Navigating the path less taken: Exploring the experiences and challenges of undergraduate male nursing students in Oman

IF 2.8 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Journal of Professional Nursing Pub Date : 2025-04-15 DOI:10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.04.008

Yousuf Hardan, Aziza Al Sawafi, Suha Al Abri, Intisar Al Mawaali, Warda S. Al Siyabi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Male nurses are a minority in the nursing profession and often face significant challenges, including stereotypes and gender discrimination, within their educational and clinical environments. Although global research on male nursing students' experiences is growing, limited information is available from Oman. Understanding these experiences is crucial for supporting male students and promoting a sustainable nursing workforce.

Aim

To explore the experiences and challenges encountered by male undergraduate nursing students in Oman.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Fourteen male nursing students from different cohorts at a college of nursing in Oman were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded, and analyzed using framework analysis.

Results

Four key themes emerged: “Why nursing”, “From doubt to empowerment: male students' journey toward a rewarding nursing career”, “Beyond bias: male nursing students' struggles” and “How can you help us?”. These themes reveal the complex interplay between motivation, societal stigma, personal development, and structural challenges faced by male nursing students in Oman.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the need to address gender-based challenges in nursing education and practice. Nursing educators, administrators, and policymakers must implement targeted strategies to support male students, foster inclusivity, and promote gender diversity within the healthcare workforce.

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导航少走的路：探索阿曼本科男护理学生的经历和挑战

男护士在护理专业中占少数，在其教育和临床环境中经常面临重大挑战，包括刻板印象和性别歧视。尽管全球对男护生经历的研究越来越多，但阿曼提供的信息有限。了解这些经历对于支持男学生和促进可持续的护理队伍至关重要。目的探讨阿曼男性护理本科学生的经历和面临的挑战。方法采用定性描述设计。通过有目的抽样，从阿曼一所护理学院的不同队列中招募了14名男护生。通过半结构化访谈收集数据，录音，并使用框架分析进行分析。结果出现了四个关键主题：“为什么要护理”、“从怀疑到赋权：男学生走向有意义的护理职业之旅”、“超越偏见：男护理学生的挣扎”和“你能如何帮助我们？”这些主题揭示了动机、社会污名、个人发展和阿曼男护理学生面临的结构性挑战之间复杂的相互作用。结论研究结果强调了在护理教育和实践中应对基于性别的挑战的必要性。护理教育工作者、管理人员和政策制定者必须实施有针对性的战略，以支持男性学生，促进包容性，并促进医疗保健工作人员中的性别多样性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Professional Nursing 医学-护理

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

8.00%

发文量

153

审稿时长

52 days

期刊介绍： The Journal will accept articles that focus on baccalaureate and higher degree nursing education, educational research, policy related to education, and education and practice partnerships. Reports of original work, research, reviews, insightful descriptions, and policy papers focusing on baccalaureate and graduate nursing education will be published.