Factors influencing recruitment and retention of male nurses in Macau and mainland China: a collaborative, qualitative study

Why do male nurses choose to work in foreign countries? A qualitative study on Chinese male nurses working in Japan

Aim

This study aimed to examine foreign-educated male nurses' motivation to emigrate for work, as well as explore the contextual factors that shape their career trajectories.

Background

To that end, we interviewed Chinese male nurses working in Japan. No previous study has examined why male nurses seek employment abroad or the problems they face.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative and inductive research design. Sixteen Chinese male nurses working in Eastern and Western Japan were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods and were interviewed via video calls. Co-researchers of both genders from different occupational and cultural backgrounds coded the findings and identified common themes in participants' responses. We analysed our findings vis-à-vis various theoretical perspectives and developed an explanatory model.

Results

Participants' experience as nurses in Japan ranged from six months to eight years. The findings confirmed that factors identified in earlier reports influenced nurses' motivation and work. Two new factors emerged: influence by others and social reasons. Moreover, two factors that affected male nurses' motivation to work abroad, namely, external factors and the influence of others, were identified. Social reasons were identified as a pull factor.

Conclusion

Our study provides valuable insights into recruiting and retaining foreign male nurses in developed countries facing issues such as ageing populations and nursing shortages.

Implications for nursing policy

This study has important implications for nursing management. Our findings highlight the importance of orienting foreign-educated nurses regarding the local work culture to increase the recruitment and retention of foreign talent. Moreover, enhanced salary packages and benefits to improve motivation can lead to improved job performance, which can positively impact patient and safety outcomes.

Nursing students' experiences of sexual harassment - A qualitative study from feminist identity perspective

AIM

To explore experiences of sexual harassment among nursing students in an East Asian region and to gain knowledge of the underlying factors influencing nursing students' conceptualization of and response to sexual harassment.

BACKGROUND

Nursing students are susceptible to sexual harassment due to gender and power inequality in healthcare systems. Sexual harassment has an adverse impact on the students' physical and mental health. Studies on sexual harassment among nursing students are limited and reported significantly varied occurrence prevalence in different cultures. Feminist identity theory can provide a framework to examine social-culturally constructed perceptions of sexual harassment.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China. Purposive sampling was applied. Twenty-six nursing students and five nursing educators participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. A series of measures were applied to enhance the trustworthiness of the study.

RESULTS

While most of the students had not experienced or heard of sexual harassment, a limited number claimed sexual harassment as a frequently encountered instance. The students expressed uncertainty about what constituted sexual harassment, mainly due to a lack of exposure to information on sexual harassment. They were caught in a dilemma between exerting nursing professional virtues and exposing the misconduct of the suspected perpetrators, leading to taking passive approaches of ignoring and avoiding as the primary coping strategies. In contrast, nursing educators advocated proactive approaches as coping strategies to address sexual harassment.

CONCLUSIONS

A conflict between nursing professional identity and feminist identity is observed among nursing students. Healthcare institutions and nursing schools should develop interventions to enhance nursing students' assertiveness to sexual harassment.

Investigating the intentions and reasons of senior high school students in registering for nursing education in China

BACKGROUND

A shortage of qualified nurses and their low level of educational qualifications hinders the development of global health services. Studies have proven the role of nursing education in addressing these problems. However, no related studies have focused on senior high school students in China. This study aimed to explore senior high school students' intentions to learn nursing and identify the factors influencing their decision-making processes.

METHODS

An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 8050 senior high school students, which included questions regarding their demographic characteristics, obtaining nursing specialty information, cognition of the nursing occupation and the impact of the COVID-19 on the nursing profession. Descriptive calculation, the chi-square test and logistic regression were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

Only 0.73% of the participants had a clear intention to study nursing. Academic performance and family support were significant predictors of students' intentions to pursue nursing education. Students' interest in nursing specialties was associated with their choice. There was a positive correlation between cognition of nursing occupation and students' choice of nursing. Students' experience of the COVID-19 pandemic also had a positive impact on their nursing career choice.

CONCLUSION

This survey to some extent reflects the problem of nurses shortage in China. In addition, these findings may also provide a new perspective for predictors of nursing shortage and potential interventions.

Career Identity and Career Success among Chinese male nurses: The mediating role of Work Engagement

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the effect of career identity on career success among Chinese male nurses and to examine the mediating role of work engagement in this relationship.

BACKGROUND

Recently, with the development of the nursing career, male nurses take up a higher share and play a more important role in the nursing team. With its own particularity and advantages, this group's stability closely relates to the future of the nursing team. Therefore, promoting the career success of the male nurses is essential to the nursing team development.

METHODS

The data were collected in China. A sample of 557 male nurses completed measures of career identity, work engagement and career success scale. Structural equation model was adopted to verify the research hypotheses.

RESULTS

Career identity was significantly and positively related to male nurses' work engagement and career success (p< .01). And work engagement partially mediated the association between career identity and career success.

CONCLUSION

Career identity are critical to predicting and enhancing male nurses' career success. Work engagement plays an intervening mechanism explaining how career identity promotes career success among male nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nursing management should minimize the impact of the traditional concept, implement the gender equality and provide moderate care for male nurses to facilitate balanced development of gender by upgrading the management system. The administrators should carry out skill training based on male nurses' features and the need of the department. Given full play to their respective advantages, male nurses will make great progress in professional development and achieve greater career identity and work engagement. Meanwhile, the further exploration of better incentive mechanism also makes sense in improving career identity and work engagement by the reform of performance appraisal mechanism and salary adjustment according to their ability.

