EXPERIENCES OF MEN IN NURSING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF PERSPECTIVES OF NURSES

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the reasons for men to choose nursing as a profession in Turkey and their experiences in the profession from their perspectives. This is a qualitative study. The study sample consisted of male nurses working in a private hospital and in a public hospital of Ministry of Health in Turkey. The data were collected using a semi- structured in-depth interview questionnaire prepared based on literature. The study sample consisted of 11 male nurses. We used thematic analysis to analyse the data. Male nurses reported that the primary reason why they choose nursing as a career was job security. Male nurses also reported that especially female patients had negative perceptions and attitudes towards them and occasionally female patients refused to get health care services from them due to social norms. They were preferred in strength-related tasks rather than in care-related tasks