Nurses in the Spotlight: Media Portrayal of Nursing Issues During South Korea's Infectious Disease Outbreaks

You might think that nurses just show up during a big disease outbreak, like a pandemic, and work tirelessly to help patients. But what about all the challenges they face while doing their jobs? Let's dive into how the media in South Korea has covered nursing issues during four major infectious disease crises. First, let's set the scene. When a new disease threatens a country, the media goes into overdrive, spreading news like wildfire. This happened big time in South Korea during outbreaks of diseases like MERS, SARS, and COVID-19. But while everyone was focusing on the diseases, were we also paying attention to the nurses who were on the frontlines? Now, let's talk about the nurses themselves. Nursing is a demanding job, right? And during a pandemic, it gets even tougher. Imagine working around the clock, dealing with sick patients, and still having to face your own fears and stress. This is exactly what nurses in South Korea went through. The media highlighted some serious issues, like nurse burnout and high rates of nurses leaving the profession. Burnout means being completely exhausted, both physically and mentally. It's no surprise that nurses feel this way when they're working in high-pressure situations day in and day out. But why do so many nurses quit their jobs during these crises? Well, the stress and long hours take a toll. Plus, they might feel unsupported or undervalued, which can really make things worse. The media reports shed light on these problems, but there's still a lot we don't know about how these issues change over time. It's also important to consider the bigger picture. Nursing is crucial in keeping our healthcare system running. When nurses are overworked and underappreciated, it can lead to bigger problems in the healthcare system. So, understanding and addressing nursing issues during infectious disease outbreaks is really important. Media coverage of nursing issues is a step in the right direction, but there's still so much we need to learn. More research can help us figure out how to better support nurses during these crises. After all, they deserve nothing but our gratitude and support.