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Image of Nursing |
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Participate in Image of Nursing Projects
As NSNA Leaders, students learn practice essential leadership skills by participating in the NSNA Image of Nursing program. Established in 1993, the goal of the Image of Nursing program is to dispel any misconceptions the public may have of nurses and the profession by reeducating the community, educating nursing students on how to project a positive image of nursing, and helping students to understand the meaning of professionalism. The following may be helpful when students approach faculty to explore the possibility of having their NSNA participation partially fulfill course requirements or independent study elective. Refer to the course syllabus to determine if the objectives can be met by participating in NSNA's activities. Guidelines for leadership activities and learning objectives are available for all of NSNA's programs. The image of nursing is vital to the profession, necessary in today's changing workplace, and an important concept for future nurses to understand. Only by actively and professionally addressing these image issues can student nurses lead the way in changing society’s views of the importance of nurses, the possibilities the profession offers, and the impact that nurses have worldwide. |
Imprint Editor and Chair of Image of Nursing Committee, Megan Johnston, speaks on "Breaking the Glass Door to Nursing" during the 2021 NSNA Leadership U Summer Summit.
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Professional Identity Formation in Nursing
The NSNA Leadership University Honor Society accelerates your formation of a professional identity in nursing. Nursing school is the beginning of your leadership journey that will advance your career and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession. NSNA provides numerous opportunities for you to learn about the many facets of the nursing profession including Population and Global Health; Breakthrough to Nursing (recruitment into the profession); Ethics and Governance; Health Policy and Advocacy; Image of Nursing; and governing a school chapter, state association and national organization. Through these programs, social justice, social determinants of health, diversity, equity, and inclusion will contribute to the advancement of nursing’s social mission and are integrated into professional identity.
Think, Act and Feel Like a Nurse
The signposts of professional Identity in Nursing include: Values and Ethics, Leadership, Knowledge, and Professional Comportment.* By practicing leadership in nursing school, you will apply and integrate learning to build your self-confidence and knowledge. You will be better prepared think, act and feel like a professional nurse and to transition into nursing practice and leadership roles as a new graduate RN.
Here are examples of how involvement in the Image of Nursing project will help you to form your Professional Identity in Nursing:
The NSNA Leadership University Honor Society accelerates your formation of a professional identity in nursing. Nursing school is the beginning of your leadership journey that will advance your career and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession. NSNA provides numerous opportunities for you to learn about the many facets of the nursing profession including Population and Global Health; Breakthrough to Nursing (recruitment into the profession); Ethics and Governance; Health Policy and Advocacy; Image of Nursing; and governing a school chapter, state association and national organization. Through these programs, social justice, social determinants of health, diversity, equity, and inclusion will contribute to the advancement of nursing’s social mission and are integrated into professional identity.
Think, Act and Feel Like a Nurse
The signposts of professional Identity in Nursing include: Values and Ethics, Leadership, Knowledge, and Professional Comportment.* By practicing leadership in nursing school, you will apply and integrate learning to build your self-confidence and knowledge. You will be better prepared think, act and feel like a professional nurse and to transition into nursing practice and leadership roles as a new graduate RN.
Here are examples of how involvement in the Image of Nursing project will help you to form your Professional Identity in Nursing:
- Ethics and Values: Help members to incorporate NSNA’s Core Values and Code of Ethics in promoting a positive image of nursing.
- Knowledge: Facilitate learning related to a positive image of nursing.
- Leadership: Prepare diverse students with the leadership skills needed to represent and promote a positive image for the nursing profession.
- Professional Comportment: Foster nursing students to think, act and feel like a professional nurse.
Image of Nursing Committee responsibilities*
Image of Nursing Committee Team Leader:
1. Obtain faculty and peer support for the project.
2. Be responsible for implementing the project. Your role and responsibilities should be included in the association's bylaws to ensure continuity from year to year.
3. Establish an Image Committee.
4. Create interest by networking with other school committees and sharing ideas on the local, state, and national level. Joint projects with other schools in your area can add power to your effort.
5. Work closely with the Breakthrough to Nursing® (BTN) chairperson to avoid duplication or similarity of ideas and to enhance each other's efforts.
6. Search for sources of funding for the project; provide creative incentives for participants.
7. Submit articles to school and state newsletters to inform others of the Image project's goals and accomplishments. Use flyers to promote the professional development of nurses.
Image of Nursing Committee Team:
*See your chapter bylaws for the BTN role and responsibilities specific to your school or state chapter.
