I have heard some very interesting things while working as a nurse. Some of the funniest things are the public’s perception of nurses. Even today, the general population still has a very dated view of the profession. And this is actually a topic of importance in hospitals across the nation.
Many healthcare facilities are conducting surveys to get a better idea of what people think of when they think of the nursing profession. They are taking the result of these surveys to mold their nursing staff in an attempt to make them more closely fit the public perception. Their reasoning for this change is to make patients more comfortable.
In the last few years I’ve asked various people to tell me what they think of when they think of nurses. While some responses are flattering and beautiful, others are very funny to say the least. I have often asked: “What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a nurse?” Here are some of my most memorable responses:
- Pretty women walking around fluffing pillows and serving food. It seems that some people perceive nurses more as maids or waitresses than as healthcare professionals. Nursing is still considered an all-female profession as well. This is not the case, as more men than ever are getting their nursing degrees.
- WHITE! WHITE! WHITE! Many people still think of nurses as “angels in white.” White dress, white tights, white shoes. Many nurses across the nation are finding themselves required to go back to wearing white scrubs as a result of this extremely outdated perception.
- Nursing caps. That’s right, some people still think of women in white caps when they think of nurses. The only nurses wearing anything on their heads these days are nurses working in operating rooms and other sterile environments. While there are a few nurses who still insist on wearing their caps, you would be hard pressed to find a nurse wearing a hat these days.
- Naughty nurses. You’ve seen it before. A woman dressed in a skimpy white dress, barely covering her behind, cleavage displayed prominently. Sorry guys, the only place you’ll be seeing this nurse is at a costume party. If a nurse came to work dressed like this they would most likely be job hunting the next day. When wearing your nursing scrubs, be mindful for the cut so you will not look like a naughty nurse in a club.
- “That pretty nurse kissing the sailor.” This photo has become almost iconic in the nursing profession. Things like this photo and films from the 1930s to as recent as the 1980s are perhaps the biggest cause of this romanticized view of the nursing profession. Some people think nurses flit around wards, flirting with men, trying to land a doctor or a rich patient. These imaginary nurses plan to get their hooks in a wealthy man and become a trophy wife, giving up nursing forever. This stereotype is perhaps the most distant from the truth. It’s not 1945 anymore!