Clinical learning experiences of male nursing students in a Bachelor of Nursing programme: Strategies to overcome challenges

Abstract

BackgroundMale nursing students are faced with more challenges in the clinical setting than their female counterparts. The ways in which male nurses are viewed and received by nursing staff and patients have an impact on how they perceive themselves and their role in the profession. These perceptions of self have a significant impact on their self-esteem. This study was conducted to explore the clinical learning experiences of male nursing students at a university during their placement in clinical settings in the Western Cape Province, and how these experiences impacted on their self-esteem.ObjectivesTo describe the learning experiences of male nursing students during placement in clinical settings, and how these impact on their self-esteem.MethodA qualitative, exploratory study was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Three focus group (FG) discussions, consisting of six participants per group, were used to collect data. Data analysis was conducted by means of Coliazzi's (1978) seven steps method of qualitative analysis.Study findingsThe following three major themes were identified: experiences that related to the constraints in the learning environment, the impact on the self-esteem, and the social support of students working in a female-dominated profession.ConclusionMale nurses should be supported in nursing training, as the rate at which males enter the profession is increasing.

The effect of gender‐friendliness barriers on perceived image in nursing and caring behaviour among male nursing students

“…We found that male nursing students who reported more gender barriers perceived a lower nursing image and engaged in fewer caring behaviours than did their less-affected counterparts. Although previous studies found that male students have a positive professional nursing image (Ibrahim et al, 2015), male nursing students still face several gender-barrier challenges (Buthelezi et al, 2015;Juliff et al, 2016), which, in turn, affect students' professional perceptions (Arif & Khokhar, 2016;Buthelezi et al, 2015;Hodges et al, 2017;Ibrahim et al, 2015). The present study contributes to the literature on caring behaviour by showing that genderfriendliness barriers as related to caring behaviour are partially mediated by professional nursing image.…”

“…Several researchers have found that male nursing students encounter more challenges in the clinical setting than do female students (Buthelezi et al, 2015;Juliff et al, 2016), particularly because nursing combines professional and feminine values of caring and support (Al-Zein & Al-Khawaldeh, 2015). Further, because there are still a limited number of men in the nursing profession, male nursing students experience isolation and face challenges (Buthelezi et al, 2015). Hodges et al (2017) highlighted some of these challenges, which include a lack of history of men in nursing, a lack of role models, role strain, gender discrimination and isolation.…”

“…Caring is the core value of nursing professional education, and promoting caring behaviour in both male and female nursing students is necessary (Zamanzadeh, Valizadeh, Azimzadeh, Aminaie, & Yousefzadeh, 2014). Because caring is typically seen as a feminine trait, male nurses face gender-role strains in the current nursing environment (Buthelezi, Fakude, Martin, & Daniels, 2015;Juliff, Russell, & Bulsara, 2016). These challenges result in decreased self-worth, self-esteem, image and professional growth among male nursing students (Arif & Khokhar, 2016;Buthelezi et al, 2015).…”

“…Because caring is typically seen as a feminine trait, male nurses face gender-role strains in the current nursing environment (Buthelezi, Fakude, Martin, & Daniels, 2015;Juliff, Russell, & Bulsara, 2016). These challenges result in decreased self-worth, self-esteem, image and professional growth among male nursing students (Arif & Khokhar, 2016;Buthelezi et al, 2015). Thus, the relationship between caring behaviour, professional nursing image and gender-role barriers in male nursing students requires research attention.…”

Difficulties Encountered by Final-Year Male Nursing Students in Their Internship Programmes

“…In a qualitative study, male nursing students verbalised that they experienced low self-esteem during nursing practice due to rejection from female patients, and a decreased sense of belonging to a female-dominated profession (5). In certain societies, men who choose a nursing career experience frustration, hopelessness, and confusion about their self-nursing students' perspectives of their internship experiences.…”