Nurses' perceptions of the image of the profession of nursin

The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to explore the image of nursing as perceived by nurses, factors influencing nurses' images of the profession, and nurses' evolving images of nursing over the course of their career. The 13 participants ranged in experience from student nurses in their senior year of a generic BSN program to RNs with over 21 years of nursing experience and a minimum of a BSN degree. All RN participants provided direct patient care. During semi-structured interviews, participants shared what they believed to be true about the image of nursing. All participants wrote about an incident that significantly influenced their image of nursing.;Kenneth Boulding's theory on image served as the theoretical framework for this study. Boulding posited that the way incoming messages are interpreted influences one's image. Boulding argued that a person's value system determines how individuals interpret messages received and that value systems change based on messages received. Messages participants in this study received about nursing determined how they valued nursing, and influenced their perceptions of the profession.;Data analysis revealed themes that reflected seven subcategories of nurses' images of nursing. They were (a) caring for patients, (b) others' image, (c) workload of nurses, (d) educational preparation, (e) clinical preparation, (f) compassion, and (g) support. These subcategories were collapsed into three broad categories reflecting study participants' perceptions about the nursing profession and factors that influenced their images of the profession: (1) role of nurses, (2) nursing knowledge, and (3) attitudes of nurses.;This study found that nurses enter the profession with mostly positive images of nursing based on the scope of their education and their understanding of nurses' roles. Almost as soon as they begin to practice, the overwhelming workload and their experiences with their preceptors tarnishes nurses' images of the profession. As they navigate their career, nurses' images of nursing are influenced by their interactions with those in their work environment. Nurses in this study described nursing colleagues as contributing to their negative perceptions of the images of nursing. Nurses working in maternal-child health perceived the image of maternal-child nursing in a positive light.