Question

How do you promote the image of nursing by modeling the values and articulating the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the nursing profession

Answer 1

Ans) Part of changing the image of nursing is growing as a profession, and such growth requires a nurturing process. Our nurse leaders need to guide this process by doing the following:

• Cultivating a professional image by the way they represent the profession
• Defining unacceptable workplace behaviors and holding the staff accountable
• Teaching nurses the benefits of scripting such as, “My name is Shelley, and I am your registered nurse today.”
• Defining the appearance of the nurs­ing staff in written guidelines and following through with consequences for those who don’t comply
• Involving the staff in developing the list of unacceptable behaviors and the specifics of a new dress code
• Posting, circulating, and advertising nursing’s accomplishments
• Using the local community newspapers for ongoing announcements
• Having staff contribute to the community by writing health-related articles in the newspaper
• Speaking to civic and community groups about what nursing is and does
• Listening to patients’ and caregivers’ perceptions of nursing
• Surveying staff, patients, and caregivers about these perceptions
• Teaching and mentoring staff on how to validate all they do with appropriate documentation and active committee involvement
• Teaching communication skills, so staff nurses feel empowered to respond to negative colleagues in a manner that confronts and stops behaviors that affect our image

The time for us to redefine our image is now. By working together, we can help ourselves and the public see the nursing profession clearly