Final answer:
The perception of nurses as 'second-class citizens' is linked to historical gender biases and the association of nursing with women's work, alongside economic factors such as supply and demand in the healthcare labor market.
Step-by-step explanation:
The perception of nurses as 'second-class citizens' in the healthcare field is often attributed to historical gender biases and stereotypes. Nursing emerged as a profession at a time when opportunities for educated women were limited mostly to teaching. As education became more accessible and more women graduated from high school and college, they began to fill these roles disproportionately.
Despite the essential role nurses play in healthcare, their work has historically been devalued, partly because of the profession's association with women, who were themselves viewed as second-class citizens. The labor market for nursing is also influenced by supply and demand dynamics, where a high demand for nurses can lead to challenges such as demanding work conditions, staffing shortages, and lower pay relative to other healthcare professions. All these factors contribute to the perception of nurses as having lower status within the healthcare hierarchy.