The impact of COVID-19 on the social image of Nursing

ABSTRACT

Objective: to describe the current perception of Nursing by society, and to understand how the representation of the Nursing profession in the social consciousness has changed with the healthcare emergency scenario of COVID-19. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study in the overall population andhealthcare professionals, recruitedthroughnonprobabilistic sampling (the sample size achieved, n= 1.109, delivered absolute accuracy of 2,94%), through a questionnaire designed ad hoc. Results: Nursing was considered a profession devoted to care andessentialwithin the healthcare system (83.7%), butwithlow socialrecognition (53.8%), underpaid (48.4%)and perceivedas a high-risk profession (93.3%). These professionals were considered to have university degree education (84.8%), and their most outstanding quality was knowledge (85.2%). The stereotype profile was a woman (92.8%), middle-aged (53.9%), wearing sanitary "pyjamas” (85.3%). 52.4% of the sample believed that the COVID-19 pandemic had changed their perception of Nursing;the importance of these professionals was acknowledged, andtheir performance was valued positively, inspiring feelings of admiration and respect towards them. Conclusions: Nursing has been considered a profession devotedto care andessentialwithin the healthcare system, but with low social recognition, underpaid, and perceived as a high-risk profession. The healthcare emergency experience has given visibility to nursing care. There has been a positive impact by the COVID-19 pandemic upon the social image of Nursing, revaluing it as a profession. © 2022 DAE Editorial, Grupo Paradigma. All rights reserved.