Win-Win Partnership in the Clinical Setting: Female Nurses' Adaptive Experience to Male Nurses / 간호행정학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The present study was done to provide understanding of how female nurses adapt to male nurses and to derive an entity concept that explains the experience process for female nurses. METHODS: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 16 female nurses who had work experience with male nurses. Collected data were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology of Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category found in the adjustment experience of female nurses to male nurses was “win-win partnership with male nurses who struggle to keep up in the clinical setting”. The central phenomenon was “unprepared meeting with male nurses who are different from us”. The action/interaction strategies the participants used were “recognition of differences,”, “positive approach,” and “acceptance as a colleague.” CONCLUSION: The results showed that female nurses tried to have a win-win partnership with male nurses by using several strategies. This result broadened the range of understanding of female nurses' adjustment to male nurses and provides new information on their adaptation to practical work.