Superheroes or Super Spreaders? The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Attitudes towards Nurses: A Qualitative Study from Poland

Katarzyna Wałowska and Jan Domaradzki ()
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Katarzyna Wałowska: Department of Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases, Internal Medicine and Dietetics, Heliodor Swiecicki Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-355 Poznan, Poland
Jan Domaradzki: Laboratory of Health Sociology and Social Pathology, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: The social perception of the nursing profession in Poland is profoundly affected by social stereotypes that may discourage young people from entering the profession and lead to prejudice towards nurses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses gained visibility, which caused the social image of nurses to likewise grow. In this study, we explore nurses’ experiences with respect to how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the social image of nursing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen hospital nurses. Three major themes emerged: (1) social attitudes towards nurses during the pandemic, (2) nurses’ perception of the impact of the pandemic on the social image of the nursing profession and (3) the impact of the pandemic on nurses’ mental health. Although the pandemic promoted the image of nursing to the general public, nurses were disappointed that in the face of the healthcare crisis and the constant threat, they had to struggle with difficult working conditions and professional, social and economic recognition. This study therefore stresses the duty of policy makers to undertake a systemic approach to improving the organisation of health care and increase nurses’ safety by providing them with a safe working environment and prepare them better for the next health crisis.

Keywords: attitudes; COVID-19; experiences; nursing personnel; Poland; public perception; SARS-CoV-2; social image (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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