Same Place but Different Experience: A Qualitative Study on Gender and the Nursing Work Environment

AIM

This study aimed to reveal the opinions and experiences of male and female nurses concerning the nursing work environment in hospitals.

BACKGROUND

The quality of the nursing work environment greatly impacts the improvement of the patient, nurse, and organizational outcomes. Therefore, a better understanding of the experiences of male and female nurses can contribute to the creation of a more positive work environment.

METHODS

In this descriptive qualitative study, data were collected from semi-structured interviews conducted in 2020 with 18 nurses who were recruited via purposive and maximum variation sampling. Data was analyzed used to content analysis.

RESULTS

Content analysis revealed two major themes (the effects of gender on workplace practices and the image of nursing, and gendered communication in the nursing work environment) and eight subthemes.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that male and female nurses experience advantages/disadvantages and similarities/differences in the nursing work environment and that both male and female nurses experience challenges regarding workplace relations and the work environment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

A better understanding of the problems associated with the different experiences of male and female nurses in the workplace may help nurse managers to create a more positive work environment.

Current Stereotypes Associated with Nursing and Nursing Professionals: An Integrative Review

Nursing and nursing professionals are associated with social stereotypes, which may hinder the profession’s development and future prospects as a scientific discipline. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the stereotypes associated with the nursing profession—students and professionals. Therefore, we carried out an integrative review. The search was conducted using PubMed, WOS, and CINAHL databases, and its search strategy was based on a combination of standardised keywords and natural vocabulary, with a temporal limit between 2016 and 2021. The data extraction and analysis was based on the conceptual framework developed by Whittemore and Knafl. Twenty-seven studies were included in the review, and their results were classified and coded. Two categories emerged, namely, stereotypes relating to the professionals’ gender and stereotypes relating to the profession itself. We concluded that the nursing profession is viewed as female with low skills, social status, salary, academic level and entry requirements, and with little autonomy. Male nurses’ professional competencies and masculinity are questioned, while the work carried out by female nurses is viewed as unprofessional. To reduce these stereotypes and bias we must present the nursing profession as a scientific discipline, developed by both men and women. Specific channels for this awareness-raising work include interventions from universities and the media, and participation in health policies.

Perspective and Experience of Male Nursing Students in 3-year Vocational College During Their Clinical Practicum: A Qualitative Study in Shanghai, China

Background

With the expansion of nursing enrollment, more and more male students are joining the nursing program. Nevertheless, the number of male nurses who actually stay in clinical work in China continues to be low. Clinical practicum is a critical period during which nursing students transform to the role of registered nurses. However, few studies have researched the perspective and experience during clinical practicum among male nursing students in 3-year vocational colleges in China.

Objectives

To explore the perspective and experience of Chinese male nursing students during clinical practicum in the third year. One of the main objectives is to provide implications for future nursing education and to help male nursing students for better adaptation to clinical roles.

Methods

The qualitative study used a purposive sampling method and collected data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The participants were 20 male students from a 3-year vocational college in Shanghai. They completed the basic nursing course in college and underwent a clinical practicum in the 3rd level hospitals in China between July 2020 and March 2021. A Seven-stage Colaizzi process was used for data analysis.

Results

Three themes were revealed through content analysis: opportunities and challenges brought by gender factors in hospital humanistic environment, gaining experience and growth during clinical practicum, and future career planning.

Conclusions

The presented findings further our understanding of the perspective and experience of male nursing students during clinical practicum. It is very important and necessary for providing implications for future nursing education. At the same time, effective support from society, such as social unions, mass media, government, can help better address male nursing students' needs and complete the role transform of registered nurses.

Factors influencing intention to stay of male nurses: A descriptive predictive study

Nurse shortages and nurse attrition are high in many countries, and there is also a dearth of male nurses in the profession. This study aimed to examine the level of intention to stay and ten predictors of this among male nurses in China. A descriptive, predictive study was administered to 480 registered male nurses. Eight research instruments were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to analyze the data. The overall intention to stay in the nursing profession as perceived by male nurses was at a moderate level. Binary logistic regression demonstrated that work group cohesion, transformational leadership, career growth, and job satisfaction were significant predictors, explaining 32.2% of the total variance for intention to stay. The findings of this study provide suggestions for nursing administrators and policymakers to develop appropriate strategies or interventions to increase the intention to stay for male nurses to stay in the profession, based on the four predictors.

Current occupational well-being status and protective and risk factors of male nurses in Chengdu, China: A cross-sectional study

Aims

This study explores the current occupational well‐being status of male nurses in Chengdu, China, and identifies the concomitant protective and risk factors.

Design

This study has a cross‐sectional survey design.

Methods

From 13 July to 21 July 2019, a cross‐sectional survey involving 209 male nurses in 7 tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China, was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire‐II, the Professional Identity Scale and the Nurses' Occupational Well‐being Scale.

Results

The score of male nurses' occupational well‐being was 78.7 ± 14.2. The higher the mindfulness and professional identity (p = .002, p < .001, respectively), the higher the occupational well‐being of male nurses. The lower the experiential avoidance, the higher the occupational well‐being (p = .001). The highest occupational well‐being was found among male nurses who had less than 5‐years' working experience.

Conclusions

The results suggest that male nurses' occupational well‐being was at a moderate level. Mindfulness and professional identity were the protective factors of male nurses' occupational well‐being, and experiential avoidance was the risk factor. Nursing managers should ascertain male nurses' current occupational well‐being and the influencing factors and formulate effective improvement strategies. Male nurse courses on enhancing mindfulness and professional identity and reducing experiential avoidance should be explored, with a focus on helping nurses improve their professional well‐being and, in turn, prospectively reducing the turnover rate.