The Professional Image of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: From the Patients’ Perspectives

Abstract

Objectives:The aim of the study is to examine the views of patients who are hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic on the image of nursing. Method: The sample of the descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 400 inpatients in a city hospital. The data were collected online using a questionnaire and the Nursing Occupational Image Scale. The data were analyzed on the SPSS 22.0 program using percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.4±15.4 years and 60.5% of the participants were female. The total mean score of the scale was 167.29±15.21, and the nursing image of the participants was at a good level. Patients are satisfied with the nursing services but think that the professional image could be better. During the pandemic, the nursing image of patients has changed positively. There is a significant difference between the perception of nursing image and age, education level, previous hospitalization experience, previous nursing service, and having a nurse family member(p<0.05). Conclusion:The patients' image perception of the nursing profession is at a good level. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased patients' awareness of the role and importance of nurses and has positively affected the professional image of nurses. It is important for nurses to own their roles and responsibilities in order to maintain and develop a positive perception of professional image.