Challenging Stereotypes About Nurses By Sunshine Joyce Alba Batasin
The perception — or rather , the misconception — of nurses as women who only administer medications and care for patients on behalf of the physician without question or autonomy has existed for decades . The general public ’ s idea of a nurse is not always that of a rigorously educated professional , researcher , and expert who uses evidence-based practices to improve the way care is carried out . Thus , it is important to acknowledge and examine the stereotypes that persist and affect nursing .
Because of Stereotypes , I Almost Didn ’ t Go to Nursing School My choice for a nursing career was a thoughtful one . During my freshman year of high school , I called 911 when my mom had a stroke . I spent long nights sleeping at my mom ’ s bedside , working on homework in the hospital , and trying desperately to separate my personal and school lives . Two months after my mom ’ s discharge from the hospital , she was diagnosed with breast cancer . Today , she has been cancer free for more than five years . My path toward nursing would not have been possible without these events occurring , as I could not have thought of a better way to find purpose in life than by committing to a career where I care for others . That was my “ why ,” and a choice I made without stereotypes or assumptions filling my mind . I committed to nursing and have not looked back .
Nevertheless , at first , I hesitated to attend nursing school . This had nothing to do with the prospects of enduring nursing school ’ s intense clinical and education demands , but simply because I thought , “ I don ’ t want to be seen as just another Filipino nurse .”
Being born and raised in California , specifically the Bay Area , I was keenly aware of the trope of the Filipino nurse . Becoming a nurse was commonly seen as being forced by one ’ s parents , or even being perceived as a “ sellout ” by younger generations in the Filipino community ( Temkar , 2020 ). As a teenager , I was initially deterred by assumptions people made about my career choice . I do not come from a family of nurses , but many people assumed that was my background simply because I was Filipino . I remember being worried that my friends would think I wasn ’ t smart enough to go to medical school because I decided to go into nursing . A few of my teachers asked if I was pressured to become a nurse . I didn ’ t see my peers – most of whom self-declared the pre-medical track at the time – receive such scrutiny . I was torn . What did I really want to do ? What would my choices look like without the stereotypes that surround me ?
A Changing Perspective When I started college , the Filipino nurse stereotype initially followed me . At college orientation weekend , I vividly recall introducing myself and my major , and someone looked at me and asked , “ Did your parents force you to do it ?”
Despite this , I kept myself grounded in my “ why ” and continued to do so throughout college . I ’ m glad .
Over time , my perspectives on nursing have changed . As a senior set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing ( BSN ) in May 2023 , I look back on my time in nursing school and feel humbled . There were many instances where my misconceptions were quickly replaced with awe and admiration .
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