Perspectives of Iranian male nursing students regarding the role of nursing education in developing a professional identity: A content analysis study

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explore the perspectives of Iranian male nursing students regarding the role of nursing education in developing a professional identity. Methods: A qualitative design, based on the content analysis approach, was used to collect the data and analyze the perspectives of 14 Iranian male nursing students who were chosen by using a purposive sampling strategy. After the selection of the participants, semistructured interviews were held in order to collect the data. Results: During the data analysis, three main themes emerged: "reality-expectation incompatibility", "being supported by the educational system", and "nursing image rectification". The second theme consisted of two categories: "feeling trusted" and "being defended". Conclusions: This study will be useful to nurse educators and administrators in relation to what constitutes nursing students' professional identity within the Iranian culture and context and how nursing education can play an effective role in developing their professional identity in order to devise strategies to attract male students to the nursing profession and promote their retention after graduation.

Factors Influencing Men Entering the Nursing Profession, and Understanding the Challenges Faced by Them: Iranian and Developed Countries’ Perspectives

“…Iranian male nurses in Zamanzadeh et al study reported that one of the most important factors hindering men from choosing the nursing profession is the public's image of nursing as a female occupation, and nurses being portrayed as physician subordinates (27). Accordingly, male nursing students in Vaismoradi et al study described friends’ or relatives’ negative reactions to their choice of nursing (16). Despite men nurses altruism and caring motivation cited in literature for choosing nursing (23, 26).…”

“…Although the number of men entering nursing schools has increased after the Islamic revolution in Iran, nursing is still seen as a feminine profession which exemplifies caring and altruism allied with the traditional female role (15). Although Iranian patients prefer to be cared for by nurses of the same sex, many of them are astonished when they are cared for by men nurses (16). According to Nasrabadi et al many Iranian nursing students, particularly male nursing students, aspire to get a university degree, while they do not wish to become a nurse or get a nursing degree.…”

“…Most studies used to inform this topic were written from 2000, until early 2013. Most written about our topic were around these themes: educational and societal barriers experienced by men in nursing (1, 4, 11, 13, 16- 19), recruitment (5, 7, 8, 15, 20- 22), career choice (2, 10, 23- 29), and role strain (3, 12, 30- 37). This review aimed to answer some questions about men nurses including:

their characteristics,

major motivations influencing them to become nurses,

main challenges faced by male students and nurses within the profession,

and whether they earn some advantages in a female predominant career.

…”

Levels of Conscience and Related Factors among Iranian Oncology Nurses

“…To the best of our knowledge, there are inadequate quantitative studies that examined level of conscience among Iranian nurses. However, the findings of some qualitative studies showed that conscience is an important factor in delivering nursing care among Iranian nurses (Vanaki and Memarian, 2009;Vaismoradi et al, 2011). On the other hand, in wide review of relevant literature we found no studies investigated the level of conscience among nurses who working in oncology wards.…”

Perspectives and Experiences Related to Help-Seeking Behaviors: A Content Analysis Study of Iranian Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

“…Furthermore, help-seeking behavior is a coping strategy that is often based on social interaction and interpersonal functions. Thus, the help-seeking behaviors of patients include getting support from other healthcare professionals such as nursing staffs and families, because making decisions about complex neurologic problems is multifaceted (Vaismoradi, Salsali, & Ahmadi, 2011). As previously mentioned, paying attention to the problem of patients with MS is an important subject because of its impact on patient well-being and quality of care.…”