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Media coverage of nurses throughout the pandemic is banishing outdated stereotypes of the profession, according to the Royal College of Nursing.
The RCN bases its view on a poll of more than 1,700 people, which showed that old fashioned notions of nursing as “women’s work” or as being “vocational” have been replaced by a more realistic view of what nurses actually do.
“Unfair stereotypes have inhibited efforts to improve the standing and attractiveness of nursing as a career ”
Pat Cullen
The poll, to mark International Nurses’ Day on 12 May, suggested media coverage of the pandemic had been an “eye opener” for respondents and revealed the “full range of skills and duties” nurses were required to undertake.
Anne Marie Rafferty
The Royal College of Nursing has issued a message of solidarity to nursing staff in India, amid the deadly new wave of Covid-19 in the country.
The college’s president Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty spoke out as the first aid package of desperately-needed medical supplies from the UK was due to arrive in New Delhi today.
“We stand in solidarity with our nursing colleagues in India who are working tirelessly”
Anne Marie Rafferty
The South Asian country has been facing record-high numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent days, fuelled by a new variant of the virus.
Donna Kinnair at the RCN Time to Reflect event to mark one year of Covid-19
The “immense” contribution and sacrifices of nurses during the coronavirus crisis were commemorated today to mark one year since the pandemic was officially declared.
The Royal College of Nursing held a special online event this morning to “reflect” on the past 12 months including a minute silence at 11am for nurses who had lost their lives.
“It has made nursing visible as never before to politicians and the public, giving them new insights into what nursing staff have to contend with and do every day
Anne Marie Rafferty
Call for more training on smoking cessation for mental health nurses
Concerns have been raised that mental health nurses are not receiving adequate training to support patients to quit smoking, despite high rates of smoking among people with poor mental health.
A report published today by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has called for a national plan to implement training on smoking for mental health staff, including nurses and psychiatrists.
“A lack of training during education or within the workplace leaves staff ill-equipped to implement smoking cessation strategies”
Report authors
The call comes in response to concerns reported by staff who felt they were ill-equipped to support their patients.