Tips and Ideas for Effective Image Projects
1. Set realistic and achievable goals.
2. Describe the project in concrete terms.
3. Work together with your school or state BTN Committee.
4. Get together with other state image chairpersons during the annual NSNA Convention or the MidYear Conference to share activities and ideas.
5. Organize a state or chapter level contest involving the image of nursing.
6. Offer involvement in high school career days along with members of the BTN committee. Help explain the nature of the nursing profession to local middle and high school students who are still deciding on their higher education career paths.
7. Create a media watch to pinpoint distorted, incorrect, or misleading portrayals of nurses. Write to the sponsors, letting them know your displeasure.
8. Design a certificate of excellence to recognize a student who best exemplifies the image of nursing by the end of their first year of clinical.
9. Suggest an award/certificate be presented to the student who best exemplifies the image of nursing by the end of their first year of clinical.
10. Know who your nursing leaders are. Write to the editors of your local media and encourage them to write about the nursing heroes and leaders within your community.
11. Work to establish collaborative relationships with other health care providers, especially those who are sensitive to nursing’s professional goals.
12. Work with faculty and/or nurses in specialty practice and send article proposals to your local newspaper or magazine featuring some of the following ideas:
Image of Nursing Committee Team Leader:
1. Obtain faculty and peer support for the project.
2. Be responsible for implementing the project. Your role and responsibilities should be included in the association's bylaws to ensure continuity from year to year.
3. Establish an Image Committee.
4. Create interest by networking with other school committees and sharing ideas on the local, state, and national level. Joint projects with other schools in your area can add power to your effort.
5. Work closely with the Breakthrough to Nursing® (BTN) chairperson to avoid duplication or similarity of ideas and to enhance each other's efforts.
6. Search for sources of funding for the project; provide creative incentives for participants.
7. Submit articles to school and state newsletters to inform others of the Image project's goals and accomplishments. Use flyers to promote the professional development of nurses.
Image of Nursing Committee Team:
- Work with the recruitment committees in local and state chapters to ensure that education on the numerous job opportunities in nursing is provided to those interested in nursing school.
- Encourage and assist state and local chapters in forming their own Image of Nursing Committees, as well as planning and implementing events that qualify them for the Image Award.
- Encourage students to help counteract negative stereotypes in nursing not by reacting to those stereotypes, rather by spreading a positive image in their clinicals and everyday lives.
- Try to collaborate with local and state associations for professional nurses when seeking advice for and planning Image of Nursing events. Such individuals are amazing examples of the type of nurses that reflect a positive image, and can really demonstrate the level of impact that can be made by individual efforts.
*See your chapter bylaws for the BTN role and responsibilities specific to your school or state chapter.
Tips and Ideas for Effective Image Projects
1. Set realistic and achievable goals.
2. Describe the project in concrete terms.
3. Work together with your school or state BTN Committee.
4. Get together with other state image chairpersons during the annual NSNA Convention or the MidYear Conference to share activities and ideas.
5. Organize a state or chapter level contest involving the image of nursing.
6. Offer involvement in high school career days along with members of the BTN committee. Help explain the nature of the nursing profession to local middle and high school students who are still deciding on their higher education career paths.
7. Create a media watch to pinpoint distorted, incorrect, or misleading portrayals of nurses. Write to the sponsors, letting them know your displeasure.
8. Design a certificate of excellence to recognize a student who best exemplifies the image of nursing by the end of their first year of clinical.
9. Suggest an award/certificate be presented to the student who best exemplifies the image of nursing by the end of their first year of clinical.
10. Know who your nursing leaders are. Write to the editors of your local media and encourage them to write about the nursing heroes and leaders within your community.
11. Work to establish collaborative relationships with other health care providers, especially those who are sensitive to nursing’s professional goals.
12. Work with faculty and/or nurses in specialty practice and send article proposals to your local newspaper or magazine featuring some of the following ideas:
- The healthcare benefits of nurses working in advanced practice roles
- Nurse-managed clinics at worksites that keep health care costs down
- Home health nurses who help to lower costs and keep patients happier and healthier
- The increasing number of men in nursing
- Nurse-midwives providing maternity and delivery services.
For a list of attributes and competencies for future nurse leaders and managers, click here.
For a FREE version of the Leadership Assessment for Student Nurses, click here.
For a FREE version of the Leadership Assessment for Student Nurses, click here.