Men student nurses: the nursing education experience.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored the phenomenon of being a male in a predominately female-concentrated undergraduate baccalaureate nursing program.


BACKGROUND
Men remain a minority within the nursing profession. Nursing scholars have recommended that the profile of nursing needs to change to meet the diversity of the changing population, and the shortfall of the worldwide nursing shortage. However, efforts by nursing schools and other stakeholders have been conservative toward recruitment of men.


METHODS
Using Giorgi's method, 27 students from a collaborative nursing program took part in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Focus groups were undertaken to gather data and to develop descriptions of the experience.


RESULTS
Five themes highlighted men students' experience of being in a university nursing program: choosing nursing, becoming a nurse, caring within the nursing role, gender-based stereotypes, and visible/invisible.


CONCLUSIONS
The experiences of the students revealed issues related to gender bias in nursing education, practice areas, and societal perceptions that nursing is not a suitable career choice for men. Implications for nurse educators and strategies for the recruitment and retention of men nursing students are discussed.
School of Nursing, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.meadusr@mun.ca
Robert J
RJ
Meadus
J Creina
JC
Twomey
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009727:Nurses, Male / Q000193:education*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013240:Stereotyping; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult