These portrayals can significantly influence public perceptions of nurses. Positive representations can enhance the image of nursing as a compassionate, highly skilled, and essential profession within the healthcare system. Conversely, negative portrayals can reinforce stereotypes.
The difference in 2012, however, was the speed of response. Nurse bloggers like Emergiblog and The Nerdy Nurse (whose blog peaked that year) posted rapid rebuttals. They used digital content to highlight the "Sexy Nurse" Halloween costume trope, which was finally beginning to wane in 2012 thanks to online activism.