Public Perceptions of Nurses in Argentina. A Cross-Sectional Study

To describe public perceptions of nurses in Argentina.

Nurses comprise more than 50% of the health workforce. Although the coronavirus 2019 pandemic has improved the visibility of nurses, stereotypes and misinformation persist, affecting professional valuations and public perceptions of nurses.

A cross-sectional, analytical study of the Argentinean population aged over 18 years was conducted using snowball sampling. Questionnaires were distributed digitally and anonymously through social networks; participation was voluntary. The STROBE guidelines were followed.

A total of 959 responses were obtained. In all, 75.5% of the participants had negative perceptions of nurses; 44.3% were not able to identify the expanded roles of nurses. Further, 80.8% of the respondents who knew a nurse would recommend a nursing career to a family member or a friend. Gender (p = 0.01), age (p = 0.01), and advised to pursue nursing (p = 0.005) were associated with a positive perception of the profession, whereas having a family member or acquaintance who was a nurse (p = 0.08) and history of hospitalization were not associated with a positive image (p = 0.20).

Perceptions of the nurswes image in Argentina are predominantly negative. More than one-third of the population hads difficulty identifying the roles of nurses. The perceptions of nurses are more favorable among older adults, women, and individuals who have been advised to pursue nursing as a career.

This study highlights the public's negative perceptions of nurses in Argentina. There is an urgent need for nursing organizations, academic institutions, politicians, and healthcare providers to develop strategies to improve the public image of nurses.