Men in nursing 2018

July 16-17, 2018

Ondokuz MayÄ±s University, Turkey

Objectives: This study was aimed to examine the professional perceptions of male students in Samsun Ondokuz MayÄ±s

University Health Sciences Faculty Nursing Department according to Turkish culture.

Methodology: In this study which was planned in accordance with the qualitative research principles, the nursing department

male students were chosen for the study. The number of participants was determined according to the data saturation degree

and 27 male nursing students who were enrolled in different classes who accepted to participate in the study were identified

as nursing students. The research data were obtained by the semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher.

Ä°nterviews with participants involved in the survey were recorded. Semi-structured interview form was developed by

evaluating the literature and it is aimed to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of male nursing students (age,

marital status, longest place etc.); nursing faculty willingness to choose, is there a male nurse among family members?, have

you ever contacted a male nurse before?; having a previous knowledge of the nursing profession open-ended questions for the

evaluation of professional perceptions such as “how is the nursing profession for you?”; how does it feel to be a man in nursing

faculty?” Before starting to work, approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of Ondokuz MayÄ±s

University (B.30.2.ODM.0.20.08/497-572). In addition, written permission has been obtained from the faculty dean of the

Faculty of Health Sciences for the study to be carried out.

Findings: The average age of the students was 23.1±3.7 and 59.3% preferred the nursing department. 63.0% of the students did

not have communication with the male nurse before and no male nurse is in the family any. When the students' opinions about

the nursing profession are examined; most of them stated that they preferred the nursing department because it was easy to

find a job. Being a male nurse in the nursing department was a different feeling at first but later they became accustomed to this

situation. They point out that the value nursing profession deserves is not given by society. While emphasizing that the male

members of the profession should be addressed as a nurse; some students stated that the nursing profession was identified with

women in Turkish culture and came to the meaning of sister, male nurses be called '' Man Nurse '' or '' Health officers '' instead

of nurses. The nursing stated that it is a profession like other health professions because it is a profession based on care. Some

of the students stated that they had trouble when they said that they were male nurses in the community in the first time but

later they could easily say they were male nurses.

Conclusion & Suggestions: In some male students, the perception that the nursing profession is still a profession unique to

a woman and it seems that male students are disturbed by the fact that they are referred to as nurse. It was determined that

they prefer nursing profession because of the high possibility of finding a job in health field. Community awareness raising can

be provided by professional members and academicians to support the elimination of gender discrimination in the nursing

profession and to receive the value that society deserves.