Background: The educational experiences of undergraduate male nursing students\nin developing countries such as Jordan have yet to be fully investigated\nin the literature. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the educational\nexperiences of Jordanian undergraduate male nursing students. Methods:\nA qualitative research design using inductive content analysis approach\nwas used to explore educational experiences of undergraduate male nursing\nstudents at a prominent public university. Focus group interviews were used\nto obtain information of an interactive, conversational nature from male nursing\nstudents and to gain in-depth insight regarding their educational experiences.\nTwenty undergraduate male nursing participants representing the four academic\nlevels of a nursing program were recruited. Four focus groups ranging\nbetween 4 - 6 students were used to gather data. Inductive content analysis\nwas used. Results: Three themes emerged from this study: ââ?¬Å?nursing: a deliberate\nchoiceââ?¬Â, ââ?¬Å?nursing is wonderful yet challengingââ?¬Â, and ââ?¬Å?nursing is not for\nmenââ?¬Â. Students articulated that they deliberately chose to study nursing and to\nenter this academic field. Participants indicated that studying nursing was a\nwonderful experience that was intertwined with several challenges. Students\nfrom different levels explicitly emphasized that they were challenged and bombarded\nwith enduring negative stereotypes and negative societal views regarding\nmales in nursing. Conclusions and Implications: Findings illustrated that\neducational experiences of undergraduate male nursing students varied between\nwonderful experiences upon deliberate entry into nursing programs to enduring\nnegative stereotypes and views regarding male nurses. Nursing educators\nare expected to comprehend the educational experiences of their students,\nparticularly male students, and provide counseling, role-modeling and support\nas needed. Additionally, nurse educators should encourage all students to manage gender related problems by emphasizing a nurseââ?¬â?¢s role identity without\ngender segregation or discrimination.
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