The challenges of male nurses in the care of female patients in Iran

Qualitative systematic review: The lived experiences of males in the nursing profession on gender discrimination encounters

AIMS

This review aims to synthesise the best available evidence exploring the lived experiences of males in the nursing profession on gender discrimination encounters.

BACKGROUND

The underrepresentation of males within the nursing profession could potentially cause discrimination and stereotypes against them, causing barriers to entry into, and retention within, the profession. With a shortage in manpower, the deterrence of males to nursing might exacerbate the existing manpower shortage. This review consolidates and highlights the lived experiences of males in the profession.

METHODS

The review was synthesised according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Employing the meta-synthesis approach, two independent reviewers conducted critical appraisal and data extraction of included studies, using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Instrument for Qualitative Research and a standardised data extraction form, respectively.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included. Extracted findings were aggregated into 14 categories and synthesised into three themes: stereotypes, discrimination and challenges faced by males.

DISCUSSION

The synthesised findings showed that male nurses faced gender discrimination in multiple facets. These caused them to have difficulty in carrying out their nursing duties, missing out of clinical opportunities and causing them multiple social and mental stressors.

CONCLUSION

This review informed the discriminatory experiences faced by males within the nursing profession. With males already underrepresented within this profession, it is imperative for interventions, policies and research to be made to address this issue to improve experiences of male nurses, thereby limiting the deterrence of males into the profession.

IMPLICATIONS

Findings of this study showed that males are being stereotyped and discriminated, resulting in challenges faced solely because of their gender. Effective interventions and policies could be implemented to alleviate the negative experiences.

Male nurses' adaptation experiences after turnover to community institutions in Korea: A grounded theory methodology

We aimed to develop a substantive theory according to the associations between adaptation experience-related factors identified in male nurses after turnover to community institutions. From April through August 2019, data were collected through direct observations and in-depth interviews of 22 male nurse participants who were recruited purposively and analyzed simultaneously with the method proposed by Strauss and Corbin. Furthermore, 29 subcategories were derived from 11 categories, including: (1) leaving the clinical sector and changing jobs, (2) shaking while settling, (3) characteristics of the new job, (4) personal disposition, (5) support system, (6) finding my place, (7) solidifying my place, (8) demonstrating my professional competence, (9) stable settlement in my place, (10) preparing for a better future, and (11) still confused. The core category was identified as "putting down roots in another place for myself." The verification of this theory in this study's results indicates a need for research into the evaluation and development of professional development programs and related policies to provide support to male nurses who are pursuing opportunities in community institutions to maintain their nursing identity and further their efforts for developing a nursing specialty.

Gender influences on caring, dignity and well-being in older person care: A systematic literature review and thematic synthesis

Globally, healthcare has become dominated by women nurses. Gender is also known to impact the way people are cared for in various healthcare systems. Considering gender from the perspective of how lived bodies are positioned through the structural relations of institutions and processes, this systematic review aims to explore the meaning of gender in the caring relationship between the nurse and the older person through a synthesis of available empirical data published from 1993 to 2022. CINAHL, PUBMED, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched from the beginning of each database's temporal range, and PRISMA guidelines were used for the screening, reviewing and selection processes of available records. A thematic synthesis of the available data resulted in three analytical themes: (i) vulnerability of the gendered body, (ii) norms and values related to gender and sexuality and (iii) balancing closeness and distance in the nurse-patient relationship. These themes are intertwined and represent different aspects of gender meaning in the nurse-patient relationship. This research shows that gender, through its influence on the gendered body, its relationship with power dynamics in the caring process, and its intersection with dimensions of identity, has a significant meaning for the experienced vulnerability in the nurse-patient relationship. This has implications for the well-being and sense of dignity of the older person as well as the nurse.

How do male nursing students' voluntary activities affect their image in society?

AIM

To determine the effect of male nursing students' voluntary activities on their image in society.

BACKGROUND

The role of voluntary nursing services in enhancing the visibility of nursing in society can also contribute to enhancing the image of male nurses in society.

METHODS

This study employed a one-group, quasi-experimental pre-post analysis design. It was carried out between September 2020 and June 2021 in the pedestrian zone, which is one of the main streets of Bartın in Turkey. Using a convenience sampling approach, tradesmen aged 18 and over operating in commercial enterprises (n = 81) were asked to participate in the study. Information form and Nursing Image Scale were used to collect the research data. Results from the paired sample t test were utilized to analyse the study's data using the intervention of 'men nursing students' voluntary activities'.

RESULTS

The total Nursing Image Scale score of the participants was statistically considerably greater after the intervention than the pre-intervention score. Based on the paired sample t test results, it was observed that the participants obtained higher scores after the intervention than before in the gender sub-dimension as well as all other sub-dimensions of the Nursing Image Scale, and these results were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of the study, volunteering by male nursing students improved both the profession of nursing and the perception of men in nursing in society.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/HEALTH POLICY

This study suggested that male nursing students' voluntary activities could be one of the strategies to overcome the nursing shortage due to its enhancing effect on the profession of nursing and the perception of men in nursing in society.

Investigating patients' attitudes toward receiving care from an opposite-gender nurse

BACKGROUND

The imbalance in nurse-to-patient ratio and limited physical space may lead to care provision by a nurse of the opposite gender. On the other hand, the relationship with the opposite gender in Iran is limited due to cultural and religious beliefs. The aim of this study was to investigate patients' attitudes toward receiving care from the opposite gender nurse.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 patients admitted to different hospital wards. The patients were recruited using convenience sampling. Data collection tools comprised of a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) and running descriptive statistics (i.e., χ² , independent t test, and linear regression analysis).

RESULTS

Male and female patients had 31.8% and 42.6% negative attitudes toward receiving care from the opposite gender, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (p = .05). Patients' attitudes had a significant and positive relationship with age, level of education, and experience of receiving care from a nurse of the opposite gender.

CONCLUSION

A significant percentage of patients had a negative attitude toward receiving care from the opposite-gender nurse. Since people's attitudes affect their relationships, it is necessary to provide conditions for assigning the same gender nurse for patients and improving patients' attitudes toward nurses of the opposite gender.

Male Nurses' Dealing with Tensions and Conflicts with Patients and Physicians: A Theoretically Framed Analysis

Proposes

Delivery of healthcare involves engagements of patients, nurses and other health professionals. The Social Identity Theory (SIT) can provide a lens to investigate intergroup interactions. This study explores how male nurses deal with intergroup tensions and conflicts with patients and physicians when delivering healthcare.

Methods

A collaborative qualitative research study was conducted by two research teams, with one from Mainland China and the other from Macau. Twenty-four male nurses were recruited, with 12 from each of the two regions. A similar guide was used by the two teams to conduct in-depth interviews with the participants. Thematic analysis was used, and SIT guided the data analysis and interpretation of the results.

Results

Four themes identified are related to nurse/patient relationships: respecting patients’ decisions, neglecting minor offenses, defending dignity, taking a dominant position; two themes are related to nurse/physician relationships: rationalizing physicians’ superiority over nurses, establishing relationships with physicians by interpersonal interactions.

Conclusion

Male nurses avoid confrontation with patients in case of disagreements but take on gender- and profession-based dominance in dealing with intense conflicts to maintain healthcare order. They do not challenge the status hierarchy between nurses and physicians but manage to maintain harmonious relationships with physicians by engaging in interpersonal activities with physicians in leisure times.

Implication

Male nurses can take the lead to create inclusive groups to engage patients and physicians in delivering healthcare. The masculine traits of male nurses do not subvert the nurse/physician hierarchy stereotype but strengthen it.

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