The Experience of Being Male Nurse: Exploring the Enhancing Factors and Barriers of Jordanian Nursing Students

Abstract

Introduction Despite advances in health care and education, males continue to be considered a minority in nursing programs. Little is known about the decision of Jordanian male nursing students to become nurses. Objective The purpose of this research was to explore the factors that encourage or discourage Jordanian male nursing students from pursuing a career in nursing. Methods A qualitative narrative approach was used for this study. Data were collected using semi-structured individual interviews. Purposive sampling was used in the research. In this study, interviews were conducted with a sample of 28 male college students. Results The current study discovered that the following six themes exemplified the male nursing students’ lives: “helping and caring,” “job security and economic stability,” “parents and peer influence,” “level of autonomy,” “social stigma,” and “long working hours.” Conclusion The study's findings highlighted the importance of researching male nursing students’ motivating and inhibiting factors.