EC Nursing and Healthcare

Background: There have been controversies about public perception of the nursing profession for varied reasons. Survival of nursing as a profession is dependent upon the positive impact it has on consumers.

Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the views of participants regarding nurses and the nursing profession, reasons for their perceptions and measures to enhance the public image of nursing.

Methods: The study adopted a community based cross-sectional survey design. Purposive, convenient and snowball samplings were used to select the study site and enroll participants. The study was conducted in the Bonduma Community, Buea Health District in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon. The participants were made up of the inhabitants of the Bonduma Community aged 21 and above. Respondents who met the inclusion criteria and gave their consent to participate in the study were selected. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire made up of both open and closed-ended questions. Data collected was entered using a pre-designed EpiData version 21 for analysis.

Results: A total of 140 respondents participated in the study. The study revealed that, 58.58% of the participants had a positive perception of nursing; more males (60.35%) appreciated nursing than females (43.75%), 24.26% participants said they will encourage self and others to become nurses because it involves saving lives, 11.43% said they will not because of low salaries. Preference for old nurses was the most represented (22.86%), reasons being that they are experienced, responsible and understanding, while 20% preferred male nurses. To improve the public image of the profession, 27.86% said good conduct should be rewarded while bad conduct punished and 14.28% said salaries should be increased.

Conclusion: Generally, the public has a positive perception of the nursing profession; however, nurses need to treat all patients with unconditional love and kindness.

Keywords: Perception; Public; Nursing Profession; Nurses

1. Grinberg K and Sela Y. “Perception of the image of the nursing profession and its relationship with quality of care”. BMC Nursing 21 (2022): 57.
2. López-Verdugo M., et al. “Social image of nursing. An integrative review about a yet unknown profession”. Nursing Reports2 (2021): 460-474.
3. Godsey JA., et al. “Registered nurse perceptions of factors contributing to the inconsistent brand image of the nursing profession”. Nursing Outlook6 (2020): 808-821.
4. Teresa-Morales C., et al. “Current Stereotypes Associated with Nursing and Nursing Professionals: An Integrative Review”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health13 (2022): 7640.
5. Grinberg K and Sela Y. “Perception of the image of the nursing profession and its relationship with quality of care”. BMC Nursing57 (2022).
6. Caroline Zulu and Dr C Ngoma. “A survey on perception of the image of the nursing profession in Zambia”. Unified Journal of Nursing and Midwifery1 (2015): 001-014.
7. Godsey J., et al. “Can brand theory help re-position the brand image of nursing?” Journal of Nursing Management (2020).
8. López-Verdugo M., et al. “Social image of nursing. An integrative review about a yet unknown profession”. Nursing Reports2 (2021): 460-474.
9. Kantek F and Yesilbas H. “Conflict in nursing studies: A bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited papers”. Journal of Advanced Nursing10 (2020): 2531-2546.
10. Rodríguez-Pérez M., et al. “Current Social Perception of and Value Attached to Nursing Professionals' Competences: An Integrative Review”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health3 (2022): 1817.
11. Sabatino L., et al. “Nurses’ perceptions of professional dignity in hospital settings”. Nursing Ethics3 (2016): 277-293.
12. Catherine Delves Y. “A-matter-of-curses-nursing-in-Cameroon”. Nursing Times3 (2014): 1-2.
13. Cohen S. “The image of nursing”. American Nurse Today5 (2007): 24-26.
14. Elmorshedy H., et al. “Contemporary public image of the nursing profession in Saudi Arabia”. BMC Nursing 19 (2020): 47.
15. Terry D., et al. “Traversing the Funambulist’s Fine Line between Nursing and Male Identity: A Systematic Review of the Factors that Influence Men as They Seek to Navigate the Nursing Profession”. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 10 (2020): 691-703.
16. Pierroti VW., et al. “Nursing knowledge patterns: Nurses’ image and role in society perceived by students”. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem 73 (2020): e20180959.
17. Mashal Farid M., et al. “Using system dynamics modelling to show the effect of nurse workload on nurses’ health and quality of care”. Ergonomics8 (2020): 952-964.
18. Liu Y. “Nurses’ work role in the context of gender and Chinese culture: an online forum study”. Journal of Nursing Research2 (2010): 117-124.
19. Ten Hove Y., et al. “The nursing profession: public image, self-concept and professional identity. A discussion paper”. Journal of Advanced Nursing2 (2004): 295-309.
20. Takase M., et al. “Impact of the perceived public image on nurses' work behaviour”. Journal of Advanced Nursing3 (2006): 333-343.
21. Buresh B and Gordon S. “From silence to voice: What nurses know and most communicate to the public (2^nd)”. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Nurses Association (2006).
22. Mering M and Van Wyk NC. “The image of Nurse and Nursing as Perceived by the South African Public”. African Journal of Midwifery2 (2013): 3-15.
23. Pierrotti VW., et al. “Nursing knowledge patterns: nurses’ image and role in society perceived by students”. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem (2020): 73.
24. Reinhart RJ. “Nurses continue to rate highest in honesty, ethics”. Gallup (2023).
25. Abuhammad S., et al. “The perception of nurses towards their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic”. International Journal of Clinical Practice4 (2021): e13919.
26. Dreiher D., et al. “National initiatives to promote quality of care and patient safety: achievements to date and challenges ahead”. Israel Journal of Health Policy. Research (2020): 9.
27. McAllister M and Brien DL. “Paradoxes in nurses’ identity, culture and image: The shadow side of nursing”. Australia: Routledge (2020).
28. Teresa-Morales C., et al. “Components of the nursing role as perceived by first-year nursing students”. Nurse Education Today 102 (2021): 104906.
29. Kämmer JE and Ewers M. “Stereotypes of experienced health professionals in an interprofessional context: Results from a cross-sectional survey in Germany”. Journal of Interprofessional Care (2021): 1-12.
30. American Association of Colleges of Nursing the Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021).
31. Godsey J., et al. “Can brand theory help re-position the brand image of nursing?” Journal of Nursing Management (2020).
32. National Academy of Medicine. The future of nursing 2020-2030 (2020).