THE MALE NURSE: a challenge to traditional role identities (original) (raw)
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"Men in nursing" as viewed by male students in secondary schools
“Men in nursing” as viewed by male students in secondary schools, 2016
Globally, the significant and increasing shortage of nurses is alarming. Male nurses have established their positions in hospitals and community health settings but their overall numbers remain suboptimal. Therefore, this study sought to explore and describe the views of secondary grade male students regarding men in the field of nursing in Egypt. The study was conducted at 2 secondary schools: Omar Makram and the Military Governmental Secondary Schools for boys in Damanhur, Egypt. A total number of 350 male students were recruited in the study and their perceptions and attitudes towards men in nursing were assessed using the Attitudes Towards Men in Nursing Scale (ATMINS), which was developed by Bartfay WJ et al., in 2010. Interestingly, it was found that there is a general positive perception toward men in nursing. Specifically, the most apparent positive attitudes were in the direction to "Mass media portrayal of the male nurse as being gay or effeminate in nature which discourages males to choose it as a career" followed by "Mass media portrayal of nursing to be more suited to women which also discourages males to choose it as a career". On the other hand, their negative perception and disagreement was toward "Encouragement male family members to pursue nursing as a challenging and rewarding career choice". Therefore, "Media description", "No specific job title for men" and "No role model" are the major factors that discouraged male students from choosing nursing as a future career. In contrast, "Gaining good income and travelling abroad" seemed to have potentially shifted their perception. Eligible students chose nursing as a prospective future career right after medicine, pharmacy and engineering. In conclusion, Male students in secondary grade seem to have a positive perception toward men in the nursing field but do not prefer it as a future career. Having said that, a considerable part of society reflects a limited attraction to the nursing profession even though they appreciate it. Future research is indeed warranted to investigate other key factors that may influence the overall male perception toward the profession of nursing.
Journal of Nursing Management, 2003
Despite their historical significance to the UK's nursing profession, numbers of registered male nurses here have seldom exceeded 10% of the total. This is not an immutable principle, given that countries such as the Netherlands manage to attract males to the profession in much greater numbers. This paper examines and critiques the available literature on males in nursing from both a historical and present day perspective. In so doing, it discusses factors such as caring, over-performance and career progression, and, notions of masculinity. It then moves on to outline and discuss an on-going pilot study specifically designed to examine the motivations and experiences of a sample of preregistration and postregistration male nurses in the UK, across a range of ages and ethnicities. The ultimate aim of the study is to produce evidence which will advance the recruitment of men to a profession which is currently experiencing severe recruitment difficulties. The paper presents themes emerging from the study to date, examining the implications these may have for the future management of nurse recruitment.
The male of the species: a profile of men in nursing
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2016
Aim: To establish a profile of men in nursing in Western Australia and explore the perception of men in nursing from the perspective of male and female nurses. Background: A project team, including some of the current authors, produced a YouTube video and DVD about men in nursing which led to further inquiry on this topic. Design: The study employed a non-experimental, comparative, descriptive research design focused on a quantitative methodology, using an online survey in early 2014. Method: A convenience sample incorporated registered and enrolled nurses and midwives in Western Australia. Findings: The range of data included demographic information and the respondents' perceptions of men in nursing were collected. Findings indicated that the main reasons for choosing a career in nursing or midwifery were similar for both genders. Common misperceptions of men in nursing included: most male nurses are gay; men are not suited to nursing and men are less caring and compassionate than women. Suggestions to promote nursing to men included: nurses are highly skilled professionals; there is the potential to make a difference for patients; nursing offers stable employment, professional diversity and opportunities for team work. There is a diminished awareness of opportunities for men in nursing and negative stereotypes related to men in nursing persist. Conclusion: The study produced recommendations which included: using the right message to target the recruitment for men and promoting a more realistic understanding of the profile and perception of men in nursing.
The advantages of being a 'minority':men in nursing
1997
Men in nursing have 'equated' their experiences of working within a female dominated profession with women's experiences in a male dominated one. This analysis locates men as 'disadvantaged' and 'marginal' as a result of their low numerical representation in nursing. Local observations of men's prominence in leadership positions in the Australian nursing profession suggest men are not disadvantaged. This thesis provides empirical evidence of men's appointment to senior positions and in academe through an analysis of the Australian Census of Population and Housing and authorship in scholarly nursing journals. This evidence shows that men are achieving substantial representation in Director of Nursing positions and as academic authors, and suggests that men are distancing themselves from 'hands on' care at the bedside. Furthermore, men are advantaged in their nursing careers as they are entering senior administrative positions at an age when...
Male or nurse what comes first? Challenges men face on their journey to nurse registration
Objective – This paper aims to provide an account of the rst phase of a qualitative longitudinal study that explored the initial challenges men in nursing face to become registered. What is known is that men, a minority group within nursing, face the usual challenges of all new nurses in their quest to register as nurses. In addition, they have added pressures that hinder their quest due to being male. Primary Argument An Australian nursing shortage is looming due to nurses retiring from this female‐dominate profession. Hence, the retention of men in nursing is an area requiring attention in order to support a sustainable workforce. Subjects and Setting Nine newly graduated male registered nurses participated. These nurses had recently commenced employment in the Western Australian metropolitan health region. Findings Individual face‐to‐face interviews produced the theme of role misconception with a major focus on male or nurse what comes rst. This theme was derived from the categories of gender stereotyping and marginalisation. Conclusion This study suggests the need for a gender‐neutral image when promoting nursing within and outside the professional environment. Furthermore, consideration for a professional title mutually accepted by both women and men in nursing, with the gender‐neutral ‘nurse’ title preferred by the men in this study. Moreover to acknowledge that men in nursing will augment a technical savvy workforce that will complement emergent complex nursing practices, and enhance a more comprehensive Australian nursing workforce that will assist with meeting the health care needs of a diverse population.
The Masculine and Feminine in Nursing
Nursing Forum, 1984
A s more and more men enter the nursing profession, increasingly, questions are being raised about the role of the nurse and how men can fulfill it. Should the male nurse present himself as a male or as a nurse? This question poses a real role conflict for male nurses (Bush, 1976); a conflict that has a discomforting effect on others who likewise are unsure whether to react to male nurses as men or as nurses.
StartStudent nurses’ gender-based accounts of men in nursing
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2010
Stereotypes of nursing as a female profession and of male nurses as gay can limit male recruitment. This UK-based focus-group study examines whether student nurses reproduce or challenge such views. Using discourse analysis, discussion transcript segments dealing with male nurses' gender or sexuality were examined for turn design, sequential organization, and procedural relevance. Results showed participants characterized such stereotypical constructions of male nurses as held only by other people. They themselves, however, used gender-based distinctions to problematic male nursing. These findings indicate nursing students would benefit from training which emphasizes the positioning of men and women within society.