J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2023 Sep;29(4):341-352. 10.11111/jkana.2023.29.4.341.

Chronological Changes in the Portrayal of Korean Nurses in TV Documentaries

• Kim E
• Baek G
• Cho A
• Byun M

• KMID: 2549543
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2023.29.4.341

Abstract

Purpose
The study aim was to examine Korean TV documentaries featuring nurses and to understand how the image of nurses has changed over time. Methods: Forty-one Korean documentaries featuring nurses were selected. The qualitative content analysis method of Elo and Kyngäs (2008) was used to identify the images of nurses. Results: Three themes emerged: “emphasis on the image of being a doctor’s assistant and caring person,” “image of kindness prevailing among the diverse roles of nurses,” and “reports on the poor labor conditions behind the positive images of nurses.” The image of nurses has gradually changed from performing a passive and auxiliary role to functioning as health care professionals. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, documentaries suggested that the poor labor conditions of nurses should be improved. Conclusion: Active publicity of nurses and nursing communities is needed using documentaries as a resource to inform the public of the various roles of nurses and promote the image of nurses as professionals.

Keyword

Nurses; Documentaries and factual films; Mass media; Qualitative research