Public image perception of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Public perceptions of nursing influence views and attitudes towards the profession. The COVID-19 pandemic was a critical period for promoting the professional identity and value of nursing in society. Objective: This study aimed to determine public perceptions of the nursing profession and the factors influencing these perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted online between 1 May 2022 and 24 August 2022. A total of 811 individuals participated in the study. Data collection included a personal information form and the Attitude Scale for the Nursing Profession. Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.71 years (SD: 10.79). They scored 3.95 (SD: 0.87) on the sub-dimension of characteristics of the nursing profession, 3.55 (SD: 0.72) on the sub-dimension of intention to choose the nursing profession, 3.46 (SD: 0.54) on the sub-dimension of general attitude towards the nursing profession, and the total scale score was 3.65 (SD: 0.57). The regression model showed that the frequency of news coverage and the importance of working conditions predicted public perceptions of nursing. The variables in the model explained 6.5% of the variance in perception (R = 0.068; R2 = 0.065; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Public perception of the nursing profession was positive, with media visibility positively influencing this perception and demanding working conditions negatively influencing it. It is important to continue to research and identify the factors that most influence or change the public perception of the nursing profession.