Abstract:
IntroductionThe image of nursing is shaped by the experiences of those who receive care from nurses. Studies on society's perception of the image of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic are limited. This study aimed to determine society's perception of the image of nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study using an online survey containing demographic, nursing and COVID-19 related 24 questions.ResultsThe study was conducted with 427 participants. Scale for the Image of Nursing Profession. Perceptions of the image of nursing (mean = 146.90) were good. In the regression analysis, the variables affecting the image of nursing were: knowledge of the existence of ICU nursing, admission to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge of the possibility of an academic career in the nursing profession, and the belief that nurses received inadequate salaries (P < 0.05).DiscussionResults of the study show that society's perceptions of the image of nursing are good and that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive effect on the recognition and image of the nursing profession. Nursing leaders needs to develop strategies to improve and sustain the image of nursing.