, Change and the Student WAYS TO TAKE ACTION Experience,” International Journal of Nursing Studies, 41 In this age of technology and instan- rewarding, meaningful and invaluable (2004): 721-733.