Metaphor Perceptions of Nurses Related to Policy

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine perceptions of policy by nurses through metaphors. Method: This is a descriptive study. The study sample included 424 nurses working in Turkey. The data were collected online using a personal information form and a questionnaire between 30 December 2022 and 1 March 2023. The analyses were carried out using frequencies and values as well as the content analysis method. Results: The majority of the participants (53.1%) were not interested in policy, and only 1.7% attempted to participate in policy-related decisions. The participants produced 178 metaphors regarding policy, which were grouped into three themes (positive, negative, and neutral) and 20 categories. Among the positive metaphors produced by the participants were a beacon, a source of power, a problem-solving tool, and a source of life. The participants produced the following negative metaphors: lying, a broken clock, a mask, war, interest, a chameleon, and weather conditions. They employed the neutral metaphor of uncertainty. Conclusion: The metaphors produced by the participants regarding policy were mostly negative, indicating that they had negative perceptions of policy.