Title: Stereotypes of nurses - Wikipedia
Headings: Stereotypes of nurses
Stereotypes of nurses
Contents
History
Nurses as selfless and angelic
Harmful effects
Misrepresentations in the media
See also
References
Further reading

Content: The image of a drunk nurse was exemplified by Dickens' Sarah Gamp. The nurse in this image is depicted as a moral, noble and religious being who was devout like a nun —chaste and abstemious - as opposed to the resemblance that of a witch. Her skills would be practical and her demeanor would be stoic and obedient. Florence Nightingale also known as The Lady with the Lamp, promoted this image due to the fact that during the Crimean War, she was known to make rounds at night, treating wounds and giving care to soldiers. The angelic image that comes to mind when a woman with a lamp approaches an injured soldier is not far fetched. This is where much or the selfless angelic image of nurses come from. The idea of female nurses attending the British Army fighting in the war was controversial, due to it being thought immoral as well as revolutionary. Harmful effects
The media has a strong influence on public views, shaping the way the public values and treats professions in healthcare. In the book Saving Lives: Why the Media's Portrayal Nurses Puts Us All At Risk, Sandy Summers and Harry Jacobs discuss the many ill effects of the common stereotypes and how those are presented in today's media.