Improving public understanding of nursing.
Challenging inaccurate depictions of nursing in the media.
Nurse Action Figures
Some time ago, Archie McPhee was marketing a "Male Nurse Action Figure" that countered many nursing stereotypes.
The Truth About Nursing strives to help others see nursing as a three-dimensional modern profession--of skilled, hard-working real men and women, so that's why we love the nurse action figure from Archie McPhee. Our "male nurse" (as if we 
can't tell he's male from his appearance) is described by the creators as such:
"Armed with a stethoscope and a clipboard holding an X-ray, this 5-1/4" tall, hard plastic Male Nurse Action Figure is ready to treat your symptoms and fix what ails you. Male nurses make up a small minority of nurses, but this number is growing. These men are blazing the trail as role models and mentors for generations to come. Thank a male nurse today!"
Indeed. We must thank our male colleagues for their contribution to nursing and encourage our sons and brothers to join their ranks. Alternatively, we could convince them to go into business creating figurines and action heroes that depict nurses as heroic life savers instead of virtuous angels. As for Archie McPhee, a review of some of their other "action figures" reveals a high tongue-in-cheek quotient (such as the "Librarian Action Figure" with 'shushing action,' the "Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure," or the irresistible "Stereotypes of the World Dolls"(no longer available)). It's certainly easy to imagine the "Male Nurse Action Figure" as a joke gift. But we see no overt mockery in the action figure itself, the company's marketing includes none of the obvious jabs used for other products--even citing the male nurse figures above--and in a world of angels and teddy bears, we prefer to see the product as a straight up tribute.
Sadly Archie McPhee stopped making these action figures some time ago, so they are no longer available. Please go into business making empowering nurse action figures to help encourage the next generation of men and women to become nurses. Thank you!
Learn about the: 
Bringing nurses together to take action and improve media images of nursing.
How can nurses become fierce patient advocates?
Our executive director Sandy Summers delivers the graduation speech at Widener University
Be part of the solution! Ask your nursing school, organization, journal or hospital to join The Coalition for Better Understanding of Nursing -- our new initiative to change how the world thinks about nursing. Learn more!
Upcoming Events
ON HOLD FOR NOW
Strategic Research Alliance
The University of Sheffield
in partnership with
The Royal College of Nursing
Tune in on livestream to see Sandy Summers on May 12, 2020 in the UK!
See Sandy Summers at a meeting of the Strategic Research Alliance, in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing, held at the University of Sheffield. Nursing professors are "organising a consensus development project from 2018-2023 and will conduct a new programme of research activity, supporting the development of nursing research evidence and nurse research capacity. Ultimately the work will seek to influence public policy and promote better outcomes for the population and the NHS (the UK's National Health Service) workforce."
In 2020 the Alliance is addressing five questions in UK nursing care, one of which is: "What are the best ways of informing and engaging the public about nursing?" Our founder and executive director, Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH, will be attending to present on this question and engage with a lay panel. The event will be held on May 12, 2020 in Sheffield, England. Press will be invited and we aim to have it livestreamed. See more information on the Strategic Research Alliance web pages.
Book The Truth About Nursing's founder and executive director Sandy Summers to speak at your next event!
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Get involved in changing how people think about nursing! Can you adopt just one strategy on our extensive action plan to be part of the effort to transform public understanding of nursing?
