Nurturing a better image for nurses

A NEW campaign has been launched in the Capital to improve the image of the nursing profession across the country.

Nursing the Future, launched by the Nursing Standard, follows a nationwide survey which found many people think nurses are not qualified to do their jobs and most do not believe nursing staff have the same high status as doctors

The study also found people do not fully appreciate the varied responsibilities involved in modern nursing and midwifery.

Information gathered from interviews with schoolchildren also confirmed that stereotypical views of nursing are alive and well and that low wages and stress are putting off young people from entering the profession.

However, when nurses were asked what motivated them to nurse, the answer "patients" ranked number one.

And around 94 per cent of nurses surveyed said they are proud to do their job.

Nursing Standard’s network of 26 nurse ambassadors is working alongside local MPs, councillors and others interested in health and nursing.

The campaign is backed by the Department of Health and the Royal College of Nursing.

Beverly Malone, Royal College of Nursing general secretary, said: "There could not be a better time to launch a campaign to boost the reputation of UK nurses.

"We never hear about the good nursing stories. It is simply not true to say that nurses have given up on caring. As a profession, we need to unite and make sure the public understands that quite clearly."