Stereotypes In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The public has different perceptions of the nursing profession which creates stereotypes. Throughout history, the nursing profession has had different reputations viewed by the public. Through the use of articles and media, the public forms beliefs in nursing stereotypes. These stereotypes lead to the shortage of nursing in the United States. In the nineteenth century, an influx of women entered training for nursing due to the need for nurses in the Civil War. Most nurses caring for the soldiers earlier in the war were women from the Sisters of Charity. At the start of the war, the nurses were unskilled and untrained, so they had a difficult time performing their job with ease. Due to the establishment of training schools by Florence Nightingale, nurses received training and were better equipped to handle harsh situations such as those found in a war. As the war progressed and the number of wounded increased, the soldiers admired the nurses for their hard work and dedication. …show more content…
In the mid-twentieth century, as the feminist movement started, poor images of nursing flooded the public. Nurses who were ruthless and uncaring were called, “battleaxes” (Hallam). A specific nurse the public relates an insensitive nurse to is, Nurse Ratched, from the Ken Kesey’s book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Nurse Ratched, a tyrant and heartless nurse, increased the amount of nursing stereotypes the public believed. Due to the callous behavior of Nurse Ratched, the public thought all nurses were coldhearted and treated patients with