The Public’s Perception of Florence Nightingale’s Legacy in the Digital Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Autor: Gianluca Conte, Arianna Magon, Maria Angela Palmeri, Giulia Paglione, Irene Baroni, Silvia Belloni, Miriam Angolani, Marco Alfredo Arcidiacono, Cristina Arrigoni, Alessandro Stievano, Rosario Caruso
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nursing Reports, Vol 14, Iss 3, Pp 1838-1848 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2039-4403
2039-439X
DOI: 10.3390/nursrep14030137
Popis: This study critically examines the public’s perception of Florence Nightingale’s legacy through a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of digital media, specifically podcasts and YouTube. Nightingale, who is often remembered as “The Lady with the Lamp”, holds a complex identity within modern narratives that is celebrated for her pioneering contributions to nursing and public health, even if there are some disagreements about her, given the colonialist setting that may have shaped some of her opinions and decisions. This research employed CDA to analyze 25 podcasts and 18 YouTube videos, which were systematically included according to a priori inclusion criteria. The study synthesized how these media products portray Nightingale and, by extension, shape public discourse about the nursing profession. The findings reveal five thematic representations of Nightingale: as a legendary figure, a modern feminist, a dedicated statistician, a pioneer in public health, and a pivotal STEM contributor. These portrayals challenge traditional nursing stereotypes by emphasizing Nightingale’s role as a rigorous scientist and reformer, suggesting broader perceptions of nurses that encompass leadership, analytical skills, and strategic thinking. The study supports the hypothesis that digital narratives significantly influence the public’s understanding and appreciation of nursing, advocating for a more nuanced professional identity that integrates traditional caregiving roles with critical and analytical capabilities.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals