Caring experiences of male nursing students: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Caring, nursing, and the female gender role are all strongly linked. However, the number of male nurses is expanding globally. This occurrence calls into question the caring experiences of men in the nursing context. Objective: The purpose of the study was to explore views of caring in nursing among male nursing students in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: An exploratory, qualitative design was used to analyse the students' insights on the meaning of caring.  Eighteen students who fit the inclusion criteria were invited using a purposive sampling method. There was two individual interviews (n=2) and four focus groups discussion (n=4), and it was audio-recorded with the consent of the students.  These interviews were coded and thematically analysed. Results:  Three themes have emerged from the data analysis:  (1) Caring is about giving holistic care (2) Perceived challenges of exhibiting caring (3) Overcoming the challenges of exhibiting caring. Conclusion: The findings show that caring in the context of holistic care is consistent with earlier research. The study has strengthened our understanding of the profession's view of male student nurses. However, more research into the impact of male students' roles and images on nursing practice could better understand their challenges.