A search of the Ebsco Databases for nurses in movies uncovered an
article by David Stanley, Celluloid Angels: A Research Study of Nurses in Feature Films 1900–2007. His study examines the
media influence on nursing and nurses portrayed in feature films made between
1900 and 2007, with a nurse as the main or principal character and a story-line
related to nursing. During this review, 280 relevant feature films were identified
and evaluated because they offered insight into the image of nurses. Within
this time period the nurse role evolved from self-sacrificial heroines to
strong, confident professionals, as they are today.
Literature Review on the Images of the Nurse and Nursing in the Media by Jacqueline Bridges focuses on the image of
nurses and nursing most commonly seen in the media. The study analyses the use of
the label 'angel' to depict the selfless attitude exposed, the portrayal of the
authoritarian senior nurse image in motion pictures, the image of nurses in
1950s and 1960s along with other stereotypes.
The book Nursing the Image: Media, Image and Professional Identity by Julia
Hallam can be found in eBrary, the
database of electronic books found on the library’s database page.
