How male nursing students learn to care

Abstract

the current definitions of caring in nursing education denote a mutual relationship between teachers and students in which they interact to provide an environment which supports the students' personal and professional development. The learning of caring in an interactional context is typical of the female experience. It is unknown if this is representative of the male experience. The lived experience of 20 male students as they learned to care as nurses was the focus of this phenomenological research study. The participants concurred that, although caring as a nurse could be learned if one was 'open to learning', teachers could only facilitate this learning; they could not directly teach it. The interactional strategies of storytelling, modelling, being cared for, the 'aha' encounter, and observing and giving care, were used by the participants in learning to care as nurses. The implications of these findings for nursing education and research are presented.

The concept of care in male nurse work: an ontological hermeneutic study in acute hospitals

“…However, the concept of care in relation to male nurses has been addressed in more recent literature. Paterson et al (1995) undertook a phenomenological study, based upon the approach used by Benner (1984), into the lived experiences of 20 male nursing students as they learned to care in their Canadian programme. The authors point out that a gender link between care and womanhood is frequently made and that, increasingly, it is seen as necessary somehow to transmit care to students through the education process.…”

“…However, the concept of care in relation to male nurses has been addressed in more recent literature. Paterson et al . (1995) undertook a phenomenological study, based upon the approach used by Benner (1984), into the lived experiences of 20 male nursing students as they learned to care in their Canadian programme.…”

More alike than different: a comparison of male and female RNs in rural and remote Canada

“…Findings of previous nursing research exploring demographic variables associated with job satisfaction have shown mixed results (Curtis 2008). One large study found that female nurses were more satisfied than male nurses (Paterson et al. 1995).…”

Exploring gender-stereotype barriers and advantages of Hong Kong Male Nurses

“…The male nursing students, who are being treated unequally, their negative feelings of being isolated or discriminated urged the awareness of the nurse educators and clinical mentors in terms of their learning needs, values of power, independency, competency and sense of achievement hence a maintain a more gender neutral teaching environment can be maintained [25,26].…”