Resumo

CALVO CALVO, Manuel Ángel. Social image of nursing and public communication satrategies to obtain a positive image. Index Enferm [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.3, pp.184-188. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962011000200010.

The identity or essence of nursing does not match their social image as this profession continues to be full of stereotypes and the general public still retains the idea of dependence and lack of professionalism of nurses. This lack of concordance between image and identity is partly due to the fact that nurses themselves have not cared enough, both individually and as a group, to communicate effectively their true identity to society. In order to transmit the identity of nursing, these professionals must explain their tasks and functions to society. In this sense, nursing institutions should have at their disposal efficient and well organized communication departments. Also, nurses should include in their daily practice the use of public communication resources such as the application of ITCs to their tasks, the mass divulgation of their intellectual production in scientific publications, the broadcasting of nursing activities which could become informative products.

Palavras-chave : Social image; Nursing; Strategies; Public communication.