The nursing educational experiences of male nursing students : A review study

Abstract: Background: Nursing is often regarded as a female-dominated profession. While male nursing students are gaining attention as an important subject of research in nursing, their learning experience, as an important construct, has seldom been comprehensively reviewed.Aim: The aim of this review was to explore the educational experiences of male nursing students.Methods: This is a systematic review of studies conducted from 2011 to 2021 on educational experience in male nursing students. PubMed were the primary databases for the search of literature. By searching keywords, 11 articles were selected and descriptive analysis method of Evans was adopted for comprehensive analysis of data.Findings: Based on the theory of structured empowerment, an array of educational and clinical challenges and support were identified. Three themes were generated from the literature, including the the experience at school, the experience on clinical practice and the experience gave them feedback.Conclusion: The learning experience of male nursing students has two sides. Understanding the learning experience of male nursing students is beneficial for schools and hospitals to strengthen the psychological education and professional cognition of male nursing students. We reiterate calls to action for further improvement of teaching environment and teaching methods in order to cultivate high-quality, high-skilled male nursing students while enhancing social image of male nurses.Key words: Education experience; Internship; Male nursing students; Nursing education