Madame Pomfrey: Why she is the cause of and the cure for the current global nursing shortageShirley K. Comer RN, MSN, JD.Governors State UniversityPresented by Sigma Theta Tau – Lambda Lambda Chapter

OverviewExamine the conflicting portraits of Madame Pomfrey in the Harry Potter CanonCompare her role to established stereotypes of nursing roles in the mediaDiscuss how these media portrayals have contributed to the current nursing global shortage

Madame Pomfrey: Who is she?Name: Poppy PomfreyTitle: Nurse, Matron

Madame Pomfrey: Who is she?Age: at least 40’sEarly appearance in booksMarital Status: UnknownFamily: UnknownResidence: Sleeps in office in Hospital WingSole healthcare provider at HogwartsNurse vs. healer?

Madame Pomfrey: Who is She?Described as: Nice but very strictFussyBustlingHystericalNever asking too many questionsWhen she speaks she is:Tut-tuttingClucking disapprovinglySevereDisgustedfuriousSniffily

CharactoristicsIs universally regarded as competentIs obsessed with providing rest for her patientsTakes an old-fashioned , paternalistic approach to healthcareIs not always allowed to control the Hospital wingHas a cure for the common coldClaps her hand to her mouth when surprised Protective of patientsUses non verbal spells easily

Unprofessional vs. Comic ReliefForces treatment on patientsSlams doors and losses temperNeed for order sometimes compromises patient careBreaches confidentiality Threatens patient with wandOpenly critical of peers

Madame Pomfrey in the FilmsPortrayed by Gemma JonesCostume resembles early Victorian stylesOnly appears in Chamber of Secrets

Significant EventsMadame Pomfrey is revealed to have escorted Remus Lupin to the whomping Willow every month when he transformedSignificant breakdown of professionalism after the dementor attackMadame Pomfrey is not notified that Dragons will be used for the 1st task of the Triwizard TournamentWeasley Family does not doubt her pronouncement that nothing can be done for Bill Ginny Weasley is disrespectful

Current Global Nursing ShortageProjected deficit of more than 1 million nurses by 201020% shortage predicted by 2020Due in part to fewer young people choosing nursing as a career Also due to baby boomer nurses retiringCurrent Faculty shortageWorldwide shortage Research has shown that medial portrayals of nurses have an adverse effect on recruiting

Nursing StereotypesThe Naughty Nurse

Nursing StereotypesThe BattleAxe

Nursing StereotypesThe Bubble Head

Nursing StereotypesThe Angel of Mercy

Nursing StereotypesThe Handmaiden

Nursing StereotypesThe Nurse who should have been a doctor

Media Images of Nursing: LiteratureSaireyGampCharles Dickens character in Martin Chuzzlewit.Fat old womanTook snuff, red swollen noseSmelled of alcoholUncaringNurse PoolJane AustinCompetent, gossipCherry AmesNursing detective series

Media Images of Nursing: TV and FilmNurses are mostly absent from TVLeaves the impression that Physicians do all of the work Grey’s Anatomy Did you call me a nursePrivate Practice “Midwif”ER firing nursesHouse yes, doctorHouse doableNews media ignores nursing even when doing stories about nurses

Madame Pomfrey's ImageMadame Pomfrey is portrayed as:CompetentBattleaxeShe is not portrayed as:The naughty nurseThe handmaidenThe bubble headThe angel The nurse who should have been a doctor

Consequences of Nursing Media ImagePhysicians regularly receive credit for the work of nurses and other health care professionals“Marcus Welby” syndromeMarginalizes Nursing’s contribution to healthcareGives the impression that physicians are the ones to make things happen and make a differenceYoung people, who may choose nursing as a future career, gain no insight into the professionEncourages public to believe that physicians control nursing practiceEncourage public to believe that nursing is not intellectual

Why Madame Pomfrey is the cause of the Nursing ShortageCanon presents her in a conflicted wayNice but strictCaring but harshTrusted but not always respectedCompetent but sometimes unprofessionalWilling to occasionally look the other way but a control freakConflicting portrayals rob her of status and leave her open to ridicule

Why Madame Pomfrey is the Cure for the current Nursing ShortageMany young people read Harry Potter She is universally considered a competent practitionerHer ability to cure just about anything is widely admiredHer professional status within the magical healthcare community is not subservient to a healer or physicianDumbledore shows great trust in her abilitiesOverall she presents a positive, if old-fashioned portrait of a caring competent nurse.

Madame Pomfrey on Summer VacationResearching the medicinal use of the Imperious curse for magical pain control and advocating for the deregulation for health care purposes.Researching longevity intervention in the magical worldInventing a potion that provides patients with just the right amount of restInvestigating a new charm that will seal the infirmary door to all unauthorized visitorsInquiring about a security Troll to assist in removing unnecessary visitors

Questions!