Nursing profession during the pandemic: Perceptions, changes, and the role of media

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically highlighted the critical role of nursing in healthcare, transforming the traditional image of nurses from "sisters" or "white angels" to a more esteemed and academic profession. This study aims to evaluate nurses' perspectives on how the media influences the perception of the nursing profession during the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on their professional image. The study seeks to assess nurses' views on the media's role in shaping public perception of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for professional identity. A total of 208 nurses employed in a hospital setting between January 2022 – March 2022 participated in this research, with institutional approval. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire and the Nursing Profession Image Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Student t-tests, with a significance level set at p<0.05. The average age of the nurses was 35.02±7.80 years, with 81.7% being female. Only 7.3% were affiliated with a professional association. A notable 26.0% believed there were positive shifts in the nursing profession's image during the pandemic, while 80.3% observed increased discourse around nursing due to the pandemic. Moreover, 41.8% felt the media adequately portrayed nurses and their professional challenges. The mean score on the Nurses' Image Scale was 112.00±9.67. According to gender, affiliation with a professional organization, and perceptions of media coverage, the perception of the nursing profession's image has varied. However, no significant correlations were found between age, education, professional experience, and perception of the nursing profession. Nurses' perceptions of their professional image are moderately positive. Efforts to enhance the profession's public perception, particularly through media representation, are deemed imperative.