Book Review: "The Image of Nursing"

Book Review:
The Image of Nursing: Perspectives on Shaping, Empowering, and Elevating the Nursing Profession

by Shelly Cohen, RN, BS, CEN and Kathleen Bartholomew, RC, RN, MN

Book cover: The Image of Nursing Despite the disarmingly easy to read workbook format of The Image of Nursing: Perspectives on Shaping, Empowering, and Elevating the Nursing Profession, there is great insight, passion and dedication to making positive change on each page. Clearly the authors have thought through the many reasons for what gets in the way of nurses having more clarity in their image as important and vital health care leaders and have crafted a user-friendly roadmap for improvement. This is a must read for every nurse and needs to be at the top of the list for student book buys.

Using data from a national nursing survey on image, the authors address responses in the area of what an individual nurse can do to shape a more realistic image of nursing in the categories of: appearance, behavior, communication skills, education/competency, professional organizations and public education/awareness. In a related question of identifying one thing about the profession that could be changed to have the greatest impact on image, the responses were categorized in the following areas: educational requirements for nursing, unity, appearance, staffing concerns, and behavior.

The book covers the external environment that influences perceptions such a media portrayals of stereotypical roles that span images from angels of mercy and handmaidens to Nurse Ratched and balances these with national efforts that have put nursing on the map such as the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program and the Johnson and Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future. Digging deeper into the reasons why a nurse’s own self worth or lack of worth contributes to low levels of engagement in the profession or their jobs brings to the forefront what needs to be confronted in order to change this damaging low self esteem state into a healthier and more productive career choice.

The book offers points of reflection and also serves as a coaching, self-help template for how individuals can take personal action to change to a healthier state. As such, it is invaluable for individuals from students to senior members of the profession willing to make a difference by starting with one self. For those in leadership roles who are contemplating organizational changes that include transition to a uniform for nurses, confronting lateral violence in the workplace, and enhancing communication in the service of moving to a new level of excellence in practice, this book can serve as a bible for “how to” get from today to tomorrow. It is our professional obligation to make nursing a strong and vital career that is positively experienced by those we serve. It indeed takes a village and the authors have hit the mark on how we can steer each other in the right direction. Shaping, Empowering and Elevating the next generation is indeed in our hands.

Book Review by:
Nancy M. Valentine, RN, PhD, MPH, FAAN, FNAP
Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Main Line Health
valentinen@mlhs.org

The Center for Nursing Advocacy is pleased to inform you that anyone interested in purchasing this book will receive a special 25% discount through the Center. Order at www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-6527-MB85972A to receive the discount.

Please join us in the discussion forum to offer your feedback on this exciting book that can serve as a valuable tool to support all of our efforts to improve the image of nursing!