title: [Nursing between ethic and aesthetic. Profession described by media].
abstract: Nurse's role, according to the media, does not fit the role and evolution that nursing had in these last years: nursing remains unknown to public. Objective of research is to define how nurse's image is described by media.
  
  
  METHODS
  analysis of two newspapers, at national and local level with respect to articles about nurses, taking into account numbers of articles, position, topic (malpractice, frauds/crimes, job/economical cuts, praise). A second part of research has been focused on online newspapers, by using key words. Analysis of television medical dramas about presence of nurse, competences, relationship with physician/patient, social elements, context of work (acute or chronic), impact on patients welfare, and eventually ethical-deontological aspects has been carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  on three hundred articles related health context, thirty-nine talk about nurse; five of those are in first page. 39% of articles regards frauds/crimes, 19% job/economical cuts, 15% malpractice. With respect to online articles, 66% concerns frauds/crimes. In medical dramas there is small attention to nurse who has generic competence as well as other health professional but doctor. The nurse character is played only by women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  a low level of professionalism comes out both from newspaper and television. A specific professional identity is often absent furthermore nurses are relegated to a role of weakness in work and private circumstance.
authors.affiliation: Infermieristica di Reggio Emilia, Università di Modena e Reggio. gradellini.cinzia@asmn.re.it
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gradellini
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Idamou
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lusetti
mesh_terms: D004954:Esthetics; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D008402:Mass Media; D024802:Nurse's Role