A study to determine factors contributing to the nursing image in Lusaka urban.

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine factors contributing to the nursing image and the extent to which these factors affect the nursing profession, with a view of helping nurse leaders find a means of improving the profession's public perception. For this purpose, a sample of 100 male and female adult respondents were questioned. These were drawn from Lusaka Urban Clinics; one from a high density area, and one from a low density one, including the University Teaching Hospital. The study revealed that a mixture of factors do add to the totalnursing image. Included among these are aspects of the nurses conduct on and off duty, such as attitudes, communication skills and so on. While on duty, nurses were perceived as caring, hard working and easy to relate to, whilst most respondents did not know the nurses conduct off duty. The study also revealed that although certain factors in the work environment do contribute to the total nursing image, there are some which do not. The results showed that the public do not blame the nurse for shortfalls in the work environment and in their opinion, nurses do quite a lot to try and improve their work conditions. Although there was a general consensus that the nurse is an essential worker, most people believe she / he has the raise of an assistant or care giver and that her social status is moderate (neither high nor low). It was also found that most people prefer their nurses to be well educated males and females from the highest institutions of learning like Universities, this if achieved would not only raise professional standards, but also the image of the nursing professional.