Therapeutic Relationship Between Male Nursing Students and Female Patients

Abstract

This article explores the therapeutic relationship between male nursing students and female patients, through the use of autobiography in a qualitative approach. For this study, 18 male nursing students enrolled in master’s and bachelor’s programs in Hong Kong were recruited. They were asked to make records in a diary and draw pictures of their therapeutic relationship with female patients from their clinical experiences and then participate in a focus group interview. Content analysis was carried out on the collected data. The essential factors influencing the development of a therapeutic relationship were found to be gender, symbolic meanings, and career features. Good experiences were also discussed. The results shed light on the experiences of male nursing students and how they make sense of their therapeutic relationship with female patients.