If They Do Call You a Nurse, It Is Always a "Male Nurse": Experiences of Men in the Nursing Profession

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Publication Title

Nursing Forum

Volume

48

Issue

1

First Page

71

Keywords

adult, article, human, Humans, job satisfaction, male, male nurse, Men in nursing, motivation, Nurses, Male, nursing methodology research, personnel management, Personnel Selection, psychological aspect, qualitative research, Recruitment, Retention

Last Page

80

DOI

10.1111/nuf.12008

Abstract

Background and Purpose.: Men are underrepresented in nursing, accounting for less than 6% of Canadian nurses. This research explores issues surrounding recruitment, retention, and work life satisfaction for men who are nurses working in acute care settings Method and Findings.: Purposive and snowball sampling was used in this descriptive, qualitative study. Sixteen men participated in four focus groups conducted in three communities in southwestern Ontario. The participants revealed that work stress, lack of full-time opportunities, and gender-based stereotypes contributed to job dissatisfaction. Providing care to patients and making a difference were personal rewards that influenced their desire to stay in the profession. To promote nursing as a viable profession, unrestricted by gender, the participants recommended that recruitment strategies begin at an earlier age. Discussion and Conclusion.: Findings are discussed in relation to recruitment and retention issues with implications for education, practice, and management. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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