Evaluation of the Metaphors Created by Healthcare Workers Regarding Perceptions Towards Their Professions

ABSTRACT Problem of the Study: Thanks to metaphorical analysis, health workers' perceptions about their professions can be determined by evaluating their professions in accordance with their own perspectives. The situation that makes metaphors about health workers important is that they reflect the roles and responsibilities of physiciancy, nursing and midwifery in health care. Purpose of the Study: In the study, it is aimed to analyze the perceptions of health workers about their professions through metaphors Method: This study was conducted in qualitative design. The evaluation was made on the data of 46 participants. The study data were collected through a semi-structured form containing a personal information form and a metaphor question. The data were evaluated by content analysis. Results: According to the research findings, 14 metaphors were determined for the physician participants, 9 for the nurse participants and 4 for the midwife participants. When the professional experience of the participants was evaluated, it was determined that physicians were 6.50±4.310, nurses 7.36±4.972, and midwives 6.55±10.286. Nurse (n:7) and Midwife (n:5) participants commonly formed the metaphor of 'mother' as a common metaphor. While the 'slave' metaphor was a metaphor for a negative image of profession among physician and nurse participants, it was seen that midwife participants did not have negative perceptions about their profession. Conclusions: As a result, it is seen that metaphors are important in discovering the insights of healthcare professionals about their profession. As a result of the findings, it can be said that the majority of the employees have a positive perception and positive perspective on their profession.