There is nothing wrong with being a nurse: The experiences of male nursing students in Taiwan

Aim: Male nurses are reported to experience role strain. Fear of gender stereotyping can be stressful and frustrating for male nursing students, which could make them feel isolated and excluded. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate how male nursing students in Taiwan perceive the barriers to their experience as nursing students and how they manage these barriers in their study environment and social life. Methods: A qualitative research approach was used in this study. Data were collected during 2014 from 24 male nursing students from three nursing educational institutes in Taiwan who participated in order to share their experiences by using a semistructured interview. All the interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: The main theme that described the experiences of the male nursing students in Taiwan was: “There is nothing wrong with being a male nurse.” Contrary to other studies, role strain for the participants was minimal. The students experienced some barriers because of being a male nursing student, both at school and in their social life. Most of these students tended to manage the barriers by developing positive thinking and coping strategies. Conclusion: Nursing educators are encouraged to use the findings from this study to provide appropriate support for male nursing students.